Chapter 194
Ella
“Do you have service?” | asked the driver.
He pulled out his phone, then cursed under his breath as the srealization hit him that had just hit me. He
shook his head. “Nothing. We're in a dead zone out here.”
“Shit,” | said out loud.
The driver took his hat off and ran a hand through his hair. “I can shift and run back to the mansion to get help.
Do you mind waiting here? I'll be as fast as | can. Thirty minutes or so.”
Thirty minutes. That wasn’t enough time.
“Now hold on.” | climbed out of the car, gathering my heavy skirts as best | could. “Let’s look at the engine first.
Maybe it's something simple we can fix ourselves.”
The driver looked skeptical. “Are you sure, miss? I'm afraid | don’t know anything about engines...”
“It won't hurt just to look will it?” The coronation was starting in fifteen minutes. There wasn’t tto wait for
him to run back to the house and return with help. “I know a little about cars, so perhaps if we put our heads
together, we can figure it out.”
That was a stretch. | knew practically nothing about cars. But | was too desperate not to try.
With a reluctant nod, the driver popped the hood, and we both peered into the engine compartment. Everything
looked foreign to me, but then the driver pointed toward something near the back.
“There. | think that hose cloose.”
| squinted at where he was pointing. There was definitely a disconnected hose hanging free, dripping skind
of fluid onto the ground below.
“Can we reattach it?” | asked, hope sparking in my chest.
“Maybe. But I'll have to reach pretty far back to get to it.” He rolled up his sleeves and leaned into the
compartment. “You might want to stand back, Luna. This could get messy.”
But before | had a chance to move, there was a hiss the second his hand touched the hose. Dark liquid spurted
out of the hose, spraying across the poor driver's face-and all over my dress.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFor a moment, neither of us moved or made a sound. The driver just froze, his face covered in black oil, and |
stood there with my arms splayed out to the sides in complete shock.
Finally, | looked down at myself in horror. The beautiful midnight blue fabric was now streaked with thick, black
oil. I didn’t know much about cars, but | knew one thing: oil did not wash out. Especially not
1/4
Chapter 194
in fifteen minutes on an empty country road with no washing machine in sight.
+15 BONUS
The historical gown that every Luna Queen had worn for over a century was ruined. Because of me.
“Luna, I'm so sorry,” the driver stammered, straightening. “I didn’t know that would happen-"
“It’s not your fault.” | shakily reached into the pocket of my dress and withdrew a handkerchief, which | handed
to the driver so he could clean himself up. “Are you alright?”
He nodded and wiped his face. “Yes, yes, I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about, miss. | think | should go get
help now. Like I said, | think | can be back with another car in thirty minutes, maybe less if | hurry.”
Thirty minutes. We'd already wasted nearly ten trying to decide what to do. That meant that the
coronation would be nearly over by the twe made it.
| wanted to be by Alexander's side throughout the coronation. | hated the idea of not making it because of an
engine failure.
Suddenly, in the distance, | could hear the faint sound of a car engine. My heart leaped with renewed
hope as headlights appeared around the bend in the road.
| stepped out into the middle of the road, waving my arms frantically. “Help!” | called out. “Please stop!”
The car was going fast, but surely they could see me. A woman in a fancy dress standing in the middle of
the road next to a broken-down vehicle-it was pretty obvious we needed assistance.
But the car flew past without even slowing down.
| stood there in the road, watching the taillights disappear around the corner. The driver hadn't even tapped on
his brakes.
Tears pricked at my eyes, but | blinked them away. Crying wasn’t going to solve anything.
“That's it,” | said, turning back to the driver. “I'm not waiting.”
“Luna?”
“I'm going to shift and run to the venue myself.” The stained dress would be a problem, but it was certainly
better than not showing up at all. “It can’t be more than ten miles from here.”
“But”
“Thank you for your help,” | said, forcing a smile, “but you should focus on getting help for the car. I'll get myself
to the venue.”
The driver looked like he wanted to argue, but | was already beginning to shift. A moment later, | stood there in
wolf form, feeling the wind rustle through my fur. | shot the driver one last look over my shoulder, and he
nodded, and then I took off.
2/4
Chapter 194
+15 BONUS
Ten miles had never felt so long or so short. My pregnant body wasn’t quite as fast or as agile as the last t|
shifted during the gof capture the flag at the picnic, but I still had little trouble running.
Within fifteen minutes, | had arrived.
Just barely enough tto spare.
When | reached the cathedral, | could hear the ceremony already in progress. The sound of organ music and
voices drifted out through the massive stone walls, but | was certain that the coronation had only just begun. It
would likely start a bit of a stir when | walked in late, but it wouldnt be too much trouble.
| shifted back to human form behind a cluster of trees near the entrance, taking a deep breath to steady
myself. Okay. I'd made it.
But my heart sank as | looked down at my dress and saw what remained of it. The beautiful gown was now
nothing more than strips of oil-stained fabric hanging off my body. The corset had split completely down the
back, held together by only a few stubborn threads. The skirt was torn in multiple places,
revealing my legs.
“Fuck,” | whispered, panic settling over me. I'd shifted carelessly and ruined the dress even more.
| looked like I'd been in a fight with a pack of wild animals. | couldn't go in there like this!
But there was no tto find something else to wear. The ceremony was happening now, and Alexander
neededthere. Even if | looked like a disaster, even if everyone stared and whispered, | had to be by his
side.
| pulled the remaining fabric aroundas best | could and walked toward the main entrance of the cathedral
with my head held high. The massive wooden doors of the cathedral were flanked by security
guards in dark suits.
As | approached, both of them stepped forward, blocking my path.
“Ceremony is closed to the public,” one said, hardly even looking atlike | was skind of vagrant.” I'm
going to have to ask you to leave, ma'am.”
Share to your friends
word
word
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
word
word
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1
mmMwWLIiI0fiflO&1
NovelEnglish