Chapter 6: She is My Luna

Sadie’s POV

The crows cawed loudly, a screechy sound that reverberated through the air. Their black bodies continued to circle around in the sky. People nodded, agreeing.

Yes. This was a sign.

It had to be.

All eyes turned back to Delphine. She looked as convinced as everyone else. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Everyone talked in hushed whispers.

“I knew it was her.”

“No one’s more worthy.”

“Just imagine, she’ll be Prince Griffin’s Luna now!”

I looked from the crowd to Delphine. Then I looked up at the crows. I didn’t want it to be her. But even I started to believe the crows were a sign.

Just then, though, as quickly as they’d come, the crows began to fly away. Their caws faded into the distance.

Delphine watched them go, a puzzled look on her face.

“Where are they going?” people whispered.  

The square fell silent again.

Delphine still had her hand placed firmly on the slab. She looked uncertainly at the Beta, a fake smile plastered on her face.  

A few moments passed.

Nothing happened.

A few more passed.

Still nothing.

And then…

“Step aside,” the Beta instructed.

“No wait. Just wait a minute more,” Delphine started to argue. But the Beta shot her a look that said this was not up for negotiation.

Delphine hadn’t passed. It was over. The crows had just been a coincidence. Delphine was not the Prince’s Luna.

Frustrated, Delphine stomped her foot.     

“Hmph,” she said loudly, a scowl on her face.

But she did as she was told. She let go of the slab. She marched off the stage, her arms crossed, seething. Luna Emma watched her daughter leave the stage, dejected. She narrowed her eyes. They were both furious, but there was nothing she could do.

I suppressed a smile. It had been worth coming after all, just to see the look on Delphine’s face when she was told to step aside.

Prince Griffin sauntered up to the stage. He had such an authoritative presence that everyone immediately fell silent. He smiled charmingly at the crowd. All around me, she-wolves swooned.

He glanced at his Beta then out at the crowd. For a moment, he said nothing. Then…

“Is there anyone who hasn’t tried?” The Prince asked calmly. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching. Everyone shook their heads silently. “Anyone?” he asked again. “All she-wolves are welcome to enter the selection. Are there Any she-wolves who haven’t been given a chance?”

Of course, I hadn’t. Luna Emma had revoked my qualification to enter the selection by declaring me a harlot. However, I realized that my qualification wasn’t hers to revoke. It belonged to the Royal Lycan family. Only they could deem me unfit.

So technically…I was able to enter the selection.

I thought about it for a moment.

What was the harm in trying? My life had already gone to hell. Everything I’d ever loved had been ripped away from me. Everything I’d ever loved had been ripped away from me. I had no wolf, no mate, no family, no glory. I lost everything.

Even the maids hated me.

I stared at the slab on the stage. A glimmer of hope flickered in my heart.  

Maybe this was my way out?

Yes, I realized with a smile. It was. In fact, it was my only way out. How else would I escape this awful life?

I had to enter the selection for the Lycan Prince’s Luna.

If I were chosen, then I could leave this pack. I could leave them all behind me: Luna Emma, Karter, Delphine. Even Beta Jay.  

I knew it was a long shot. No one else had been chosen so I probably wouldn’t be either.

And I knew competing would make Luna Emma and Delphine furious. If I wasn’t selected, I’d feel their wrath for sure. They’d find the most horrific ways to punish me for entering the contest.

But…

If I were chosen…

It was a chance I was willing to take.

It was a chance I had to take.  

“There are none left,” Luna Emma said, stepping forward. “All the she-wolves have tried, Your Highness.”

“I haven’t,” I stated loudly.

All eyes turned to me.

“No, Your Highness,” Luna said, trying to stop me. “She doesn’t…”

“Step up,” Prince Griffin commanded.

“You don’t understand. She…” Luna Emma stammered, her face aghast.

“Every she-wolf has the right to compete for Luna,” Prince Griffin declared, cutting off Luna Emma. He turned to her. “This is a right granted by the Lycan royal family. Do you wish to argue this right? And in doing so, become an enemy of the royal family, Luna Emma?”

It was a threat and it caught Luna Emma by surprise.

“No,” she conceded, her cheeks flushed red. “No. Of course not.” She bowed her head and had no choice but to step aside.

Prince Griffin turned back to me. “Come,” he said.

I swallowed, hard.

My heart raced as I walked through the crowd. I was painfully aware that everyone was staring at me.

Don’t be nervous, I told myself. You have nothing to lose.

I stepped up onto the stage. I stared at the blue slab of rock. So this was the magical rock that would determine someone’s future? It seemed surreal.

Well, here goes nothing, I thought to myself. I gingerly placed my hand on the slab.

Instantly, the slab changed. Runes appeared in intricate designs. I had no idea what they meant, but they were there for all to see.

What?

The runes began to glow. They emitted a bright, sparkling, golden light. A gush of wind ripped through the square. My long hair rose up around me and floated in the air. A trickle of warmth rushed through me.

The runes continued to glow.   

Everyone’s jaw dropped.    

“It’s you,” Prince Griffin said. He walked towards me, my hand still on the slab.

I stared in disbelief.

Me?

It was me?

I’d passed the ritual?

I looked in shock at Prince Griffin. He smiled. He gently took my hand from the slab and raised it high into the air.

Then he announced, loud and proud —

“She is my Luna!”