Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 81
Chapter 81
Selene
The whole courtyard went silent.
The servants who had been watching from afar, already whispering excitedly because they thought the gifts were for Sienna, froze in place the moment the eunuch’s voice echoed through the walls. Even the breeze seemed to stop. Kane blinked as if his brain refused to process the words. Sienna’s mouth hung open, her eyes fixed on the eunuch.
Even Evelyn, who practically dragged me out here because she believed the eunuch came for me, looked stunned.
I stared at the eunuch, then at the gifts, and pointed at myself. “Me?”
Sienna snapped out of her shock and jabbed her finger toward me as well. “Her?”
The eunuch nodded politely, unbothered by the tension thickening around him. “Yes, Lady Selene. The alpha instructed me to deliver everything to you.” His smile widened faintly. “He was very happy with you during your last visit and wished to express his appreciation. Therefore, he had me bring all these to you.”
I leaned back against the wall, taking in his words.
Happy? The alpha was that pleased with me? Pleased enough to send half the palace treasury to my doorstep?
When I looked more closely at the gifts, I could see glimmers of gold through the wrapping. There was solid gold, expensive jewelry, and rare fabrics. This wasn’t appreciation. This was appeasement. Almost as if he was trying to win favor from someone extremely important.
He really went all the way.
Sienna’s face darkened to a furious, blotchy red. The realization that none of this was for her hit so hard that she forgot to pretend. She snapped without thinking, voice sharp and ugly, “How is that possible? Why would the alpha give her so many things?”
Every head in the courtyard turned toward her.
Even Kane looked shockedl. He stared at her like he didn’t recognize her. In his eyes, Sienna was always elegant, gentle, and kind to everyone.
What a joke.
The eunuch’s polite expression finally cracked. He frowned. “Lady Sienna,” he said stiffly, “are you implying the alpha is wrong for bestowing gifts upon your sister?”
Sienna froze, realizing too late what she had let slip. She looked at Kane desperately, as if waiting for him to save her from her own stupidity.
He remained silent.
I felt my lips curl into a slow, mocking smirk. Selene was a two-faced brat who played innocent for the world but couldn’t stand anyone being chosen over her.
Sienna recovered first. In the blink of an eye, that fake smile spread across her face as she turned toward the eunuch with a graceful little bow.
“I-I apologize,” she said, voice trembling just enough to seem fragile. “I only care about my sister too much. When I saw all the gifts, I panicked. I thought it was too much for her. I only worry that if she receives so many expensive things, she might… spend them lavishly” She forced a soft laugh. “You know how Selene is. She never thinks before she spends. I just
“It’s okay, brother. Please don’t shout at sister.” She said, then turned toward me again and grabbed my hand with both of hers, smiling like a saint.
“Sister, you don’t need to hide it,” she said softly. “Father already told me everything. The alpha accepted your rejection. You’ll soon break things off with Prince Adrian.” Her smile widened. “One of the reasons you want to reject him is because of me, right? It’s because you want me and Adrian to be together.”
“… Huh?” I said flatly.
Kane coughed, straightening up with that arrogant air he always wore. “Well, even though you’re annoying, that’s pretty selfless of you. At least you still care about Sienna’s feelings.” He nodded at me, satisfied with himself. “You’re not so useless
after all.”
I stared at the two of them for a long moment. And then I couldn’t hold it anymore.
I burst out laughing.
The sound exploded out of me, echoing around the room, far too loud for the situation. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I grabbed my stomach, laughing harder the more I looked at their faces.
Sienna froze like a startled deer.
Kane stared at me as if I had lost every last brain cell.
My laughter continued, shaking my shoulders. gods, it felt good. They were so stupid that I couldn’t help it.
Kane finally snapped. “What is wrong with you? Why are you laughing like we said something stupid?”
I wiped the small tear at the corner of my eye and slowly calmed myself. A soft chuckle escaped me.
“Because
you did say something stupid,” I said, smirking. “No wonder you two were being a nuisance.”
Sienna blinked rapidly. “W-what are you saying, Selene?”
I leaned back against the pillow behind me, crossing my arms casually as I looked between them.
