Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 74
Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Selene
“Good afternoon, Alpha. Good afternoon, Luna.” I bowed my head to the Alpha.
Alpha Rhydian’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Rise, Selene.”
I lifted my head, feeling the weight of countless eyes on me, all trying to intimidate me.
In the past. I would have trembled under their stares, shrinking into myself, apologizing for even existing. They always said I had no backbone, and they weren’t wrong. Before I became a warrior, I lacked the courage to make a decision and see it through, but not this time.
This time, my back was straight. My chin was high. My eyes met the Alpha’s directly, sparing no glance for anyone else in the room. This conversation would decide everything, my life, my freedom, and whether I would be forced back into the cycle with Adrian again.
And, that would not happen.
I would never be Adrian’s mate, or the next Luna of Mooncrest, in this life, not even if fate forced it upon me.
Behind me, someone muttered under their breath, “Look at her, whenever I see that black and white hair, I get chills.”
Another whispered, “Exactly. I still can’t believe she’s the Moonborn. It doesn’t make sense.”
“If it doesn’t make sense,” I said, my voice calm but cutting, “are you implying the Moon Goddess made a mistake?”
The hall froze at my words, and the ministers stiffened, fear flickering across their faces. Alpha Rhydian and Luna Riley turned their gazes on me, sharper and more calculating than before.
If I showed even the slightest weakness now, speaking to the Alpha would become impossible. They would talk over me, dismiss me, and degrade me, worse than they ever had in past lives. So I met each minister’s eyes one by one.
“If you are questioning the Moon Goddess, then you must be punished. No matter who you are.”
One minister physically stepped back. Another swallowed hard. No one dared to look at me again.
Saying the Moon Goddess made a mistake was a sin, punishable by death. And besides, they feared my wolf. Even without seeing her, they felt her. She was the most powerful wolf in the world, second only to Dominic’s.
Alpha Rhydian chuckled suddenly, the sound echoing through the hall. “Interesting, I don’t think I’ve ever seen my ministers this afraid of anyone except me and Adrian.”
A few of them flinched at the comparison.
“You will make a good leader, Selene,” the Alpha continued. “You know how to use your words accordingly. You are right. No one should dare question the Moon Goddess.”
His gaze swept the room. “I trust that is clear to everyone?”
The ministers coughed, stared at the floor, and bowed their heads. “Yes, Alpha.”
Alpha Rhydian turned his attention back to me, his voice steady but edged with weariness. “I intended to invite you to the palace earlier, Selene, but these past days have been hectic for everyone. Even before your arrival, we were discussing the phoenix’s release.”
The moment he said phoenix, my body reacted before I could stop it. I glanced behind me.
12:58 Tue, Dec 23 ! M
Chapter 74
Lucas stood at the back with Evelyn and the eunuch, arms crossed, posture relaxed, and expression bored, he was clearly irritated by the entire display, yet he remained, because he promised to behave.
When his eyes met mine, his lips curled in that insufferably knowing smirk.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
Alpha Rhydian noticed my momentary distraction.
“What happened, Selene? Are you alright?”
I straightened. “Ah-yes. I apologise, Alpha.”
He nodded slowly. “You must be concerned about the temple. Do not worry, I’ve already sent troops to protect both you and the temple, in case the phoenix attempts an attack.”
If only he knew the phoenix was already standing right in front of him.
I kept my expression calm and inclined my head in a slight bow. “Thank you for your generosity, Alpha Rhydian.”
“Now that the greetings are over,” he continued, “let us address the reason I summoned you. It concerns your mate bond with Adrian and the request you made the other day. Would you kindly repeat it? You may change your wish if you wish,
Selene.”
I didn’t change it. I repeated it firmly. “My wish is to reject Prince Adrian as my mate.”
A collective gasp echoed through the hall.
“She actually said it again?!”
“Reject Prince Adrian? Is she insane?”
“Why would she reject him? What is she thinking?”
“I see…” Alpha Rhydian exhaled, but before he could speak further, Luna Riley’s voice cut in.
“Selene, is there a reason you wish to reject Adrian?”
I turned to face her.
She continued, “Is it because people around you disapprove of the union? You told the court just now that no one should question the Moon Goddess’ decision, yet here you are, wanting to reject your given mate. Isn’t that contradicting yourself?”
If I could describe the Luna of the Mooncrest pack in one word, it would be smart. She was not merely intelligent, but also strategic.
She was the kind of woman who could sew a broken situation back together with nothing but her voice. While Alpha Rhydian decided the laws, she was the one who used persuasion to steer outcomes her way.
The pack valued her for that. And just like the alpha, she wanted Sienna as the future Luna,
In all my past lives, she had always adored Sienna. Treated her like a daughter-in-law long before my mate bond with Adrian had ever been confirmed. She was the one who gave Sienna access to the palace, encouraged her closeness with Adrian, and openly praised her. Back then, I used to choke on jealousy every time I saw it.
I had always felt like a shadow in the place where Sienna shined.
Even now, I could still see the disappointment in her eyes, that I was the Moonborn instead of the girl she preferred. She wanted Sienna, yet she had no choice but to oppose my rejection. After all, it would be a disgrace to the royal family if the
12:58 Tue, Dec 23 MG.
Chapter 74
prince were turned down.
I had already decided what to say.
“That.” I answered calmly, “is precisely why I am doing this.”
The Luna’s brows pulled together. “What?”
I met her eyes. “On the day I received my wolf, I had a revelation from the Moon Goddess.”
The Alpha straightened, fully alert. “A revelation? You did?”
I nodded slowly. “Yes, Alpha Rhydian.”
“And what was revealed?” he asked.
I let out a dejected sigh. “She told me a calamity will occur soon.”
“Oh gods… is she talking about the phoenix?” a minister murmured under his breath.
“I don’t know what form the calamity will take. The Moon Goddess didn’t tell me what it was. But considering everything happening these days, it must be connected.”
Alpha Rhydian’s expression hardened with worry. “Are you certain?”
“Yes, Alpha,”
The Luna’s eyes narrowed, sharp with suspicion. “But if such a revelation occurred, Selene, why didn’t you speak up sooner?”
I remained calm, meeting her gaze. “At first, I thought it was just a dream. It didn’t make sense, but I still chose to reject Prince Adrian that day, just in case it wasn’t an illusion. Later, I tried to tell my father, but he dismissed me before I could even finish a single sentence. No one believed me.”
Everyone in the hall slowly turned toward my father, and the color drained from his face.
His eyes widened, confused, stunned, and unsure if he should defend himself/or stay silent. I almost wanted to laugh. Everything I said was fabricated, but he also couldn’t protest, because there were countless times he had cut me off without hearing a single word. He didn’t know whether one of those moments might’ve actually been important.
Alpha Rhydian slammed his palm against the throne’s armrest.
CRACK!
The echo thundered through the hall, and everyone jumped.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Bloodrose!” the alpha roared, his power blasting through the air. “Why didn’t you listen to your daughter?! She is the Moonborn, the Moon Goddess’s chosen blessing! Anything she says should be your first priority!”
My father trembled visibly, lowering his head even further.
“You dare dismiss her words?” the alpha continued, voice rising with fury. “If you had taken her seriously, we might have been prepared, before disaster struck! Do you understand the consequences of your negligence?!”
My father bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the floor. “Forgive me, Alpha, it is my fault. I take full responsibility. From now on, I will pay more attention to my daughter.”
“It’s too late for that!”
Chapter 74
Father flinched again.
I stared at him, cold and unmoved. To me, my family had already become little more than tools, pieces to be moved on a board until my revenge was complete. My sympathy for them had died long ago.
Alpha Rhydian dragged his gaze away from my father and turned fully toward me. “Child, did the Moon Goddess say anything else to you? Anything we must know? Tell me so we can stop the calamity”
I lowered my eyes, and nodded. “Yes, she did.”
The hall leaned forward. I lifted my head and spoke in a mournful voice.
“She told me that in order to stop the calamity, I must devote myself fully to her with no distractions. And…” I paused, letting my voice tremble just a little, “I must stay away from men until she is satisfied with my devotion. I must never be someone’s mate. That is why I cannot be Prince Adrian’s mate. Even though my feelings for him are still there, I cannot act based on my own desires when the world itself is at stake.”
The ministers stared at me, no longer with contempt or doubt, but with awe, and admiration. It was the reaction I wanted.
“I must reject Prince Adrian,” I finished, “because the Moon Goddess needs my devotion more than I need my own happiness.”
The hall fell silent.
I stood there, the image of a girl sacrificing love for the sake of the world. But deep inside, I felt absolutely nothing but satisfaction.
Once, I never imagined myself manipulating a single soul. But now, no matter the cost, I will accomplish everything I set out to do.
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