Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 51
Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Selene
The courtyard was alive with music. Laughter and chatter spilled through, echoing off the marble walls.
Many noblewomen surrounded my stepmother, each one trying to outshine the other with their fake smiles. My stepmother stood at the center of them all, her chin raised. She basked in their attention, pretending to be humble while clearly enjoying every word of praise.
“Congratulations, Lady Jessica,” someone said, their tone dripping with admiration. “Sienna will have a full white wolf. What a blessing, it’s truly something to celebrate.”
My stepmother chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with pride.
“Thank you,” she said sweetly. “I’m so happy for my stepdaughter. She’s always been so talented and beautiful. I can’t wait to see her white wolf.”
Another woman leaned closer, whispering just loud enough for others to hear. “You’re so kind. I’ve never seen anyone so devoted to their stepchildren. It’s as if you gave birth to Sienna yourself.”
My stepmother placed a hand over her chest and gave a modest laugh. “Sienna has always been a good girl since she was young. Of course, I love her as my own.”
Not far away, my father was deep in conversation with the other noble men. “I can’t wait to see the white wolf,” he said proudly. “I know Sienna will make our family proud.”
Kane, standing with a group of men, wore that usual smug expression of his. “If any of you idiots think you can touch Sienna after she gets her wolf,” he said with a smirk, “I’ll kill you.”
Cross didn’t bother to join in. He simply drank and watched everything with that calm look of his.
From where I stood, I heard everything.
There was no expression on my face. I had learned long ago not to waste them/ Everyone believed Sienna would be the one blessed by the moon goddess.
That was fine. I wanted it that way. I wanted to set the stage perfectly, to make their shock that much sweeter.
I had already finished what needed to be done, but I waited, leaning lazily against the great oak tree at the edge of the forest. My arms were crossed, my eyes half-lidded as the music drifted through the air.
I heard the sound of a branch snapping behind me. I tilted my head slightly, not surprised.
Sienna stumbled out from between the trees. Her elegant dress was torn in several places, streaked with dirt and blood. Thin scratch marks lined her arms and neck, and her perfect white hair, once styled into careful curls, was now a tangled mess of leaves and twigs.
She looked as though she had crawled through hell itself.
The sight made my lips twitch in amusement. It was honestly worth the wait.
I pushed myself away from the tree, and as I did, a branch broke under my heel. The sudden sound made Sienna gasp. She whipped around, her face pale, clutching a long stick like a weapon.
“Who’s there?” she cried out, panic lacing her voice. “Don’t hurt me! I’ll kill you!”
The branch came swinging wildly toward me, but I caught it easily mid-air, my grip firm.
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Chapter 51
“Hurt you?” I scoffed, my voice cool. “Now why would I do that?”
Her breath caught. Slowly, her wide eyes lifted to meet mine.
“Selene?” Sienna whispered, her voice trembling. She stared at me, eyes wide and raw. Fear sharpened the edges of her face; for a moment she looked as if she could not believe what was happening.
“Y-you… what colour is your wolf, Selene?” she asked.
I smirked, the smile slow. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
She flinched like I had slapped her. “Impossible…” she muttered, as if saying it would make it less true.
I turned, ready to go. “Let’s go. They must all be waiting.”
Her fingers closed on my sleeve. The hold was desperate. She shook her head, voice pitched low. “Selene, please-don’t.”
I crossed my arms and pulled my sleeve free. “Don’t what?”
Her cheeks flushed a painful red. She bit her lip, then blurted, “D-don’t show them your wolf. If you have the white wolf, please don’t let anyone know. Not tonight. Father… they’ll be disappointed in me. You know how they are. They’ll put everything on me. If I fail them, they’ll be furious.”
Disgust washed through me. She wanted me to hide what I had been given so she could keep the spotlight, keep her comfortable place.
Mira’s voice slid into my head. ‘Shameless.’
‘Tell me about it.’