“Was that what Father said? Did he actually tell you I rejected Adrian because of you? Oh, don’t be delusional, Sienna. You were the last thing I was thinking about yesterday. Why would I reject my mate because of a manipulative person like you?”
The embarrassment hit her immediately, her cheeks turned red all the way to her ears. She faltered for a second, her real expression cracking, before she remembered to act pitiful again.
“R-really, sister?” she whispered, voice wavering just enough to seem delicate. “I thought… you did it because you knew I liked Prince Adrian. I didn’t mean to make it a big deal, I was just so happy…”
I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. There she went again acting innocent. Only a fool would fall for that performance.
And Kane naturally fell for it within a second.
“Selene! There you go again, acting mean to Sienna. She’s always nice to you. Even if you didn’t do it for her, you don’t have to be so cruel. You could at least lie to make her feel better.”
I stuck a finger in my ear as if cleaning it, not even looking at him.
That, of course, made him even angrier.
“Ugh!” he hissed.
I sighed lazily. “You know the door. I don’t want to see your faces, so leave.”
Kane scoffed. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what her reason was. At the end of the day, she already decided to reject the prince.” He turned to Sienna with a proud smile. “That means Adrian will be yours, Sienna. You” be the next Luna of the pack. You deserve it.”
Sienna blushed deeply and then turned back toward me with a soft smile.
“Yes, sister,” she said. “Thank you so much. Even though you’re Prince Adrian’s mate, I hope you can give him to me since we already have some chemistry. You won’t be angry, right?”
My eyebrow twitched.
“The Luna and even the Alpha like me,” she continued, smiling wider. “I’ll make sure when you’re ready to have a mate, I’ll find someone perfect for you.”
Kane nodded eagerly, puffing out his chest. “Yes. I’ll make one of my friends court you,” he said as if he was offering me the greatest favor in the world. “You’re pretty, and the moonborn. At least one of them might want you.”
They wanted to annoy me, but I just stared at them flatly. They could talk all they wanted. Sienna could have Adrian. I didn’t want him anymore.
Behind me, I could feel Evelyn fuming. Her anger radiated off her. I could practically sense her preparing to leap forward and tear both of them apart with her bare hands. I was about to shut them up, but there was a knock on the door.
Sienna and Kane paused and turned to me, as if waiting for an explanation. I raised an eyebrow.
Why were they looking at me like I was expecting someone? I wasn’t. Why on earth did people keep coming today of all days?
Another knock followed.
“Lady Selene,” a voice called through the door. “I am the eunuch from the palace. I have been sent by the alpha.”
Sienna gasped. “The alpha? What does the alpha want?” She turned toward me, blinking innocently. “Selene?”
I shrugged. Even I was confused.
Kane, of course, spoke before using a single brain cell. “Maybe the alpha wanted to invite you to the palace but made a mistake coming here.”
Honestly, the explanation sounded reasonable. I found myself almost nodding.
Sienna’s eyes sparkled. “Oh my, then let’s go, brother! We mustn’t keep him waiting!” She hurried out of the room. Kane shot me one last dark, self-satisfied look before following her.
The moment the door closed behind them, I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes. I wanted to lie down, but Evelyn grabbed my hand.
I snapped my eyes open. “What are you doing?”
“Lady Selene,” she said urgently, “let’s go too.”
“Why?” I deadpanned. “You heard him. They came for Sienna.”
Evelyn shook her head
fiercely
be sure. If they came for Sienna, they wouldn’t come to your room. And the eunuch has already been to your room before, he wouldn’t make that kind of mistake.”
Of course I already knew t
But I was too tired to care, and I did not want to deal with anyone from the palace in this condition. Still, Evelyn wasn’t having it. She tugged harder, dragging me toward the door before I could protest.
When we stepped into the hallway, Sienna immediately caught my eye, her hand pressed dramatically against her cheek as she gasped. Beside her, Kane wore that triumphant smirk, as if the world had finally acknowledged his sister.
The eunuch stood respectfully at the side, bowing slightly. My doorstep was buried under a mountain of perfectly wrapped boxes, baskets, chests, and bundles of rare cloth. Servants lined the edges, heads bowed, waiting silently behind the offerings.
