Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 75
Chapter 75
Selene
Alpha Rhydian leaned back in his golden throne, releasing a long sigh. One of his hands came up to rub his forehead, his expression tightening as if he were deep in thought. The ministers kept whispering in frantic little clusters, nodding their heads, eyes darting toward me like I was suddenly some divine relic.
Even Luna Riley, who had been staring holes through me moments ago, looked like she was beginning to accept my words.
Of course they all believed me.
In their eyes, there was absolutely no reason for me to reject someone like Adrian. He was the heir to the Mooncrest Pack, blessed, powerful, admired, the ideal future alpha. Every woman in the pack would kill for the chance to be chosen by him.
I didn’t care about any of that. My happiness was more important than that.
And maybe I was being kind, in a way. By fabricating a vision, I gave them hope that the phoenix’s appearance wasn’t the beginning of doom.
Sure, I was lying through my teeth, but it was a very convenient lie.
Alpha Rhydian finally lifted his head and looked at me again. “Child,” he said slowly, “did the Moon Goddess give you a specific time period for this devotion? Perhaps…. once she is satisfied, you and Adrian can-”
I shook my head firmly before he even finished.
“Even though I wish things were different,” I said, letting a bit of sadness slip into my voice, “I don’t believe that would be right. I don’t know how long the goddess will require my devotion. It could be years… decades. Prince Adrian needs a mate. And the pack needs a Luna. I cannot keep him waiting.”
A murmur swept through the ministers.
Alpha Rhydian nodded. “That is true.”
He turned toward Luna Riley. “What do you think?”
The Luna watched me carefully, still searching for cracks, or any flicker of deceit. But I stayed perfectly composed.
When she found nothing, she gave a small nod.
“Her words make sense,” Luna Riley said. “If she truly had the vision, then it would be wise to let Adrian mark another woman. We don’t know when the goddess will be appeased. And a pack cannot remain without a Luna for too long.”
Instead of irritation, I was satisfied with her answer.
Good. It was exactly the direction I wanted them to go.
Alpha Rhydian absorbed her words, thoughtful once more. After a long pause, he exhaled and turned back to me. “It seems, there is no other choice. The Moon Goddess’s will is absolute.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“I am very pleased with you, Selene,” the Alpha said. “Not only did you play a beautiful melody during the coming-of-age ceremony, but you have proven yourself selfless, placing the fate of the world above your own happiness.”
He shook his head with a sorrowful smile. “I never realized you possessed such qualities. What a pity. You would have been a perfect Luna, and a perfect match for Adrian.”
02
Chapter 75
A perfect Luna?
What was the use of being perfect? I had been the perfect Luna in my past lives, and yet those lives still ended in betrayal, humiliation, and death. Perfection had saved nothing.
So I simply bowed my head, because soon, they would no longer be my problem. And Adrian would no longer be my curse.
Alpha Rhydian turned to the court, his voice firm as he addressed the ministers. “I have decided that when Prince Adrian returns from his affairs, he will reject Selene, the Moonborn.”
No one dared oppose him. One by one, the ministers lowered their heads.
“Yes, Alpha,” they all answered.
The Alpha turned back to me, expression softening.
“You have done well, Selene,” he said. “I will make sure you are properly rewarded for this. And if you are ever faced with a problem, come to me. I will do my best to protect you.”
“Thank you, Alpha.”
His gaze shifted past me, toward my father. The man stiffened immediately, shoulders tensing, his eyes darting down as if afraid to meet the Alpha’s gaze. “And you will listen to your daughter from now on. Show her the obedience and respect a Moonborn deserves.”
My father bowed quickly. “Yes, Alpha.”
The Alpha gave a curt nod, rising to his full height as he offered his hand to Luna Riley.
“This meeting is adjourned,” he declared. “Beta Maverick.”
A middle-aged man stepped forward from behind the throne without hesitation.
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Record today’s proceedings,” the Alpha instructed. “Send the report to the other Alphas so they can finally rest easy regarding the phoenix’s appearance.”
Maverick bowed deeply. “As you command.”
With that, Alpha Rhydian and Luna Riley exited the hall, Beta Maverick following closely behind them.
Silence fell the moment the royal family disappeared from view.
The ministers shifted immediately, clearly itching to talk to me now that the Alpha was gone. I didn’t give them the chance. I turned on my heel and started toward the exit, already done with this hall and everyone in it.
I only made it a few steps before a hand clamped around my wrist.
“Stop, Selene.”
The grip was firm. I inhaled through my nose, forcing my shoulders to stay relaxed, and slowly turned my head to look
back.
My father stood there, fingers locked around my wrist, his face pale. Fear, confusion, and something that almost looked like regret flashed across his features. But I knew him well enough to see through the illusion, he didn’t feel regret. A man like him never did. What he truly wanted was control, a way to bend me to his will, especially now that the Alpha favored me.
I met his gaze without flinching, “Let go.”
“I” He started, but before he could say anything, a shadow stepped forward.
Lucas.
He moved silently, but the moment he came to my side, the entire atmosphere shifted. His presence towered over my father like a predator stepping into the light.
Lucas’s lips curved into a lazy, dangerous smirk.
“Let go of her,” he said, voice low. “You don’t have the right to hold onto my prey.”
My father’s hand snapped open immediately. He didn’t even know who Lucas was, and yet something about him forced instinct to override pride. Even the ministers stiffened and looked toward Lucas with wide eyes, none daring to step closer. It was as if they expected him to shift into some monstrous beast at any moment.
My father blinked, snapping himself out of his initial fear.
“Y-your prey?” he stammered, voice trembling despite his attempt at authority. “Do you know who you’re talking to? How dare
you speak like—”
Lucas bared his sharp teeth. And behind those bored, half-lidded eyes, a flicker of something bright and burning flashed.
“Do you know who you’re talking to?” Lucas asked, as if the whole hall were nothing but a mild annoyance to him.
My father swallowed hard. “Who are you?”
Before Lucas could say something stupid, I stepped in.
“He is Lucas,” I said calmly, meeting my father’s startled eyes. “My new guard.”
His expression hardened immediately. “A guard? And yet he dares to act this way? Get rid of him.”
I crossed my arms, completely unbothered.
“And why should I?”
A ripple of shock moved through the hall. My father’s jaw tightened; being spoken to like that by me, especially in front of others, was already bruising his pride.
“Because I am your father,” he snapped.
I stared at him like he’d just spoken the greatest joke in the world.
“Father?” I echoed softly. “When have you acted like a father before?”
He froze, but I didn’t care. “Please, stay out of my life. Don’t tell me what to do. And stop holding me as if you own me.”
He opened his mouth, but I cut him off.
“You wouldn’t want me to report this matter to the Alpha,” I said. Now, would you?”
His mouth snapped shut. His face paled. I lifted my chin. “As you can see, I’m very busy. Don’t bother me unless it’s important.”
I didn’t wait for a response. I turned around, and caught Lucas staring at me with something unreadable in his expression. Interest? Amusement? Approval? Who knew with him.
“Let’s go.” I said.
I walked away, my steps steady and unhurried.
Lucas followed behind me. Evelyn hurried after us with wide eyes. And my father remained standing in the hall, stunned and speechless.
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