The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 70

“This is not how I imagined it,” Savvy let out a little laugh as Elene tried to open an old chest in her room, which, luckily, wasn’t touched by the recent fire.

The Northern Princess tried key after key to unlock one of her secret treasures. “I figured that it would be best if I didn’t tell anyone of my thoughts until just a few hours were left before the event. After how things went last time, there were no illusions about making any announcements,” she confessed, finally finding the right key and opening the lid. “Ah, here it is!” she gasped in delight as her trembling fingers brushed over the shimmering pale blue fabric. The Princess’ smile faded, and her eyes glistened as a few tears formed in them. She was supposed to be the one to wear this dress on her wedding day. Her mother’s dress that was passed from one Luna of the

North to another for generations.

However, this felt right.

It was right.

Because Elene was simply a princess, and Savannah was her Queen now. There was no time to shop for designer gowns, and there wasn’t a more perfect dress for the occasion. Now that Elene looked at it, she knew that this dress belonged to her brother’s Luna. After how Bjorn twisted everything again, they had to prove to the people of the North, who were still forn between two possible kings, That they were the real deal. Kai and Savvy. They were the true King and Queen of the North, and they did not have any competition. They were the ones whom people should follow into the battle and to whose heirs they would one day bow their heads.

Claude, Chloe and Kyle were already working, spreading the videos from the flash card that Claude managed to bring back from the white bears. They were already giving a different narrative to the recent events, but a final blow was required.

The idea struck Elene instantly when she heard that monster’s words. Bjorn called her brother a walking corpse who conspired with demons and made a fatal mistake by doing so because now they could prove once and for all who was the main liar and manipulator in this story. Elene remembered how her eyes met with Riannon’s when they watched the video on the tablet. Wasn’t it just perfect? Bjorn has given them a gift they couldn’t have been dreaming of receiving.

Elene knew that the Western Luna somehow was aware of what she was thinking. She hated to admit that, but in the past few days, she grew to understand one thing she liked Riannon. A part of her still hated herself for liking that woman, but it was hard to deny that she now understood what all the fuss was about. It was impossible not to like her, considering she obviously meant well and always found a good word even for her. So, Elene made the only right decision and chose to leave the past behind.

She had her chance with Gideon. She really did. When She came to visit Kai during his Alpha training, Gideon was nice to her. He was talking to her, accepting her attention, and it could grow into anything if she were smart about it. Unfortunately, she wasn’t, and she had realised it only recently. When Amarok and the others left to rescue Savannah, Elene got to work. Lachlan dealt with the warriors, and she got to the information war. She knew that this was one crucial piece they would have to handle cautiously, and they would have to show Bjorn in his true light sooner or later. She was checking their system for any videos from the day Bjorn abducted Savvy, hoping to make a compelling short film about his lies. Then she decided to go further and dig for anything else she could use about him back from the Luna Trials. And that was when she encountered something she did not expect. It was hidden in a separate file, and she stopped breathing when she saw the words “Penelope’s Death”.

They told her that there was no footage of that, but there it was right before her eyes.

At first, Elene did not want to watch her beloved friend being slaughtered by a monster. But later… after biting her nails way too many times and pacing around the room, she decided to rip the bandage off. She had to see it. She had to know. This decision was supposed to help her and fuel her for the current war with their enemies, but she couldn’t even imagine what she would actually see. She wanted to hear Penelope’s last words during her last moments alive, and she heard more than she counted on. What her best friend said about her was an eye-opener, and for a few seconds there, the Northern Princess didn’t know how to react. The Penelope she saw on the screen was spiteful, arrogant and cruel. It wasn’t her best friend at all. Or was it?

She never doubted anything that Penelope told her, but after hearing what her dear friend really thought about her, how she belittled her and was annoyed at the mere mention of Elene’s name, she started questioning everything. That fateful day when Gideon stopped talking to her once and for all came to her mind as well.

That day Elene and Penelope came to the Lycan practise field and found Gideon and an Alpha she-wolf who was actively flirting with him. It was just some werewolf, and she couldn’t be a real competition for a Princess, but she sure did her best to seduce the Western Lycan King. She asked Gideon to show her some battle moves, and while he was doing just that, she tried to touch him or showcase her impressive curves, which Elene herself did not possess. The whole thing was annoying, to say the least.

“You’re not going to leave it like this?” Penelope whispered into her ear in her usual innocent tone.

“He has just become the Lycan King,” Elene shrugged his shoulders. “Women will always be around him.”

“It’s one thing to be around him and another to be all over him.” Penelope played with her shiny black hair, tossing it to the back when she was done. “But he is looking for a Luna now. And you know the qualities of a good Luna. A real Luna should be fierce and domineering. She can’t let some she wolf touch her man like that. She would put the brat in her place to demonstrate who is the real deal!”

have to disagree,” Elene simply rolled her eyes at

Penelope giggled, but that giggle seemed cold and… cruel. “Follow the etiquette while that she wolf arouses his…

full display. It was such a basic thing to do, but she couldn’t help and ignore a spark of male interest in his eyes.

to give her a sneer. She knew the whole time

Penelope hissed. “Seriously, El. You can’t let her get away with it!”

in seconds, meeting

Your Highness! You’ve been around him for weeks and barely

you can teach me

be wiped,” Penelope interjected, crossing her arms on her chest.

girl raised her brow. “She doesn’t look so terrifying with those lousy snacks

Penelope’s voice rang in her mind through their link, “Show her now or regret saying nothing and losing

not cook, but in this establishment, all shifters were required to cater to their own needs as a way of teaching them to be more independent. And Elene grabbed this opportunity. Someone laughing at her sincere

for you?” she asked with an arched brow

Stormhold is minel”

the difference in strength between the royal lycans and simple werewolves. The girl’s eyes widened as she flew down the stairs of the stadium and landed in the dirt at the very bottom.

the worst time possible, shocked by the scene before his eyes.

up, and she said something to him that Elene couldn’t hear. A bad feeling rose in

accident!” The Princess was next to the two of them in seconds and noticed how Gideon clenched his lips

other girl in his arms. “Don’t worry, Princess Elene.

with you!” she suggested as Penelope gave her the box she was holding

left without sparing her another

did not see him talking to that girl anymore, but at the same time, their own conversations were limited to a few brief words required by the royal protocol and nothing more. Kai found her crying once, and she told him about her feelings for the Western King. Her brother got tense but offered her hand

with Penelope that she now questioned, and sadly, she realised that she had never had the

could have used Penelope’s speech to gain points for herself, but she chose to keep this information away so as not to hurt

Pen was her fake friend, she now knew that Savannah was a real one. They would need time to get to know each other better and move on from the Luna Trials, but… there was definitely something good there, something worth exploring.

when Elene stretched her hands with her

“I know what it means to you. I mean, Kai told

Elene nodded with a timid smile, blinking her tears away. “You will look beautiful in this, Savannah, and

it at the back for her, noting that the

She saw this dress in one of the books she had read during the Luna

the dress of her choice. However, now that she was looking at herself in the mirror, she knew that this dress was the one. There could be no other gown for her

and beads was adorning the corset and the skirt, and only when taking a closer look did Savvy realise that the pattern reminded her of the northern mountains and some of the ancient symbols she saw back in the cave and the shrine. It was a masterpiece! A subtle shine emanated from the sequins, making them look like pieces of ice or maybe the crystals from that cave Kai once took her in. It was indeed something a Northern Queen should wear. There was a