I stared at everything and raised an eyebrow.
Huh? What is going on?
Before I could open my mouth, the eunuch straightened and smiled warmly at me. It looked like he was about to speak, but Sienna lunged forward first.
“Oh my goddess, are all these for me? I can’t believe it, they’re beautiful!”
The eunuch’s smile froze. He blinked, confused.
Sienna took his silence as encouragement. “I accept them. I’m so grateful to the alpha. This is too much!” She stepped forward, already reaching toward a box wrapped in gold silk.
Before her fingers even grazed it, the eunuch smoothly stepped into her path and blocked her with a stiff, polite bow. He turned, completely ignoring her, and faced me.
His expression instantly softened again as he smiled.
“Lady Selene, I was ordered by Alpha Rhydian to deliver all these gifts to you.”
Chapter 81
Selene
The whole courtyard went silent.
The servants who had been watching from afar, already whispering excitedly because they thought the gifts were for Sienna, froze in place the moment the eunuch’s voice echoed through the walls. Even the breeze seemed to stop. Kane blinked as if his brain refused to process the words. Sienna’s mouth hung open, her eyes fixed on the eunuch.
Even Evelyn, who practically dragged me out here because she believed the eunuch came for me, looked stunned.
I stared at the eunuch, then at the gifts, and pointed at myself. “Me?”
Sienna snapped out of her shock and jabbed her finger toward me as well. “Her?”
The eunuch nodded politely, unbothered by the tension thickening around him. “Yes, Lady Selene. The alpha instructed me to deliver everything to you.” His smile widened faintly. “He was very happy with you during your last visit and wished to express his appreciation. Therefore, he had me bring all these to you.”
I leaned back against the wall, taking in his words.
Happy? The alpha was that pleased with me? Pleased enough to send half the palace treasury to my doorstep?
When I looked more closely at the gifts, I could see glimmers of gold through the wrapping. There was solid gold, expensive jewelry, and rare fabrics. This wasn’t appreciation. This was appeasement. Almost as if he was trying to win favor from someone extremely important.
He really went all the way.
Sienna’s face darkened to a furious, blotchy red. The realization that none of this was for her hit so hard that she forgot to pretend. She snapped without thinking, voice sharp and ugly, “How is that possible? Why would the alpha give her so many things?”
Every head in the courtyard turned toward her.
Even Kane looked shockedl. He stared at her like he didn’t recognize her. In his eyes, Sienna was always elegant, gentle, and kind to everyone.
What a joke.
The eunuch’s polite expression finally cracked. He frowned. “Lady Sienna,” he said stiffly, “are you implying the alpha is wrong for bestowing gifts upon your sister?”
Sienna froze, realizing too late what she had let slip. She looked at Kane desperately, as if waiting for him to save her from her own stupidity.
He remained silent.
I felt my lips curl into a slow, mocking smirk. Selene was a two-faced brat who played innocent for the world but couldn’t stand anyone being chosen over her.
Sienna recovered first. In the blink of an eye, that fake smile spread across her face as she turned toward the eunuch with a graceful little bow.
“I-I apologize,” she said, voice trembling just enough to seem fragile. “I only care about my sister too much. When I saw all the gifts, I panicked. I thought it was too much for her. I only worry that if she receives so many expensive things, she might… spend them lavishly.” She forced a soft laugh. “You know how Selene is. She never thinks before she spends. I just
Chapter 81
don’t want the alpha’s generosity to go to waste.”
I rolled my eyes. Predictable, pathetic, and fake enough to give a wolf indigestion.
Naturally, Kane bought every word of it. He leaned toward her with that proud big-brother look and patted her shoulder.
“As expected, Sienna. You’re so kind and wise.” Then he shot me a pointed look. “If only Selene was half as wise as you.”
I stared at him for a moment, amused despite myself.
Wise?
Coming from him, it was hilarious. Kane had less common sense than a dog. No wonder in my past lives he was always the first to die whenever Sienna caused trouble, he’d follow her off a cliff if she smiled sweetly enough.
