Episode 22

The plush seats of the bus offered little comfort against the tremor of anticipation that ran through Luna. The roar of the crowd still echoed in her ears, a vibrant testament to the power of her voice, but the announcement, the one that had sent a jolt of adrenaline and a flutter of nerves through her, was all she could think about. A mate. She was to choose a mate, a king to stand beside her, from the very boys who had shared the stage with her. Max and Jordan, standing behind her, their faces etched with a mixture of concern and unwavering support, had been her anchors in that whirlwind of lights and cheers.

As the bus pulled away from the venue, the energy of the concert began to dissipate, replaced by the quiet hum of the engine and the soft murmur of conversation. Mr. Lee, ever the pragmatist, had steered them towards a rather opulent restaurant, a stark contrast to the backstage chaos. The air inside was hushed, the clinking of silverware a delicate counterpoint to the hushed tones of patrons. Luna, still in her stage attire, felt a strange disconnect, as if she were observing herself from a distance. She longed to shed the glittering persona and simply be Luna, the girl who was discovering a world of power and responsibility she’d never dreamed of.

She settled into a corner booth, the boys from Sunrise and Starlight filling the space around her, a familiar, comforting presence. Jordan, his brow furrowed in thought, sat opposite her, his gaze occasionally drifting towards her, a silent question in his eyes. Max, ever the optimist, was already dissecting the concert, his words a stream of enthusiastic praise. It was then, as Luna’s gaze swept across the opulent room, that she saw her.