Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 110
Chapter 110
Adrian
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My hand clenched on its own, fingers curling so tightly that my nails bit into my palm. I barely felt the pain. My heart was pounding too fast, each beat loud in my ears, drowning out every other sound as my mind spiraled out of control. I couldn’t react or answer. All I could do was stare at the formidable man in front of me, my shock so deep it rooted me in place.
Memories of the garden surged forward.
I had been thrown across the wall like I weighed nothing, my body crashing into the wall before I could even understand what had happened. I didn’t see the person until the moment I was torn away from Selene. One moment I was there, the next I was flying. That alone told me everything I needed to know about how terrifyingly powerful that person was.
I had never felt anything like it.
Not even Ian’s aura compared to that moment. That presence had been overwhelming. For a split second, it had felt as though I was standing before a god, something ancient and untouchable. Someone who didn’t need to acknowledge me to erase me. The fact that I was still alive felt less like mercy and more like indifference.
My gaze dropped to my hands, still trembling slightly.
What I couldn’t understand was why that person would dare to attack me knowing exactly who I was. I was the prince of the Mooncrest Pack. And yet, that person had thrown me aside without hesitation or concern for consequence.
Did he not value his life? And worse, why take Selene?
She was Moonborn, my mate. What could anyone possibly want with her? The thought spiraled darker when another realization struck me.
Her heat.
My jaw tightened, irritation flaring hot in my chest. The idea of another man anywhere near Selene made something ugly twist inside me. It didn’t matter how irrational it was, it didn’t sit right. It angered me. No, it infuriated me. Selene wasn’t someone anyone could just touch.
She would never allow it.
At least, that was what I told myself, clinging to the thought like a lifeline. Selene was in love with me. She would never let another man lay hands on her.
Nothing happened. Nothing could have happened. I repeated it in my head, forcing the thought down even as doubt tried to claw its way up.
This wasn’t what I should be thinking.
What mattered was finding her.
11:05 Wed, Jan 21 ..
Chapter 110
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I had to find her. No matter the cost. No matter who stood in my way. Selene was my mate, and I would not allow her to disappear without tearing the world apart to get her back.
“Prince Adrian.”
Ian’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I snapped out of it, my head lifting sharply as I finally remembered I wasn’t alone. My eyes met his, those cold, piercing blue eyes that looked less like a man’s and more like a war god’s. My frown deepened instinctively. Selene being taken was only one problem.
The other stood right in front of me.
Ian Bloodrose.
Few people knew this, but Ian cared deeply for Selene. More than anyone. Before he left for the front lines, he had made me promise that nothing would ever happen to her. And now she was gone. Judging by his presence alone, it was obvious he had come here the moment he heard. He might have halted an entire war to sit in this room.
There was no universe where he would take this lightly.
His gaze bore into me as he spoke again, his voice calm. “From what I heard, my sister rejected you. Don’t tell me her disappearance was some kind of revenge, your highness?”
My chest tightened.
I didn’t like that question. I didn’t like the implication behind it. No matter how strong he was, Ian had no right to accuse me of something like that. Anger sparked, my mouth opening as I prepared to defend myself, when the door suddenly opened.
My head turned instinctively.
My father stepped in first, followed by my mother, and then Avery. Behind them came Cross, Kane, and Sienna.
When my mother noticed I was awake, she froze for a second before rushing toward me, looking relieved. She wrapped her arms around me tightly, holding me as if I might disappear if she let go.
“Oh, thank the Moon Goddess you’re awake,” she said, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound composed.
Before I could even process her words, Sienna was there too, stepping close on my other side. She reached for my hand and clasped it between both of hers. “Prince Adrian, are you okay?” she asked softly. “I was so worried. I thought something terrible had happened to you.”
I looked at them, but I didn’t respond. My thoughts were still tangled with the remnants of that dream. The image of Sienna standing beside me as I rejected Selene flashed through my mind. Without a word, I slowly pulled my hand away from hers.
The movement was subtle, but not unnoticed.
11:05 Wed, Jan 21
Chapter 110
A
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For a brief moment, I caught the flicker of annoyance that crossed Sienna’s face, her brows drawing together almost imperceptibly. It vanished just as quickly, replaced by the same gentle expression she always wore so well, but the damage was already done. The unease in my chest deepened.
Avery stepped forward. I assumed she was coming to hug me as well, maybe to scold me lightly for worrying everyone. I barely had time to register her expression before her hand came up and struck my face with a sharp crack.
The sound echoed through the room.
Everyone froze.
My head snapped slightly to the side from the force, my cheek stinging. My mother stared at Avery in shock, her eyes wide.
“Avery!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing?”
Avery didn’t answer. She raised her hand again, fury blazing in her eyes, clearly intending to strike me a second time. Instinct finally kicked in. I caught her wrist mid-air, my fingers closing around it firmly.
“Stop it, Avery,” I said, my voice low.
She struggled against my grip, trying to yank her hand free. “Let me go, you asshole,” she snapped, her voice shaking with anger.
My mother stepped closer, clearly panicked now. “Avery, enough! Why are you doing this?”
Avery turned her head sharply toward her, her eyes burning. “Why am I doing this?” she repeated, her voice rising. “Because Adrian is a scumbag. I know he doesn’t care about anything but the pack, but how could he be so careless? How could he let Selene disappear from his sight?”
Her words hit harder than the slap.
“If he can’t even protect his mate,” she continued, her voice cracking despite her anger, “how is he supposed to protect anything? All of this is his fault. Why didn’t you protect Selene?”
I couldn’t answer.
My grip loosened slightly, my mind going blank as her accusation echoed in my mind. I didn’t know Avery cared about Selene this much. I didn’t expect this kind of reaction from her. And even though I wanted to deny it, and defend myself, there was a part of me that knew that her words weren’t entirely wrong.
If I couldn’t protect Selene, then what right did I have to call myself the future Alpha of the pack?
“Princess Avery, please,” Sienna said quickly, stepping forward, her voice urgent. “Don’t blame Prince Adrian for this. It wasn’t his fault that he-”
She didn’t get to finish.
Avery’s free hand came up without hesitation and struck Sienna across the face, the sound just as sharp as before.
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