The Luna Choosing Game

“She told me Nicholas was the only one for her.”

My heart cracked down the middle, just as my stomach churned. I ached for Julian’s pain, while my wolf stirred within me, jealousy raging.

“I’m sorry,” I told him.

“I shouldn’t feel so surprised,” Julian said. Both sets of fingers combed through his hair this time. “It was so similar to last time, I thought perhaps for a moment that I was trapped in some kind of curse.”

The curse had a name: Bridget.

“I feel so uncertain. So… confused. Heartbroken. I don’t understand.” Julian began to ramble his words, another action so unlike him. “I hate feeling this way. I’m always so sure. But I don’t understand. Piper, help me understand.”

He looked at me and the intensity in his gaze gave me pause.

“Why would she change her mind so quickly?” he asked.

He wanted an honest answer, but I held myself back. To tell him what I honestly thought would be to blatantly badmouth the woman he loved. And though I certainly thought her deserving of it, I wasn’t so certain that Julian was ready to hear the words.

The truth of it was, I thought Bridget knew from the start which of the two brothers she had desired, and merely strung Julian along. What I didn’t know was why?

It could be something simple. Julian was a handsome man, and very charismatic. He was so clearly in love with Bridget, or what he thought was love. It would be so easy to pretend for a while, simply to make out with someone handsome.

But. She was an ultra–beautiful movie star. She could have anyone she wanted: movie actors, musicians… anyone. Why mess around with Julian at all?

A dark voice whispered in my mind, she’s doing it to mess with you. But how could that be true? I wasn’t even around when they were younger.

“I don’t know, Julian,” I said. I wouldn’t badmouth Bridget for his sake, but I would tell him the truth of what I felt for him. That felt safer, and maybe was more of what he needed to hear anyway. “But I do know that you deserve better. True love doesn’t play these games.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anymore. For it to happen twice…”

“I don’t know what she told you last night, and I don’t want to know. It’s none of my business. But she’s not treating you right, Julian. That I promise you.”

Julian sighed loud and low. “I know that, Piper. You think I don’t know that? But I’m in love with her! What am I supposed to do?”

“Have you tried not being in love with her?” I asked. His defeated tone was triggering my own impatience. “You know she treats you bad, and you are allowing it. You are enabling it, Julian! How can you continue to love her?”

“I don’t know, okay? I don’t know…”

I didn’t know what else to do or say, and he didn’t know either. We both turned back to the railing and looked up at the stars.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, in the quiet of the night.

“Me, too,” he said.

And though Julian’s heart was breaking, things between us felt whole again.

After leaving Julian, I couldn’t wait to see Nicholas, so I rushed to his room. I walked so quickly, I was nearly running, but it was midnight now. Most everyone had retired. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself so I had to move slowly.

At his door, I knocked lightly. I heard shuffling within.

After a moment, the door opened slightly, and Nicholas’s face appeared.

His face was drawn, seeing me.

“Go back to your room, Piper,” he said, and closed the door in Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.

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