The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert novel Chapter 38

Cleghtern

It seemed like people forgot how to breathe. Everyone started to look around, searching for the one to whom the claim belonged.

“Mate…” This time Aspen’s words sounded like thunder on a clear day. Savannah was shocked because he was looking in her direction. She knew, however, that it couldn’t be her. She already had a mate and had met Aspen before. So, she looked at her right and left until she noticed how pale Brigit

was.

“Mate,” Aspen stepped forward, ignoring his startled king and everyone else in the room. His voice was barely a whisper now, and Savvy noticed how Brigit’s lips trembled. “Mine…”

The white bear shifter did not say a word, but her eyes glistened with unspilt tears.

The red-haired northerner smiled as he approached her, not knowing what to do since she did not

move or say a word.

“What is your name?” Brigit asked, and Savannah got an uneasy feeling rising in the pit of her stomach hearing her tone. Something was off.

“Aspen,” the Lycan smiled. “Aspen Morr.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Celia, who finally got over her shock, hissed at her brother. “We are being

filmed, and she is a contender at the Luna Trials!”

But her sibling did not seem to care. Elene wanted to intervene, but Kai motioned for her to stop.

“Aspen Morr,” Brigit smiled, but that was a sad smile. “I Brigit Borg, the daughter of the Alpha of the White Claw pack, reject you as my….”

“No!” Aspen growled loudly, and everyone around them gasped. “4, Brigit Borg, the daughter of …” She started again, and this time Aspen growled even louder. “No, Brigit! I decline your rejection!” He clenched his fists and was breathing heavily now, desperation

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and frustration evident on his face.

“Brigit, are you sure?” Savvy whispered to her. “Don’t make rush decisions. You have just met each other and ….”

“,”the white bear shifter started again. She had teary eyes, yet not a single drop spilt yet. For some reason, she was full of determination. “Brigit Borg…”

“No!” Aspen Interrupted her again. “I am not …” His voice broke, and one could tell by just looking at him that he was in pain. “Just… just give me a chance before rejecting me …”

“I came here to represent white bears and participate in The Luna Trials!” Brigit looked him in the eye and pursed her lips. “I will not throw everything away for a mate I just met. I came here to win!”

Aspen’s eyes glowed red. Now he was furtous. He now had his loyalties torn between his mate and his

king, his Alpha. It was the worst situation to be in.

Sawy knew it wasn’t her time to speak, but her heart clenched for the two.

“You do know you may not win this,” she whispered to Brigit and saw Chloe rushing the cameras to get closer. Even now, she didn’t want to miss a good shot. “Leave this decision for after the Trials.”

“She can’t,” Penelope sighed sadly and looked up at them as though she cared. “If she has a mate, she should already be disqualified … Unless Aspen accepts her rejection, of course.”

Brigit pressed her lips so tightly together that they formed a thin white line. For some reason, the Trials were more important to her than anything else.

Kai strode to them, and Savvy looked in his eyes pleadingly. In all honesty, she had to be happy that the white bear was out. Brigit was a strong competitor. It would be easier without her around.

“She can reject him in the finale if she wants to.” This time it was Petra who spoke, and they all looked in her direction. “I am sorry,” the girl mumbled.

“No.” Sawy decided to continue this thought. “She is right. Brigit can’t be the Luna if she has a mate, but if that’s done before the finale, then….

She stopped talking too. It was exactly like her own situation; they all knew Brigit was done. The North was never going to accept her whatever happened next. But Brigit wasn’t going to be the Luna. It was Savannah’s place, and she had Kai’s love. All she was giving the she-bear now was a chance to show

herself and think more about her mate.

“So be it,” Kai agreed, looking at Aspen. “Brigit Borg can compete. She will have to talk to her mate after each Trial and make her final decision before the final event. The North is a fair place.”

Aspen didn’t seem happy about it, but at least he wasn’t breathing heavily anymore. That meant that he had his wolf under control.

“So, we are already late!” Elene clapped her hands, bringing the attention back to her in an attempt to change the subject, “Each contender will now travel to her designated starting point. Before the Trial begins, you will be checked so that we are sure you don’t have anything on you that can help you. You will all start the next challenge simultaneously, and the distance to the centre of the Forgotten City is the same for all of you. Drones will be following you on your journey to record everything. And, of course, cameras are installed everywhere. We always keep an eye on the maze but will not interfere.”

The contenders were walking out of the hall in a straight line while the guests were cheering for them. Savannah turned her head back to steal one last glance at Kai and their eyes locked at once. He smiled at her without trying to hide his feelings for her, and she did the same.

Savvy was sitting in her car, waiting for the guards to let her out. It was taking a while, and she was eager to start the challenge as soon as possible. So, when the car door opened, she jumped out without thinking and right into the northern King’s hands.

“Kai?” She gasped as she didn’t expect to see him until this was over.

“You didn’t think I would let you go without a proper goodbye,” he murmured and crashed his lips into hers, taking her face in both his palms and caressing her cheeks in the process.

This was the boost she needed so much. A reminder of why she was doing this. He was her peace in this cruel world, and she was his. This was worth fighting for.

“My king.” one of the guards cleared his throat, making them stop and tear away from each other.

“What?” Kai snapped his head at the lycan who, to his honour, didn’t flinch.

“It’s time for Princess Savannah to go into the forest.”

“Finel” the king growled, still holding her face. He turned back to her, breathing ragged. “I love you, Savvy,” he whispered. “Stay safe there.”

“Kai,” she let out a little laugh. “Out of the two of us, you are the one with the most dangerous

mission. Give Gideon my letter and try to make him believe in your feelings for me. This is the only way. When we meet again, I’ll handle it from there.”

“Sawy,” he growled softly, placing his forehead on hers and closing his eyes. “In the Forgotten City, pay attention to…”

“Stop.” she placed her index finger on his lips. “Unless every other contender knows this, I don’t want to know. Elene evened out our chances by showing me the map already.”

“Nothing is what it seems there,” he told her. “Don’t rely just on your memory. Look around.”

“I will,” she placed a soft kiss on his lips quickly. “Let’s go do this, kai”

He gave her a simple nod, and his lips curled into a reassuring smile. Drones appeared in the sky, ready to film her, and she promised to herself to give them a good show,

“Let Fenrir protect you,” Kai said, and warmth spread over her chest. “And let the Moon Goddess show you the way,” she answered and winked at him before turning