Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 122
Chapter 122
Selene
98
55 vouchers
Goosebumps raced across my skin the moment his fingers closed around my wrist, my breath catching before I could stop it. My heart slammed hard against my ribs, loud enough that I was sure he could hear it, and a strange, unfamiliar warmth spread through my body, curling low in my stomach as I stared at the man holding me in place. His grip was firm but not rough, and steady in a way that made my knees feel weak, and for some stupid, incomprehensible reason, my body reacted as if it had been waiting for this exact touch.
It made no sense.
Every part of me yearned toward him, an instinctive pull that was strong. I wanted to step closer, to lean into him, to feel that solid presence surrounding me, and the longer I stared at him, the harder it became to suppress the urge. There was a deep, unsettling familiarity there, a feeling that I knew this man somehow, that my body recognized him even if my mind refused to. And with that realization came an even more dangerous thought, that this stranger could be the very alpha I had been wanting to tear into for days now.
The most frustrating part was that if he truly was him, I should have known immediately. All it would take was one breath, one pull of his scent into my lungs, and I would have my answer. But because I had taken that damned scent-masking plant earlier to hide my scent, my senses were dulled, and useless at the worst possible moment. I couldn’t smell him or confirm anything.
There was another option, of course. A simple one. I could just reach up and pull the hood from his head, reveal his face, and put an end to this uncertainty. Yet something inside me resisted the idea.
A part of me didn’t want to know. Maybe I was afraid that my worst suspicion would be confirmed, that the man standing in front of me really was the demon of the West. Or maybe, for the first time in a very long time, I lacked the courage to face the truth.
The thought made me want to laugh.
Courage? Me? I was the type of person who never hesitated, who did whatever she wanted without fear of consequences, and yet here I was, unable to lift a piece of fabric because the man beneath it might be Damien.
Just what kind of person had I become because of him?
I met his gaze once more, my pulse racing, before forcibly tearing my eyes away. I pulled my hand from his grip, the loss of contact making my fingers feel cold, and muttered, “Hmm… thank you.”
The sound of my own voice made me cringe.
What the hell was wrong with me?
I sounded shy, and awkward. Like some delicate young lady caught alone with her crush. The realization was humiliating. I almost wanted to slap myself just to snap out of it.
“Are you okay, Noah?” Remi’s voice came from behind me, light and amused, dragging me out of the storm in my head.
9:47 Wed, Jan 28
Chapter 122
(98
55 vouchers
I turned to look at him, finding that easygoing smile still plastered on his handsome face, his eyes glistening with barely concealed interest, as though he were thoroughly enjoying every second of this. My brows furrowed, irritation bubbling up unexpectedly. For some reason, I had the overwhelming urge to punch him and wipe that expression right off his face.
I knew how people played games. I had played them myself. And I knew, without a doubt, that Remi was doing exactly that now.
I forced myself to calm down. First things first, I needed to understand why he had asked that question in the first place.
“Have I ever met the alpha before?” I repeated slowly. “That question seems a little strange to me, Doctor Remi. Is there a reason you’re asking that?”
Remi looked at me then, his gaze openly teasing, as if he could see straight through the thoughts I was trying so hard to keep buried.
A slow smile spread across his lips. “Of course not. There’s no reason for asking that. I was just curious.”
He slipped his hands into his pockets, continuing as though he were merely making casual conversation. “You see, a lot of young men come to the Crimson Warrior Rite because of the alpha. They’ll do anything just to be noticed by him, to earn even a glance of recognition. I thought you might be one of them.”
I studied him carefully. His words flowed smoothly. Too smoothly. On the surface, everything he said made sense, and anyone else might have believed him without question. But I knew better. There was something he wasn’t saying, and the way his eyes lingered on me told me he was far more aware than he let on.
I was just about to press him further when Remi suddenly glanced past me, his expression shifting to one of surprise. “Oh, would you look at that? We’re already here.”
I frowned slightly before turning around, and the moment I did, my breath caught in my throat.
A massive arena stretched out before us, so vast it seemed impossible to fill even with thousands of people. The ground was packed tight, the air filled with noise and anticipation. Warriors streamed in from every direction, bulky men with muscles, lean fighters whose light steps spoke of speed and agility, women with sharp eyes and confident strides, even older figures whose calm presence spoke of experience. Gender, age, background, it didn’t matter here. Strength was the only currency.
My eyes lit up as I took it all in.
I could feel it, some of them were strong. Truly strong. Stronger than most of the opponents I had faced in my past lives, and that realization sent a thrill through my veins. At first, I came here for the weapon. But now, standing before this place, my reasons shifted. If I fought these people, I would grow. Even if I didn’t reach the heights of my past lives, I would still become stronger than I was now. I could test my skills, sharpen my instincts, and push myself again.
And strength meant freedom. Strength meant revenge.
A slow smile spread across my lips, the last traces of my earlier wariness fading away.
Behind me, Remi spoke again. “Let’s go. I’ll make sure you’re registered quickly-”
9:47 Wed, Jan 28
Chapter 122
(6)
55 vouchers
I turned to him and cut him off. “Oh, it’s okay,” I said calmly. “Thank you for bringing me here. I can take care of the rest myself. Let’s part ways here.”
He looked like he wanted to argue, lips parting as if to say something else, but I didn’t give him the chance. I turned away, already stepping toward the arena, when my gaze caught on one last thing.
The man with blue eyes.
He was standing a short distance away, simply watching me. He hadn’t spoken once during the entire journey. Something about that calm, unwavering attention made my chest feel strangely tight. But I shook off the thought.
It was weird, but it wasn’t my problem.
It couldn’t be Alpha Damien. If it were him, he wouldn’t have let me walk this far, he would have captured me back to the palace. I nodded to myself, satisfied with that reasoning, and headed toward the arena without looking back.
In my mind, Mira’s voice echoed softly. ‘For someone who conquered so many packs in your past lives,’ she murmured, ‘you’re far slower than I thought.’
I raised an eyebrow, confused, but the voice faded before I could respond, leaving behind only the unsettling feeling that she was eagerly waiting for something to unfold.
AD
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