Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 84
Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Selene
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“Oh my goddess, I can’t wait, Selene. There will be so many people at the banquet, important elders, nobles, I even heard some alphas will be there. No, forget them. Most importantly, he will be there. Adrian will be there. We can finally talk, spend time together…”
Sienna’s voice filled the carriage without pause, each word tumbling over the next. I leaned back against the cushioned wall, closed my eyes, and pinched the bridge of my nose, forcing myself to breathe slowly. Just listening to her was exhausting, and my body was already stretched thin. Heat simmered beneath my skin, and the last thing I needed was this.
“And Selene,” she continued brightly, “what are you even wearing? Your outfit is strange. I mean, it’s pretty, but you’re covering your whole body. At a banquet full of important people, don’t you think it looks kind of tacky? If you didn’t have any other things to wear, you should have asked me to lend you something.”
I said nothing. If I opened my mouth now, I might say something I wouldn’t bother taking back.
The carriage rocked gently as it moved, the rhythm doing nothing to drown her out. I wondered briefly what sin I’d committed in this lifetime to be trapped in such a small space with her. Of all the carriages in the world, I had to be placed with a parrot that never stopped talking.
“Selene?” she pressed, leaning closer. “Did you hear me? Why aren’t you saying anything? You-”
The carriage suddenly slowed, then stopped.
A knock sounded against the door. “We have arrived.”
The voice was familiar, though in my current state I didn’t bother to place it. Sienna gasped as if she had been waiting for that exact moment her entire life.
“Oh my goddess, we’re here!” she exclaimed. “Open the door.”
The door swung open, cool night air brushing against my face. I opened my eyes and froze.
Standing there was Lucas.
He leaned casually against the carriage frame, one hand resting lazily at his side, the other tucked into his pocket. His usual careless appearance was gone, replaced by elegant dark clothing that fit him far too well. His golden eyes glinted with amusement, and that familiar, infuriatingly lazy smile curved his lips like he’d planned this entire moment just to see my reaction.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
Sienna, beside me, stared openly. “Whoa…”
She had never seen him before. Lucas rarely left my courtyard, spending his days eating, lounging, and watching me as if I were some strange creature he hadn’t quite decided what to do with yet.
“Who are you?” she asked, clearly intrigued.
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Chapter 84
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Lucas didn’t even spare her a glance. It was as if she didn’t exist. His eyes were fixed on me, sparkling with
mischief.
“What?” he drawled. “Are you starstruck? I know I’m breathtaking.”
I rolled my eyes, any shock dissolving into irritation. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, narrowing my gaze. Then it hit me. “Don’t tell me you drove the carriage. What happened to the rider?”
He shrugged, entirely unbothered. “I did. And don’t worry, the rider’s still alive… I think.” He tilted his head slightly, thoughtful. “I just knocked him unconscious and exchanged clothes.”
I scoffed as I looked at him. This man was truly strange, admitting everything so casually, as if knocking someone unconscious and stealing their job was the most normal thing in the world.
I sighed, already tired, and asked, “How do you even know how to ride a horse?”
Lucas tilted his head slightly, his expression lazy but his eyes sharp. “I’ve lived for a long time,” he said simply. “It’s easy for me to copy what you people do.”
“You people?” Sienna repeated, her voice cutting in sharply, reminding me that she was still very much present.
She looked from me to Lucas, her gaze lingering a second too long on him before she frowned. “Who is he, Selene? How do you know each other?”
I glanced at her indifferently. “He’s my personal guard.”
Her expression dropped instantly. ‘Why does this bitch get a hot personal guard? Isn’t Silas enough? He’s gorgeous. She doesn’t deserve anything good.’
I didn’t even need to look into her mind to know what she was thinking. The jealousy was practically written on her face.
I looked back at her, my lips twitching with mockery, but I said nothing. There was no need. Sienna was not her main focus today.
Realizing I was watching her, she quickly adjusted her expression, forcing a bright smile. “Oh, is that so?” she said sweetly. Then she turned to Lucas. “Hi, my name is Sienna, Selene’s younger sister. I’m so happy you’re serving my sister. Please take good care of her. She’s very delicate and makes a lot of mistakes.”
She laughed lightly. “But don’t worry, if anything happens, you can always tell me. And I hope you’ll take care
of me too.”
She was already acting, laying it on thick, using the same tricks she used on every man she met.
Lucas still didn’t even look at her.
Instead, he extended his hand toward me. “Come,” he said calmly. “Let’s go. I’ll be your escort tonight.”
I glanced at Sienna just in time to see her face flush red from being completely ignored. If only she knew, Lucas wasn’t like other men. He wasn’t someone who could be swayed by charm. He was one of the greatest
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Chapter 84
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beings to ever exist, and her little act meant nothing to him.
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I smiled, placing my hand in his. He helped me down from the carriage with ease. As my feet touched the ground, I could feel Sienna’s glare burning into my back.
“Hey, you!” she snapped at someone nearby. “Come and help me down!”
“Yes, ma’am,” the servant replied hurriedly, rushing to her side as Lucas led me forward, his grip firm, leaving her fuming behind us.
As we walked into the hall, I felt a shift in the air, countless gazes snapping toward us all at once. My hand rested lightly atop Lucas’s arm as we moved forward at an unhurried pace. The hall, already filled with nobles, elders, and alphas from different packs, slowly fell silent.
Lucas noticed it too. His posture didn’t change, but his eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the room with clear displeasure. “Why are they all staring?” he muttered, his voice low and edged with annoyance. “Do they have a death wish?”
I kept my expression calm, lowering my voice as well. “People always stare at things they like to gossip about,” I replied. “And besides, I’m used to their gazes by now.” My eyes swept across the hall briefly before I added, “If anything, I think you’re the bigger problem. Your face is attracting far too much attention.”
Even from where I stood, I could feel the lingering stares from noble ladies across the hall, eyes that followed Lucas with open fascination and interest. He stood out far too much. He had the kind of presence that drew people in before they even realized it, and tonight, it was impossible to ignore.
As we continued walking, a sudden jolt shot through my body without warning. My steps faltered for a second as I clenched my jaw, the reaction sharp and unpleasant. The sheer number of men in the hall was starting to affect me. I could feel their attention on me, even though none of them had caught my scent yet. My heat was reacting regardless, my body trembling faintly as warmth pooled uncomfortably, my face draining of color.
“Ah, fuck,” I muttered under my breath. The banquet hadn’t even started yet.
Lucas’s hand tightened instantly around mine as he looked down at me with a raised brow. “Are you okay?”
I nodded quickly, straightening my posture and forcing my breathing to steady. “I’m fine,” I said quietly, even though he clearly didn’t believe me. I took a slow breath, pulling my control back into place as we continued forward.
He kept watching me from the corner of his eye, suspicion written plainly across his face.
To distract myself, I spoke again. “Will you tell me now why you’re really here?”
He glanced at me. “What do you mean?”
“I know you, Lucas,” I said calmly, meeting his gaze. “You wouldn’t come all the way here without a reason. Don’t tell me you’re here just for the food.”
His lips twitched, almost like he was offended. “You have very little faith in me.”
“Well, I wouldn’t put it past you. A lazy phoenix causing trouble for food alone wouldn’t surprise me.”
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Chapter 84
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He looked at me for a long moment, his expression shifting into something more thoughtful before he finally spoke.
“You’re right. I don’t actually know why I’m here,” he admitted slowly. “Or why that man wanted me to keep an eye on you today.”
I stopped walking.
My head turned toward him, my earlier discomfort momentarily forgotten. “What did you just say?”
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18:37 Fri, Dec 26
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