Chapter 282


    Chapter 0282


    Her threat made me go silent. I wasn’t flirting with Terry. He was flirting with me. But maybe that was


    still enough to be held against me.


    “You seduced my brother,” the Luna said, “And you will not get away with it.” An angry me burned in


    her eyes. Her usually demure expression was filled with disgust.


    I didn’t want to have this conversation with Elva listening.


    “Your Majesty,” I said, rising from my chair. “If we could please have this conversation in the hallway, or


    somewhere else more private…”


    “Why?” the Queen said, narrowing her gaze. “Are you afraid of the other candidates learning you are a


    loose woman?”


    “I’m not


    “A slut who tempts men,” the Queen said, voice full of malice.


    I nced at Elva. She tilted her head.


    I hurried toward the Queen. “Please, your Majesty. Not in front of my daughter.”


    “If you wanted to protect her, you should have done more to protect your own character. The child


    should know the truth about her mother.”


    “But it’s not the truth.” I lowered my voice, so only she could hear. “Terry assaulted me. He tried to -”


    “Lies,” she said fiercely. ndering him to protect yourself. You may have my bighearted sons fooled,


    but I see you clearly, Piper. You seduced Terry, just to lure him into apromising position before


    ying the victim. You think this will earn you favor with my sons.”


    I shook my head. “If you would hear me out – – ”


    “I protect my family from vultures and snakes,” the Queen said, venom dripping from the words.


    “I am neither of those things,” I said.


    “Then apologize,” she said.


    I blinked, surprised. “What?”


    “Issue a formal apology to Terry, ept responsibility for your actions, and perhaps we can move


    beyond this little episode of yours.


    I swallowed thickly. “And if I refuse?”


    “Then you will face judgement for breaking the contest rules,” the Queen said.


    I didn’t want to risk being sent home, but the thought of standing before my attempted rapist, to


    apologize to him, made my stomach churn.


    Even to save myself, I didn’t think I’d have been able to do it. He was simply too vile and repulsive.


    What he had done to me was so terrible and inexcusable, that I was still struggling to process it had


    even happened to me for real. And now she wanted me to take the me for it too? “I can’t do that,” I


    said. She frowned. “Then you better start packing your bags.” She didn’t wait for anymore arguments or


    excuses or pleas. She turned on her heel and left the room. I watched her go for a long moment before


    I returned to my chair. Elva looked at me. “The Queen seems mad, Mommy.” “She does,” I agreed.


    “Are we in trouble?” Elva asked. Her eyes were wide with concern. I had thought I already hated Terry


    with the full entirety of my being, but now, seeing how this situation had brought worry onto my


    daughter, I found that my hatred for him was as deep as a bottomless well.


    I leaned over and kissed Elva on the top of her head. “We’ll be okay, honey. I’ll make sure of it.” “Okay,”


    Elva said, though she didn’t seem fully convinced. I couldn’t me her. My promise didn’t have much


    backing behind it. If the Luna wanted me gone, I didn’t know how I would be able to convince everyone


    else that I should stay. Her word wasw. Her disapproval was likely the final nail in my coffin.


    I didn’t know what else to say. I had no other means offorting her. So I let her return to her


    breakfast, and I returned to mine.


    Later, as I was walking down the hallway alone, intending to head to Susie’s room to check on her, I


    was spotted by Nichs at the other end of the hall. I abruptly swiveled on my heel and started


    heading the other direction.


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    I wasn’t ready to face him yet after his sudden disappearance that morning. I was absolutely certain if


    he was seeking me out now, it was only to apologize for being ufortable with me staying in his


    bed. He had stayed in mine before, but this felt difference somehow.


    I had been in his pajamas, after all, and he had held me so tenderly and close, like a lover would.


    Not ready for more rejection, I started walking quickly. Unfortunately, his stride was bigger than mine,


    with his long legs.


    “Piper!”


    He caught up to me quickly and gently touched my elbow, stopping me. He came around to my front.


    Confusion and a dash of hurt was in his eyes.


    “Didn’t you see me?” he asked.


    I looked away from him. “I wasn’t paying attention.” It was an obvious lie. We both knew it.


    “Okay…” He seemed unsure. “I just wanted to make sure you are alright. When I returned to my room


    and you weren’t there, I wasn’t sure what to think ”


    He wasn’t sure what to think? “Imagine how I felt when I woke up alone.” I tried to keep the. bitterness


    out of my tone. I had no idea how sessful I was at it. My guess was not very. His face crumpled at


    once, concern fading into realization and inexplicitly, despair. “No, Piper. You can’t think I purposefully


    left you there.’ I lifted a brow. “Isn’t that what happened?”


    “No.” He vehemently shook his head. “I decided to speak with my parents at once, to present them the


    evidence about Terry. I showed them the letter and the footage of him being inappropriate to you and


    Susie. I thought the sooner they knew the truth, the sooner you might be safe.”


    Oh. So it hadn’t been a rejection? A touch of relief spread through me. It didn’tst long, however,


    before another realization set it.


    “Did you show the footage to the Luna?” I asked.


    As he nodded, his mouth formed a tight thin-lipped line. “She was not as receptive to the truth as I


    would have hoped.”


    I sighed. “I know.”


    “You do?”


    “She said some words to me this morning…”


    Nich s’s features hardened. A touch of darkness dimmed his eyes. “What did she say?”


    I exined to him what had happened, ending with, “She will only let me stay if I offer Terry a public


    apology.”


    “No. You will not be doing that,” Nichs said.


    I was d we agreed.


    “I’ll speak with her,” he said.


    “Do you think you’ll be able to convince her?”


    “She will listen to me. I don’t care what I have to do. She has no right to demand that of you. To put you


    in front of your attacker and… No. As far as I am concerned, that monster will nevery eyes on you


    again.”


    His hands curled into tight fists. His body trembled with rage. The green in his and I recognized he was


    trying to control his wolf.


    I stepped closer to him, hoping my closeness would offer him enoughfort to stay inmand.


    He closed his eyes and inched closer to me. Our arms brushed. He breathed deeply.


    “It’s best if neither of us face Terry again,” he said.


    I understood, but I still asked, “Why?”


    “If I see him around you again, I will kill him.”