‘I can get rid of her if you want. I should have my revenge for what she put me through.’
I felt the hungry part of myself lean toward that thought. I shook my head. ‘Not yet. A fast death would be mercy. But I promise you this, one day she will pay. You will be the one to take her life?
Mira did not answer in words, but I felt the agreement between us.
I turned back to Sienna. “So you want me to hide because you’re afraid of what Father and everyone else will think? Because you want all their praise and expectations for yourself? Tell me, Sienna, does that request make any sense to you?”
She swallowed, her eyes flicking away before forcing herself to meet mine. “Y-yes. Of course it does. I’ve always made them proud. I carry their hopes so they don’t look at you. You should be thanking me, Selene. You’ve been free all this time because nobody expected anything from you.”
Her voice trembled slightly, but she kept talking. “Everything I’ve done… I did it for you. If you show them your wolf, you’ll lose that freedom. You won’t be able to do whatever you want anymore.”
I sighed, pressing a hand to my temple. Even talking to Sienna felt like I was slowly losing my brain cells. Every word that came out of her mouth grated on my nerves, yet the more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I was angry at myself because I had fallen for her every single time in my past lives.
It was so obvious. Her sweet smiles, her sisterly concern, her gentle words that were meant to protect me, none of it had been real. All of it had been carefully designed to make me hide my power so that she could shine as the Moonborn.
In my past lives, I had listened to her like a fool.
I had thought Sienna was kind. That she was trying to help me avoid unnecessary attention. So I’d hidden my wolf. Pretended I didn’t have one. I had gone before the entire pack and said that I was wolfless.
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Chapter 51
And then the rumors began.
That I had used dark magic.
That I’d stolen Sienna’s wolf.
That I’d hidden mine to avoid suspicion.
It spread like wildfire, and suddenly everyone was whispering that my holy white wolf was tainted, and impure.
And all that time, it had been her plan.
I smiled. “Okay.”
She sighed in relief, and said in her mind. “Thank the gods. She’s still dumb. I just need to find a way to make her white wolf seem worthless.”‘
My smile grew wider. Oh, Sienna, I thought. You really have no idea who you’re playing with this time.
“Thank you, Selene,” she said sweetly, reaching to hold my hand. “You know I’m doing this for you, right?”
“Of course,” I replied with a perfectly innocent smile.
“Good,” she said brightly. “Let’s go back and show everyone we’re back.”
We walked together into the courtyard. The cool air brushed against my skin as everyone turned to look at us, my father, stepmother, and brothers all waiting expectantly.
My stepmother immediately spoke up, her voice breathless with anticipation. “Sienna, how is it? Do you have the white wolf?”
Sienna bit her lip, pretending to be shy. “I”
But before she could finish, a deep voice echoed across the courtyard, one word that froze everyone.
“Mate.”
Every head turned.
Prince Adrian was sitting casually in his chair, his green eyes gleaming like polished emeralds. The Alpha’s eyes widened. “Mate? Is your mate really one of them?”
My stepmother gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. “Oh my goddess!” she cried, tears of joy already brimming in her eyes. “Finally, Sienna! I knew you were the Prince’s mate!”
The courtyard erupted with excitement. Everyone surrounded Sienna, congratulating her. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and joy.
No one noticed Adrian’s gaze was fixed entirely on me.
And no one saw how my fists clenched at my sides, my heart pounding painfully. The bond thrummed under my skin, that familiar pull, one that I wanted so badly to ignore,
Normally, Mira would have howled mate by now, her voice echoing through my head. But this time, she was silent.
She had given up on him, and his wolf. Just when everyone’s excitement reached its peak, the world seemed to slow.
Adrian moved. In a flash, he stood in front of me. The courtyard went silent, and every whisper died.
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Chapter 51
His scent wrapped around me as he lifted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze. Then, without hesitation, his arm slid around my waist, pulling me close.
“My mate,” he said firmly, his voice low and certain.
12:52 Tue, Dec 23
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