The eunuch, however, was clearly not as gullible as Kane. His expression did not soften.
“If you say so, Lady Sienna,” he replied politely, though there was a firm warning beneath his tone. “But it is not your place to worry about the alpha. The alpha is not a man you can concern yourself with.”
Sienna’s eyelid twitched. Her cheeks flushed a deep, angry red before she forced them back into her gentle expression. Even Kane blinked, startled that anyone dared speak to his precious sister in that tone.
Kane’s mouth opened, ready to bark at the eunuch, but he wisely shut it again. Even he wasn’t dumb enough to pick a fight with the alpha’s direct servant.
The eunuch turned away from them and faced me. His posture straightened immediately, and he bowed again, deeper this time, as if Sienna wasn’t even worth acknowledging.
“Lady Selene,” he said with respect, “are these gifts to your liking? If there is anything that does not suit your taste, I can bring more. The alpha instructed me to ensure you are completely satisfied.”
I exhaled slowly and looked at the mountain of gifts blocking my doorstep. I would have snatched everything without hesitation because I was a greedy person when it came to money. But this time was different.
I didn’t want anything from the royal family. Every single ribbon tied around those gifts was another rope trying to drag me back into their circle. Today it was gifts; tomorrow it would be visits, invitations, expectations, obligations. And that was the last thing I needed.
I had already died enough times tangled in the royal family. And most of all I needed to stay far away from anything involving Adiran and the alpha until I was strong enough to get my revenge.
The only one in that palace I genuinely cared about was Princess Avery.
I sighed quietly, pressing my fingers to my temple as the eunuch, Sienna, Kane, Evelyn, and half the servants in the courtyard stared at me.
I didn’t have a choice. If I dared to say I didn’t want the gifts, it would immediately be taken as disrespect toward the alpha, and the entire courtyard would explode with unnecessary drama that I did not have the patience, energy, or sanity to deal with today.
The heat pulsing under my skin was already making it difficult to think clearly; the last thing I needed was the royal family getting offended because I rejected the gifts. So I pushed down the irritation gathering in my chest and forced a small, composed smile that I did not mean in the slightest.
“Thank you, it’s okay. I’m very satisfied with them. Alpha Rhydian is very generous.”
The eunuch visibly relaxed, his shoulders lowering. “Good, my lady. Then I will have the servants move the gifts to wherever you want them placed.”
I nodded, even though inside my head I was screaming about how I didn’t want any of these things inside my room.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Sienna staring at the gifts with envy. Her hands twitched as though she genuinely had to restrain herself from lunging forward to tear open the boxes and claim half the items for herself Even her forced smile trembled; her eyes could barely hide the resentment burning behind them.
The eunuch seemed to recall something then. He straightened, clasping his hands behind his back with a small clearing of
his throat.
“Ah-before I forget. Lady Selene the alpha is hosting a gathering this weekend with important Alphas from other packs and wants you and your sister to attend”
I stiffened.
This weekend? Alphas?
A cold dread slid down my spine. My heat had only just begun, it was barely manageable for now. By the weekend, it would reach its worst stage, the point where even a man’s presence could send waves of unbearable need through me, and my scent would be nearly impossible to mask, no matter how much control I tried to force. I would be in the middle of a crowded hall, surrounded by alphas and powerful men, any one of whom might sense even the slightest flicker of my heat if I slipped.
There was no scenario in which I could leave my courtyard safely.
Sienna perked up instantly, her eyes shining with excitement because she thought everything in this world was secretly about her. I was ready to tell the eunuch that she could enjoy the party alone, but he continued before I could utter a single word.
“Prince Adrian will be returning, and the alpha requests your presence there, Lady Selene.”
Shit.
If I refused, if I so much as hinted that I couldn’t attend, the alpha might take it as defiance. Worse, he might suspect my vision and rethink the rejection entirely, undoing everything I just risked myself to secure.
This was a disaster waiting to unfold. Yet I couldn’t avoid it.
Editorial Board: Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.
Join Our WhatsApp Channel For Fast Update Or More Novels: 
Join Our WhatsApp Channel For Fast Update Or More Novels: