The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

I Am North

“Hey there, Princess,” Bjorn’s voice echoed through the pit’s silver walls, and Savannah looked up to see his red eyes gleaming in the darkness, “Looks like you need a hand.”

She stood up. There was no way she’d be sitting defeated at a moment like this. Besides, this was precisely what she and Kai expected and even planned for. After hours and hours of discussing everything back in the cabin, they came to the conclusion that Bjorn would be seeking to meet her again.

The question was where and when. However, it became obvious after it was decided that Savvy

would compete in the next Luna Trials challenge. It was the perfect place to contact her since the white

bears’ lands bordered the Forbidden Forest.

“Are you willing to help me just like that?” She looked at Bjorn with a raised brow.

“I never said that. Everything has its price.” The man chuckled and sat next to the edge of the pit so

that he could observe her better. He liked the sight of the Western Princess beneath him. “I am not sure ! am going to help you at all if I am completely honest. At least not in the way you want me to help

you.”

“Then why are you here?” She folded her arms on her chest and met his gaze defiantly, “TO

gloat?

“I guess I am… intrigued.” His gaze travelled up and down her body way too slowly for it to be innocent, and Savannah swallowed a lump that formed in her throat.

“Intrigued with what?”

“With you, Princess.” A vague smile touched his lips. “I was sure you would slap that jerk and leave this country for good after what he did to you. This kind of humiliation was… too much, don’t you

think?”

“Was I supposed to run back and lose the chance for an alliance both our countries needed so much to fight against you?” She rolled her eyes and added sarcastically, “Please!”

“So, you know who I am,” he smirked.

“It’s not like you’ve been hiding that, right?” Savvy snorted loudly. His smugness was too much, but it could be for the best. After all, he was helping her to drag the conversation himself.

“I guess not,” he admitted easily. “Still, i am not that famous compared to the North Star and the great Lycan King of the West.”

“Don’t be shy! The White Bear King is quickly gaining quite the reputation. All your work here doesn’t

to unnoticedi”

“It’s an honour for me to be noticed by you, Princess.” His lips curved into a sly smile, and Savannah just hoped that Kal’s warriors were on their way. Helping to catch the White Bear King would automatically mean winning the lavour of the Northerners. This was a chance of a lifetime. Not to

mention that it could potentially put an end to this war.

She couldn’t do it alone and not from this pit, though. Gideon arrived at the worst time, and Kai was dealing with him now. Otherwise, it would be a done deal. With Kai’s ability to do something she never could control his third lycan form- he could submit Bjorn in battle. This was something that others couldn’t do. But maybe it would be possible if there were many warriors against him.

“Why do you seek contact with me?” She decided to prolong the conversation, playing for time.

“Isn’t it obvious?” His red eye gleamed again.

“I prefer to hear things clearly and not think of the double meanings so that I don’t misunderstand anything. So, is the White Bear King brave enough to answer my question?”

“Is the Lycan Princess brave enough to hear my answer?” He teased, enjoying their little game. “I think I can manage!” Savannah chuckled, masking her nervousness with fake confidence.

“Then you can hear it next time.” Bjorn stood up. The amused expression on his face changed to that one of indignation. “I see you’ve been waiting for me, Princess. You’ve prepared and even managed to call for help somehow.”

“What do you mean?” Savvy tried to pretend she didn’t know about anything, even though acting was never her strongest gift. She was surprised that he already knew about approaching warriors as she couldn’t hear or sense anyone close yet. Just how was he doing that? She was a royal lycan, for Moon Goddess’ sake! Yes, she was in a silver pit, which had its effects on her, but it didn’t affect her the way it would a simple werewolf. What was wrong with this bear?

“You don’t have to pretend with me,” Darius Bjorn sneered at her. “I like that you set up a trap for me. I was angry that you didn’t appreciate my gift, but I like a good challenge. My next gift will be better, I swear. I like that you stayed to fight, and I like that you thought you could win against me. It’s… refreshing.”

“So, I take it as you like me?” Sawy scoffed, hugging herself uncontrollably. This confession gave her chills and not the best kind.

“Like?” Bjorn let out a low chesty laugh. “No, that’s not how I’d say it.” He calmed down and then looked straight at her with a predator’s gaze. “I want you.”

echoed through her silver prison, and Savannah’s lips parted. She didn’t expect such a bold declaration. This

move, staring at

to that idea,” he told her, and that made her shiver. “When a white bear

never lets it go.”

no prey!” She threw the words at him, but it seemed to only make his grin wider. He

this way.

guess you are not,” Bjorn agreed readily. “You are Queen material. And it just so

find yourself in the middle of the Luna Trials, then!”

some girls who are ready to kill to become a

about taking Elene as my wife once to secure the

he was seeing something peculiar far away. “I thought that once

the years, Savannah?” His gaze met hers again, and she gulped. “I don’t need anyone to secure my throne here. I have

it, and I have earned my right. Once the Lycan King is dead, there will

by my side to rule the

already considered the man she loved dead and built his plans based

didn’t look like he was in any kind of rush, even though Savannah could now feel

worked, after

doesn’t have anything to do with me being

the Western Lycan Kings?” She snickered, trying

did not go unnoticed.

down at her. “I didn’t recognise

but I knew I wanted

Savannah selt her claws elongating on instinct but had

of

Princess,” Bjorn clenched his lips tightly and became serious. “I want you, and I like to play games. I love that you are feisty, my woman cannot be

Now that her photographic memory wasn’t a secret anymore,

the corners of the white bear’s lips, and Sawy

white, and now She was sure he wouldn’t be able to escape the warriors. It was too late, but thenhe touched his temple and sneered at her Plercing pain rippled

silver wall lor balance

would she have to suffer Thanks to that man? When she saw him

another thing to learn is that even when it looks like I am cornered,

lose now!” The white bear’s confidence was

predicament.

purpose, knowing this wasn’t how he liked to

and she

had hit the target.

as if he was disappointed, “initially, I wanted it to last just a few minutes so that you learned your lesson.

She chuckled through the pain.

have to put it to the test, I am afraid!” he said, and they both heard a howl nearby. The howl that meant it was a minute until the warrior lycans

until she was sure of it, she could finally

up to see Lachlan watching her with

face.

you out!” “No!” she

“You are my future

and the future Luna of the North! She couldn’t afford to lie down and feel sorry for herself even if the world was falling apart. She wasn’t new to this kind of pain and could easily handle it! Because giving

roared, noticing a black hawk in the sky. Zara was here too,

smile playing on his lips. “Follow Zara,” Savvy added. “She will

after a curt nod, and she heard the receding steps of the warriors, hoping that they would put an end

she couldn’t believe that Zack had fallen so low as

much to her, though. She had her own problem now as

couldn’t shift or use partial transformation, but she could still use her body

be able to trap both – Wolves and bears, but they

impact. She hit it again and again, ignoring the pain in her bloodied

to make a few tactical dents and used them to climb higher on the wall. She was hitting it repeatedly, creating

felt more like a machine than a human, and even Athena inside her did her best to block

pit’s edge and paused, taking a deep breath before

to getting herself out.

she saw Astrid standing before her.

knowing that another fall was near. Would Astrid step on her hand like Brigit