Chapter 113 – The Luna Trials Novel by Marissa Gilbert

Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

“The Luna of the North can’t be an ordinary woman.” Elene was working the cameras with her dazzling smile, giving them the show of their lives. “She must be beautiful and have perfect lineage. While all our contenders have these, there are other qualities we value more. The first of them is wit.”

The word echoed through the room, and Savvy tensed. She had a photographic memory and remembered everything she had ever learned. Nonetheless, what if the education system in the north was different from the west, and they would start quizzing her about something she didn’t know in the first place? This could be a potential disaster.

“Contender One,” Elene raised her chin with a facial expression full of self-importance. “I want you to solve a riddle. Each contender will have one.”

Savvy couldn’t hold back a snort and a few girls in front of her turned to see who could be so disrespectful. Astrid quickly stood in front of her, covering Savannah and giving her a moment to gather herself. She gave Savannah a wink and continued watching the show. This girl was starting to grow on Savvy.

In the meantime, Elene continued, “Name a thing that is lighter than what it is made of and more of it is hidden than is seen.” Savvy furrowed her eyebrows. What was this? Year 1 of primary school?

“An iceberg!” the brunette beamed, and Savannah had to use all her inner strength not to make any more sounds.

“Excellent!” Elene praised her. There was no denying that this girl was Elene’s favourite by the way she looked at her, as if she already won and this was all just a formality. Consequently, all the other contenders received an utterly degrading glare which could only be translated as – bow in the presence of the gods, Sheep.

The princess gestured for the contender to go up the stairs and stand at her side.

“Penelope Summerstern, daughter of the North!” Elene announced although it was apparent that everyone here knew who the woman was. “Our first contender for the title of The Luna of The North!”

When everyone was done with their applause, another woman stepped forward, wearing a navy dress with rhinestones that sparkled as if she was wearing the night sky. Savvy sniffed discreetly and recognised that person as Brigit, the white werebear.

The funniest thing, judging by the face that Elene was now making, was that it didn’t appear to be Brig it’s turn. Some other girl in golden attire had tried to step forward too, but Brigit growled at her, and the poor soul quickly gave up.

“Some things never change,” Kyle told Savvy via the mind-link. She smirked at her friend. Brigit was … something. She was one of the least wanted contenders here but decided to fix that as soon as possible. With f0rce.This was going to be fun!

Regardless, there wasn’t much that Elene could do about it, so she sighed with annoyance and said, “Only one colour, but not one size. Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies. Present in the sun, but not in rain. Doing no harm and feeling no pain. What is it?”

If looks could K*ll, the she-bear would be done. Brigit stood there quietly. Everyone here knew that if she couldn’t solve the riddle, she would be eliminated. She wouldn’t even get to take her mask off. Although, that was probably for the best. The rules were similar for the women who couldn’t enter the ball because they arrived dressed in the wrong colours.

The werebear was clenching her fists, and Savvy wished she could tell her the answer mentally, but they weren’t from the same pack nor were they related in any way, so that wasn’t an option,.

They heard a few giggles here and there. Everyone could now sense that she was a bear and bears weren’t liked much in the North because of the constant wars between their packs in the past.

Suddenly, Brigit lifted her head and with a slight smirk on her lips answered, “Shadow.” “Someone came prepared!” Kyle pointed out. “I wish it was us!” Savvy replied.

“Very well,” Elene pursed her lips. “Our second contender! Bridgit Borg, daughter of Alpha Borg of the White Claw clan. A white werebear.”

The last words were said with spite, and the wave of murmurs that went through the crowds of guests confirmed

Savannah’s suspicions. There was no applause this time, but Brigit did not seem to mind as she took her rightful place on the stairs.

