Chapter l396

Chapter 0396

“Yes,” a few girls said. The rest nodded. I just watched, a bit in shock.

“Good,” Nathan said. “Do not be late.” Then he left us.

The girls all looked at each other again. And then, at once, in a rush, they stood up and headed for the door.

“What are you going to wear?” Tiffany asked Veronica as they too made their way out. I didn’t hear Veronica’s reply.

Elva and I were the last to leave. We would need time to pick and plan our outfits, but I wasn’t overly worried. Likely Charlotte already had everything handled. And if she didn’t, a simple sundress would do. I was not quite as knowledgeable about outfits as the other girls.

As we walked through the hallways, I paused when we spotted Nicholas and Julian coming toward us.

“Nick–lass!” Elva shouted and ran forward. “Jul–an!”

Nicholas hugged her, and then Julian scooped her up into his arms and swung her around. She giggled and laughed, then hung onto him around his n*eck as he pulled her closer.

“Have you been practicing what I showed you?” Julian asked her.

Elva nodded her head grandly, but after spotting me watching, she stopped. She leaned in and whispered too loudly to be kept secret, “Mommy doesn’t like it.”

I had to talk to her about that later. It didn’t bother me so much, anymore.

With Elva so thoroughly distracted in a discussion with Julian, Nicholas came

closer to me.

“I take it you’ve heard the news?” he asked.

“Yes. Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

“No. We’re just as much in the dark. The King is likely planning something

drastic to help bring the royal family into a better light with the public. Julian and

I have speculated what that could be, but we’re just guessing.”

“What are your guesses?” I asked.

“I don’t want to worry you,” he said.

That didn’t make me feel any better. “Nick…”

1/2

“I’ll protect you, Piper. Whatever it is, you have nothing to fear.”

“But who will protect you?” I asked.

He smiled a little at me, but didn’t say a word. I knew what he was thinking, an old tenant in werewolf culture: an Alpha protects his family.

I wished he would say so allowed, but I knew he couldn’t. We weren’t really a family. We never would be.

But his desire to protect me and Elva made me want to protect him too. I had strength now. If worse came to worse, I would find my own ways to keep him safe.

Two hours later, I, Elva, and the rest of the girls were led to stand in a line out front of the palace. Nathan waited until we were in place.

The cameras were already set up and rolling. The King and Queen were missing, but Nicholas and Julian were there as representatives, standing beside Nathan on a platform.

The protesters outside of the gate were held back a fair bit from the fences by security. The roads were clear.

Nathan, holding a microphone, addressed the cameras. “To add some excitement to our competition, and to spice things up, the royal family has decided that a new contender should be added to the lineup.”

On the road, a limo pulled up to the gate. The gate opened, and the limo pulled through. It slowly crept up the driveway and came to a stop right in front of the platform.

My mind was reeling. A new contender? Was that allowed? Though if it was the royal family’s decision, I supposed anything was.

The limo came to a stop. The door popped open.

I held my breath.

A woman stepped out of the car, a blonde with a big, practiced smile. I recognized her from television, but also from the pictures in Nicholas’s room.

This wasn’t just another contender.

This woman was Bridget.