Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 76
Chapter 76
Selene
Lucas stepped forward, falling into place beside me. Behind us, Evelyn shot him a glare. I could practically feel the words she wanted to spit at him, but with the palace walls all around us, she wisely swallowed them and kept walking behind us.
Lucas waited for a moment before speaking, voice low with amusement. “I knew werewolves were liars, but I didn’t expect to see one lie so well that even I almost believed it, despite knowing you were lying.”
I shrugged. “Thanks for the compliment.”
He clicked his tongue. “I wasn’t complimenting you.”
“Mm. Sure.”
We walked a few more steps before he continued, his tone drifting into that careless drawl of his.
“And beside that, why don’t you want to be that man’s mate? From what I’ve gathered, those people are the royal family. If you become their son’s mate, you could rule the pack and eat whatever you want.”
Of course. The food part was the selling point for him.
“You’re right. There are many perks to becoming Adrian’s mate. I could be the Luna of the Mooncrest pack and have someone as perfect as Adrian at my side. But those things would lead to my death.”
He stopped walking, but I didn’t wait for him. I kept moving. After a second, Lucas hurried to catch up, falling in step beside me again.
“Is this family related to your deaths in your past lives?” he asked.
“You could say that. That’s why I have to do everything I can to avoid getting involved with the royal family. At least for now until I am strong enough to take revenge on everyone who had a hand in what happened to me.”
“Why waste time?” He shrugged. “You have me. I can burn the whole pack if you want.”
I shot him a look. “Like I said, you’d be giving them an easy death.”
“Tch.”
“And stop threatening to burn down things.”
He rolled his eyes but didn’t argue.
I was about to say something else when a maid stepped abruptly in front of me, blocking my path. “Good morning, lady Selene. Do you have time? Princess Avery would like to invite you to her courtyard.”
The maid stood in front of me, head bowed so low I could barely see her face, but I could feel the nervousness radiating off her. She waited for my response with stiff shoulders, probably terrified that I would turn her away the way I used to do, back when I was too foolish to know who was truly on my side.
Princess Avery. Adrian’s younger sister. The only one in the royal family I didn’t dislike. I never treasured the way she deserved.
Out of everyone in the palace, she was the only one who had defended me without asking for anything in return. Even when I treated her with coldness, even when I ignored her invitations, even when Sienna whispered her lies into my ears and
Chapter 76
35 youn
convinced me that Avery disliked me, she still stood by me. During moments when the rest of the court laughed, Avery was the only one who stepped forward with her chin high, shielding me even when I acted like a fool.
I didn’t want to stay in the palace longer than necessary. But for Avery, I could tolerate it.
The maid swallowed nervously when I didn’t answer immediately, as if afraid I might snap at her.
“Lady Selene,” she said softly. “you don’t need to worry. Princess Avery only wishes to spend time with you. I promise she isn’t planning anything-”
“I know that,” I cut in.
Her head jerked up slightly, surprised.
“I was thinking about something else. Let’s go. I don’t want to keep her waiting.”
She looked shocked. She clearly hadn’t expected me to agree so easily. I didn’t blame her. Princess Avery had invited me countless times in the past, and every single time, I ignored her, because Sienna always said I shouldn’t go. And like the naive idiot I was, I listened.
Every time Sienna stopped me from going, she herself left the temple moments later, heading straight to the palace to see the princess, all while pretending she was protecting me. She probably spent those visits feeding Avery lies about me. And still, Avery invited me again and again, as if she believed in some version of me I had never bothered to be.
How foolish I once was.
“O-okay,” the maid finally managed, bowing quickly. “Please follow me, my lady. I will take you to her immediately.”
I nodded and took a step forward, but paused, glancing back over my shoulder.
“Can I ask for a favor before I go?”
The maid straightened immediately. “Of course, my lady. Whatever you need.”
“My guard and maid are hungry. Please serve them proper meals.”
The maid blinked for a moment, processing the request, then nodded. “Yes, my lady. I will make sure they are properly fed.”