The next two girls had riddles that were so easy a child could answer them. They were also northerners like Penelope, but one of them was a werewolf and not a lycan. By the way they behaved, it could be concluded that they were there primarily to support Penelope than to win for themselves. Celia, an edgy-looking lycaness with short wavy hair, and Inga, a blonde with two long braids to her front, both looked ready to defend their future Luna’s honour and even stood at either side of Penelope yet a few steps behind her so as to make her stand out. Even their dresses were a dull shade of blue with nothing extraordinary about them. The perfect background for their queen.

A girl with long, straight, auburn hair was next, and she was also successful. Sawy wondered who she was until she heard the wozds, “Autumn Bern, the fox Alpha’s daughter fromthe eastern Ruby Hill pack.”

Now, this was interesting. Foxes were common enemies after the recent attacks. Although eastern foxes weren’t actively participating in the war, they were definitely under suspicion, and King Kai allowed one straight into his own house … This was … peculiar.

One by one, the girls gave Elene their answers, as Savvy got bored. Their riddles were nothing special

“Mavis Redfeather,” Savannah heard a name that made her curious, and looked at yet another woman taking off her mask. She had long wavy hair that was dark at the top and was gradually turning into bright red by the ends in the best sombre effect Savvy had ever seen. “From the Silver Skies flock.”

She was a bird shifter from Zara’s old flock, one who could be problematic since they all hated her. However, the next name put Savvy into a state of real shock.

“Nayara Knight, daughter of Alpha Ramina Knight.” Her eyes immediately met the eyes of the werecat, who had once given her asylum in her territory when Savannah was running away from her traitor mate. If Zack had managed to capture her then, her life would have had a whole different outcome. She had reached the werecats’ territory, and Naya was the first person she met. Their acquaintance was short but very eventful. Especially considering they ended up fighting side by side in the blood*iest battle of their lives right after they met.

“Did you know that she would be here?” Savvy shot a glance at Kyle. “I had no idea,” he shrugged. “I’ll try to find out why we didn’t know.”

Here was the confusion, had Naya known about the Luna Trials, why wouldn’t she inform her or Gideon. They were in the alliance after all. Naya’s mother was one of the most loyal Alphas to her brother.

B A girl with perfect pink locks wearing a perfect doll dress with lots of golden sequins walked to Elene. She didn’t look any older than eighteen and Savvy was wondering if it was a mistake that she was here in the first place. These weren’t the times when women had to secure a marriage early. Then again, there was a possibility of getting married to a lycan king. A lot of Alphas probably wanted to seize this opportunity.

“I have lakes with no water, mountains with no stone, and cities with no buildings. What am 1?” Elene asked gracefully, and the girl in front of her nervously played with the frills of her dress. She began fidgeting more and more.Savvy decided to take back her statement on children being able to solve those riddles. That child clearly wasn’t able to.

The girl turned to the remaining contenders and looked at the woman in her thirties that arrived with her. Panic was evident on her face, but then, all of a sudden, it brightened, and she found the strength to face Elene again.

“It’s a map!” she announced loudly and even clapped her hands together.

It was obvious that her a*s*sistant gave her the answer via their mind-link. In spite of this, the northern princess ignored all that and gestured for her to take off her mask.

“Petra Biernat, the Alpha’s daughter from the Blue Forest pack.” She made the necessary announcement.

“Don’t you worry,” Kyle chuckled in Savvy’s mind. “If you need my help, I am at your service.”

“Oh, yeah, Kyle,” Savannah snickered. “How many of these did you solve?” A sly grin appeared on his face, and she chose not to react this time.

Astrid was next, and she gave her answer quickly. She was introduced without any problems. Even though Elene made a face as if she ate a lemon when she showed her a place to stand.

It was Savvy’s turn next, and for the first time, she allowed herself to meet Kai’s blue eyes. He was watching her just as she expected, his facial expression was unreadable. The northern king looked handsome without a mask, and without his beard. Not that she would ever let him know.

She wasn’t mad anymore. Now she was calm and concentrated. Moreover, she was ready for anything. Savannah stepped forward and bowed her head slightly. She wasn’t curtsying before Elene. They were equals. So, this simple form of respect was enough.

---