Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 83
Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Adrian
Her voice wouldn’t leave my head.
“I want to reject you, Prince Adrian of the Mooncrest Pack.”
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Those words kept echoing in my head like a cursed chant. They repeated with every breath I took, every shift. of the wind, every hoofbeat of my horse beneath me. It was like someone had forced a terrible song into my mind.
Ever since Selene Bloodrose’s coming-of-age ceremony, since the moment she shifted and then immediately made a wish to reject me, I hadn’t been able to focus on anything or anyone. It was infuriating. She was infuriating. And worst of all, I couldn’t even understand why.
Why was the girl I barely looked at more than twice in my entire life, lingering in my
mind?
My jaw clenched, the muscles tightening with irritation. I snapped the reins sharply in my hand, and my horse responded with a loud snort before sprinting forward, hooves pounding against the frozen ground. The faster we rode, the more I felt the familiar burn in my chest, anger mixed with something I refused to name.
What bothered me wasn’t just the rejection, it was the way she acted. Selene used to follow me everywhere, practically tripping over her own feet just to walk a little closer to me. She used to watch me with that ridiculous lovesick expression, blush at every word I said, cling to every chance to stand near me.
But now, she acted as if I was the last person she wanted to see, as though the very sight of me was some kind of burden she could barely tolerate.
She treated me like I didn’t matter.
And for a reason I did not understand was why it pissed me off more than anything had in a very long time.
Did something happen to her? The thought crossed my mind, irritating me even more.
Just then, an amused voice broke through my thoughts.
“You’ve been like this the entire journey,” Alpha Tristan drawled from beside me. “It’s almost like you want to kill someone.”
I loosened my grip on the reins slightly and glanced sideways. On the next horse over, Alpha Tristan rode with that entertained expression on his face, as though my current misery were nothing more than a performance put on solely for his amusement.
I didn’t know whether to ignore him or give him a sarcastic remark. Ever since the phoenix was released, Tristan had been lingering around the Mooncrest Pack like a bored wolf looking for chaos to bite. Instead of returning to his own territory, where any normal alpha would be reinforcing defenses, checking on his people, or at least pretending to take precautions, he followed me around.
His excuse had been simple, ridiculous, and knowing him, likely honest.
18:36 Fri, Dec 26
Chapter 83
A
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“Things are more interesting in the Mooncrest Pack right now,” he had said. “And if the phoenix is really out, this territory will be the first to get attacked. I’d hate to miss that.”
Alpha Tristan was the type of man who didn’t just seek out powerful enemies, he hunted them, salivating at the possibility of a fight to the death. And considering his own pack was one of the third strongest in the continent, protected by a defense system most alphas envied, it wasn’t surprising that he wasn’t worried about the phoenix breaking into his pack. If anything, he seemed disappointed it probably wouldn’t.
I exhaled sharply and looked away from him, irritation building all over again.
“When are you leaving, Alpha Tristan?” I asked, keeping my voice flat.
Tristan turned his head toward me, lips curving into that smirk that always made me want to punch him just to erase it.
“You say it as if you want me gone, Prince Adrian,” he remarked casually. “How cold.”
I still didn’t understand Tristan. I didn’t understand what his intentions were, or who he was truly interested in. He was unpredictable, like a blade someone had dropped on the ground, sharp edges waiting for the wrong person to pick it up. But one thing had bothered me ever since Selene’s coming-of-age ceremony.
When I carried her in my arms that night, Tristan had looked at her with an expression I did not like. It wasn’t lust, not exactly. It was curiosity, and interest. There was something sharp glinting behind his eyes. And that alone was enough to make every part of me bristle.
My wolf didn’t handle it well either. The moment he sensed Tristan’s attention on her, something fierce and possessive flared inside us. I hated the feeling. I hated the implication even more, that Alpha Tristan might be interested in Selene.
But despite how much the thought annoyed me, the truth remained, Tristan was a powerful alpha, and keeping a firm alliance between our packs was important. Even if I disliked him, even if something about the way he looked at Selene rubbed me the wrong way, I wouldn’t let personal irritation ruin what generations had built.
Trying to keep the conversation neutral, I said, “I only asked because I wasn’t sure if you had other matters you needed to focus on.”
He saw right through it, but Tristan simply shrugged, unconcerned. “I don’t have any other plans. I’m pretty free.” His mouth quirked into that smile. “And besides, there’s a party tonight at your palace. Your father invited me. I’d be rude not to attend.”
I exhaled. This was the first time in my life I’d ever heard an alpha claim he was free. Alphas were never free. They were always busy.
Behind us, I could feel Ethan, my beta in training, riding silently with Tristan’s beta. They seemed nervous about how the conversation was going. I didn’t bother paying attention to them. My focus shifted forward as the palace came into view,
The moment the high walls rose in front of us, I snapped the reins, and my horse instantly surged forward. Snow scattered behind us as we raced toward the gate. We reached it in minutes, and as soon as the guards recognized us, they opened the gate with hurried bows.
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Chapter 83
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I rode through without slowing, stopping only when I reached the courtyard. I dismounted in one smooth motion, beside me, Tristan landed on the ground with the same case.
From a distance, warm lights glowed across the palace grounds. The decorations were extravagant. And a party was the last thing I needed right now.
I received his message yesterday, he demanded my return for an important event. I’d almost ignored him. Strengthening our defenses was more critical than attending some celebration. There was a phoenix on the loose. But he insisted I return.
The eunuch and several servants rushed toward us. They all bowed low and said, “Welcome back, Prince Adrian. Welcome, Alpha Tristan. The party has already begun. We have prepared several formal outfits for you to choose from.”
I didn’t respond. I simply nodded, turned to Tristan, and gave him a brief nod.
He smirked slightly, as I walked forward, Ethan falling into step behind me along with the servants.
Selene.
No matter how many times her rejection echoed in my head, no matter how strangely she’d been behaving, it didn’t matter.
There was no way I was going to reject her. Selene was mine, and I wasn’t going to let her go.
*****
Tristain
I watched him walk away, his back straight, his steps firm, as if nothing in this world could affect him. The amused smirk that had been resting lazily on my lips didn’t disappear, but the playfulness behind it did. My gaze sharpened, growing colder, more focused than it had been just moments ago.
Interesting.
I let out a low chuckle under my breath, the sound barely audible. Mooncrest was far more entertaining than I had expected.
Footsteps approached from behind me, familiar and measured. Axel. My beta stopped a respectful distance away and bowed his head slightly.
“Alpha Tristan,” he said carefully, “if I may, can I ask you a question?”
I raised an eyebrow, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. “Go on.”
Axel hesitated for a heartbeat before continuing. “Why are you still in the Mooncrest Pack? I know the phoenix is part of the reason, but…” He paused, choosing his words wisely. “You’re not the type to stay in one place just because of a single threat. There’s something else keeping you here. I know it. Am I allowed to ask
what it is?”
I turned fully to face him then, studying his expression. Axel had always been perceptive.
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Chapter 83
“You’re right,” I said calmly. “The phoenix alone wouldn’t keep me here.”
Axel waited, eyes steady, clearly expecting more.
I shrugged lightly. “The truth is, I don’t know what it is yet either.”
His brows furrowed slightly.
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“But,” I added, my gaze drifting back toward the palace in the distance, where lanterns glowed against the darkening sky, “I have a feeling we’ll find out today.”
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18:37 Fri, Dec 26
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