NovelEnglishThe camera crew set up around the small circle of chairs
while Nathan stepped inside of it.
Everyone waited until the crew indicated that they were ready. Nathan gave them a signal, and little red lights turned on, on the cameras.
Nathan clicked on his own false persona then, smiling for the camera and talking way too loud and fast. "We are here on the royal getaway island about to reveal the next event." "What could it be?" Bridget gasped dramatically. A camera closed in on her, which put the camera man right in front of me. | guessed | wasn't going to make the cut for the broadcast today.
Nathan continued, "A race." Bridget started to clap.
Julian rolled his eyes. Beside him, Veronica was still reading. Nicholas's frown deepened slightly. Jessica
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtlooked pale.
I didn't know how to feel.
*The race will be a combination of both swimming and running along a preassigned course starting on the beach," Nathan said. "This will test your athletic prowess. A Luna must always be in peak physical condition to overcome all the hurdles she must face in her day to day." | caught my frown at the last second and schooled my face into something more neutral. The current Luna wasn't ‘someone | would call in peak physical condition. | didn't mean that as an insult. | just wasn't sure I'd want to be her running mate in a triathlon or anything.
But to say so would be treason, so | held my tongue.
"I'm so excited," Bridget said, looking at the camera. "Like the Luna, as an actor, | also need to keep my physique in peak form. Some of the roles can certainly be challenging.
I truly feel as if | will excel in this event." Nathan nodded at Bridget. Then he, and the cameras, turned to Jessica.
Jessica stared back for a minute, until Nathan made a gesture to indicate she should be talking.
*1, uh... I'm not particularly athletic... | have other qualities..." She lowered her head. "But I'll do my best." Nathan and the cameras went around the circle. They skipped over Nicholas and Julian and landed on Veronica.
Veronica still hadn't looked up from her book. | wasn't sure she had listened to Nathan at all. Did she even know what the event was?
Nathan cleared his throat, but Veronica didn't lift her gaze.
After another couple of disinterested minutes, Nathan forced the cameras away, turning them instead to
me.
If this had happened before | had been reconnected with Miracle, my wolf, | might have had some concern about what was about to happen. As a human, | never would have been able to compete in a race with those who had wolves.
But now that Miracle was restored to me, | knew | had a shot.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm| wasn't sure | was as athletic as Bridget, but | was dead set on not letting her win easily.
"I think | have a real chance at winning," | said to the cameras. Nathan's expression relaxed slightly. He was probably relieved that | said anything, unlike Veronica.
The cameras came back to Nathan, and he ended the broadcast by telling the audience when and where to watch repeats of previous events, as well as when to watch this new one.
The race, it seemed, was to happen tomorrow.
That gave hardly any time to prepare.
As soon as the cameras were off, Nicholas hopped to his feet and approached me. "I need to speak with you." I stood and walked with him down to the far end of the deck where we couldn't be overheard. Bridget glared at me when no one else was looking, but | pretended not to notice.
"What's wrong?" | asked Nicholas.
Nicholas wore a heavy-set frown.
"Piper," he said. "You have to forfeit this event."
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