The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0159

Tonight at the Second Ball felt like a night where anything could happen.

As Nicholas pulled back from our kiss, I immediately wanted him to return for another. I had butterflies in my stomach, remembering the way he said my name.

He said it again now.

"Piper."

"How did you know it was me?" I asked.

"I told you I would." He lowered both hands down to my waist and squeezed me tighter to him. "I would know you anywhere."

He leaned in again. I wanted him to kiss me so badly.

But then I felt a familiar pull, almost as if someone or something was tugging me at the heartstrings. I knew that feeling.

It was my wolf.

But how could it be here? Now? I hadn't gone anywhere. Had the mysterious person from the car outside of Terry's mansion come to the Second Ball? Why?

"I'm sorry, I..." I stepped back from Nicholas, out of his hold.

His eyes behind his mask hardened at once. His smile slipped away. "Piper? What's wrong?"

Feeling woozy, I pressed my hand to my forehead. "I... I have to go..."

It wasn't a good enough explanation by far, but in the moment, all I could think about was getting to my wolf. A piece of me was so near, and when it was, I felt so whole. I couldn't resist it even if I wanted to.

I turned and dashed into the ballroom as fast as I could in my heels. I followed the feeling, searching the room. Then I saw someone I hadn't seen before.

A woman stood there in a long, black dress with black feathers sticking out at the shoulders and in her hair. A black mask covered half of her face. Feathers shot from along the top of the mask and into her hair.

I didn't know who she was. She hadn't been with the candidates earlier, unless someone had changed. I didn't have time to look for the others and do a head count.

Her eyes locked with mine for a brief moment. She seemed familiar, but I couldn't place her. Quickly, she turned away and began walking from me. That's when I realized she was the one with my wolf. 

I gave chase, following even as she ducked into a side room, and then another side room from there. Every time I thought I had her cornered, when I entered the new room, she had vanished into the next.

Then I entered into a room that was already occupied. Terry sat relaxed on a leather sofa, his arm thrown across the back. He was drinking from a flute of champagne when I entered. He lifted a brow at me as I came through the door in such a rush.2

"Have you seen a woman in black?" I asked, looking around. I didn't notice any other doors out of this room, except what was clearly a bathroom

I could feel my wolf moving farther away. I was desperate to catch it but the trail had stopped cold here.

When Terry didn't answer me, I spoke again. "Is there another exit from this room?"

Terry placed his glass on a tray beside another flute. He lifted the bottle of champagne and poured the bubbling liquid into the second cup.

"Sit, Piper," he said, motioning to the open couch beside him." We should talk."

I narrowed my eyes. He had to have seen that woman. Was he covering for her? Did he truly know more about this whole thing than he let on?

Perhaps, I reasoned, I could get more information out of him if I talked to him. Julian had been very tight-lipped about the full extent of Terry's possible involvement. If I couldn't garner more information from Julian, then perhaps it was smart to go straight for the source.

Terry clearly liked me. If I played into that, even just to be nice, maybe I could bring out some revelations.