Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 105
Chapter 105
Chapter 105
Selene
10 vouchers
I let out a soft, shaky breath as I stepped into the warm water, a quiet moan slipping past my lips when the warm water wrapped around my aching body. The bath was deep and wide, the steam curling in the air as I lowered myself in and leaned back against the cool stone wall.
My eyes fluttered shut on instinct, a faint frown settling on my face as I pressed one hand to my temple, because no matter how soothing the water felt, my mind was anything but calm.
Too many thoughts were swirling inside my head after that conversation with that crazy woman in the bedroom, and instead of settling, they only seemed to grow louder. My heart kept pounding in my chest in an uneven rhythm, and there was a tight, uncomfortable knot twisting in my stomach that refused to go away.
“You belong to our alpha now.”
Her words echoed in my mind, making my brow furrow even deeper.
What the hell was she talking about? How could I belong to their alpha just because we slept together? That made no sense. Agreeing to let him help me through my heat didn’t mean I had signed my life away to him.
“The moment he brought you here, he had already decided that you were his.”
That sentence followed right after, repeating itself like a curse, and my head began to ache from thinking about it. The more I turned it over in my mind, the stranger everything felt.
No wonder I had found it so odd that Alpha Damien had brought me into his pack. If what that woman said was true, then maybe he had never intended to let me go at all. But why would he do that over something like last night?
If this was about recognition or some twisted sense of claiming, it still didn’t add up.
We had only truly met face to face last night. The other two times, I had been in disguise. There was no way he could have recognized me back then, so why me out of all the women in the world? What had made him choose me?
The questions made me sigh, and I sank a little deeper into the water, letting it rise around my shoulders as if it could drown out my thoughts.
A soft voice suddenly spoke beside me, gentle and respectful. “My lady, shall I bathe you?”
I opened my eyes slowly, finally becoming aware of my surroundings again.
I had almost forgotten there was someone else in the room. The woman standing there was the servant assigned to me, Maeve, a beautiful blonde with sharp, observant eyes that made it obvious she wasn’t just here to help. She was here to watch me too.
I looked at her for a moment before shaking my head.
“No need,” I said quietly.
The last thing I wanted was another pair of hands on me right now. Besides, Evelyn would probably be sad if she knew I let another maid do her job.
I missed her. By now she would have been chatting nonstop, trying to distract me from my worries. I wondered what was happening back in Mooncrest. I didn’t care about most of the people there, but Evelyn and Silas were different. They had to be worried, probably searching for me already.
And aside from my revenge, that was another reason I needed to go back to Mooncrest, no matter what it took.
15:45 Thu, Jan 15
Chapter 105
10 vouchers
I glanced at Maeve again and found that she was still watching me, her posture polite but her attention sharp, as if every small movement I made was being quietly recorded.
I scooped a handful of warm water from the bath and poured it slowly over my arm, rubbing my skin to wash away the lingering scent of last night.
My body still ached faintly from what had happened, and when I looked down, I could see the marks scattered along my skin, the bruises and dark hickeys that made it painfully clear just how rough Alpha Damien had been with me. I didn’t linger on them, though. What was done was done, and staring at them wouldn’t change anything.
My attention shifted fully back to Maeve.
First things first. When you find yourself in unfamiliar territory, especially territory that might belong to someone dangerous, you gather information. As much as you can, as quietly as you can. Only then do you decide your next move.
I couldn’t exactly call this enemy territory, not when they had given me a private bathhouse large enough to rival a palace, but knowing how dangerous Alpha Damien was, I wasn’t foolish enough to let my guard down.
I scooped more water and let it cascade over my shoulder, keeping my tone casual, light, as if I were merely making conversation. “That woman who visited me earlier,” I said, “she’s strong. I could feel it.”
I felt Maeve’s gaze sharpen slightly, but she said nothing.
I smiled faintly to myself and continued, unfazed. “For some reason, I think I’ve heard of her before. I’m not sure if it’s really her, though. They call her Androphonos, the Slayer of Men, don’t they?” I tilted my head, feigning curiosity. “If that really is her, that’s so cool. Or am I mistaken?”
There was a brief silence before Maeve finally spoke, her voice measured. “You’re very curious, my lady. I apologize, but I’m not allowed to give out information.”
I turned my head slightly to look at her, my expression soft and understanding. “Ah, I see. That makes sense, I was just
curious.”
I let out a small, almost excited laugh and continued, careful to keep any sharpness out of my words. “I really think the Crimson Pack is unique. I’ve heard stories about it since I was little. Everyone seems terrified of your pack, but honestly, I’ve always found it interesting.” My eyes brightened. “Now that I’m here, I can’t even hide my excitement. Everyone I’ve met is so beautiful… including you. Your skin is flawless. I’m so jealous.”
Maeve stiffened slightly, then flushed, clearly not expecting that. When she looked at me again, it was with a different expression, one mixed with surprise and uncertainty, as if she were seeing me in a new light.
I shook my head lightly and added, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t get carried away like that. I won’t ask anymore-”
“N-no, my lady,” Maeve interrupted quickly, taking a small step forward. “You can ask. I apologize for being cold earlier. I didn’t realize you were this excited about the pack.” She hesitated, then continued, “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you some things about the Crimson Pack.”
I smiled. “Really? Thank you, dear. Not only are you beautiful, you’re very kind too.”
Maeve’s face flushed even harder, and I had to stop myself from smiling too widely.
There were many ways to gather information, and brute force was only one of them. Sometimes, the easiest way was to make the other person lower their guard, to make them believe you were harmless, curious, and non-threatening.
And that was exactly what I was doing.
15:45 Thu, Jan 15 M G
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