She turned to the second maid beside her. “Take them to the kitchen. Tell the cooks to serve them whatever they request.”
The other maid bowed deeply and gestured for Lucas and Evelyn to follow.
Evelyn immediately stepped forward, shaking her head. “My lady, I’m fine. I don’t need food. I should follow you instead—”
I cut her off with a small shake of my head. “No. I can go on my own. And besides—” I folded my arms and tilted my chin toward Lucas. “I’m giving you a task. Make sure you watch him. Don’t allow him to cause any trouble.”
Lucas scoffed behind me. “Cause trouble? Me? I am always on my best behavior.”
I didn’t even try to hide my eye roll. “Yes. That sentence alone is exactly why someone needs to supervise you.”
Evelyn straightened like a soldier receiving her orders.
“Understood, my lady. I will make sure to carry out your command. Don’t worry, I will watch him like a hawk.”
“Good.”
Lucas’s mouth opened, clearly ready to defend his honour, but Evelyn simply placed a firm hand between his shoulders and pushed him toward the hallway.
Chapter 76
“Let’s go eat,” she told him in a tone that suggested she was prepared to drag him by the car if needed.
Lucas let himself be herded away, muttering dramatically under his breath about “tiny werewolf hands” and “being treated like a criminal,” but he didn’t resist.
Their voices faded behind me as I finally turned to follow the maid.
It didn’t take long before we reached Princess Avery’s courtyard, and the moment I stepped through the archway, I instantly knew I had entered her territory. Unlike my simple courtyard, Avery’s courtyard looked expensive. Everything sparkled, golden lanterns hanging from the eaves, polished marble floors that shimmered, delicate ornaments that glittered even in the shade.
Avery always did love beautiful, and shiny things.
The maid stopped in front of a tall set of double doors and knocked gently before calling out.
“Princess, it’s me. Lady Selene is—”
Before she could even finish, a distressed voice came from the other side of the door.
“She didn’t come with you, right?”
The maid stiffened. I almost laughed.
Before she could answer, Avery’s frantic voice continued, filled with frustration.
“She is so frustrating! This is the third time she’s rejected my invitation. I don’t understand! Does she hate being near me that much? We were so close when we were kids, why is she avoiding me now?”
The maid swallowed nervously and looked at me, silently asking if she should interrupt. I only shook my head slightly, a small smile tugging at my lips as I listened.
Avery wasn’t finished.
“Honestly, Molly, I really don’t know what to do anymore. What do you think I should do to make her talk to me? Should I use my princess authority and order her to come? No… no, that sounds too forceful. Maybe I should ask some guards to kidnap her and bring her here nicely. I just want to see her. I miss her beautiful face.”
“Did I tell you at the coming-of-age ceremony she smiled at me? I almost collapsed right there. But maybe she wasn’t smiling at me. Maybe she was smiling at someone behind me. Oh gods, what if I imagined it?”
When the maid still didn’t respond, Avery paused.
“Molly? Why aren’t you answering me? Is something wrong?”
The maid finally managed to stutter, “P-princess Avery, Lady Selene is-”
She didn’t finish because the door swung open.
Princess Avery appeared in the doorway with her hair slightly tousled, eyes bright with emotion, and when she lifted her gaze and saw me standing there, she froze completely.
Her eyes went wide. Her mouth dropped open. She looked like someone slapped her out of reality.
She took one tiny step backward.
“M-Molly,” she whispered, staring straight at me, “I think I’m hallucinating. I’ve been thinking about Selene too much. I’m starting to see her everywhere.”
Molly coughed loudly, stepping aside.
“Princess Avery… that is Lady Selene.”
Avery gasped so sharply I thought she might faint.
“W-what. That’s Selene?!”
I bowed my head politely and said, “Hello, Princess Avery. It’s nice to meet you.”
Avery blinked. “Oh gods, that’s her voice. It’s really her.”
36 Vouche
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