Hope Is Not Optional — Manuel Flores 91
91 I’ll advise you to know your place, wolf
911 I’ll advise you to know your place, wolf
Adrian
Who would have thought that the sight of Selene with another man could make me this furious.
I could barely control my anger as I watched her dance with Alpha Tristan, right there in the center of the hall, in front of everyone. As if it were normal, as if it were nothing, as if she hadn’t once clung to my side and chased after my shadow like I was the center of her world.
I couldn’t believe it.
The Selene I knew, no, the Selene I thought I knew, would never have allowed another man to touch her. She would glare, retreat, hide behind me, or make some excuse just to stay close. Yet there she was now, standing perfectly still when I arrived, not pulling away, not stepping back, allowing Alpha Tristan’s hands to remain on her waist as if they belonged there.
That sight alone made something ugly twist inside me.
I’d felt it earlier, a faint, nagging instinct whispering that Alpha Tristan’s interest in Selene was anything but harmless. But I brushed it off immediately. It was ridiculous. Why would a man like Tristan, war-hungry, arrogant, obsessed with strength, be interested in Selene of all people, someone who probably couldn’t even hold a sword?
She had no redeeming qualities.
She was boring, quiet, always lurking in the background. Overshadowed by Sienna in every possible way. Why would a strange, dangerous alpha look twice at someone like her?
And yet.
She stood there, calm and unbothered, even after seeing me. Worse, she was still talking about rejection, as if it were some casual topic she could throw around whenever she pleased.
My jaw ticked violently.
I took a step toward her, my tall frame casting a shadow over her smaller one, my presence was usually enough to make people falter. She didn’t move even an inch. She only lifted her gaze to meet mine, her eyes cold, and detached, as if everything unfolding before her was just a nuisance she wanted to get over with quickly..
That look infuriated me more than her dancing ever could.
“How many times do I have to tell you this?” I snapped, my voice low but sharp. “I’m not rejecting my mate. This is the last time we’ll have this conversation, Selene.”
She held my gaze, her lips curving into a mocking smile. Before I could react, her eyes slid past me, over my shoulder, straight to my father.
“Alpha Rhydian,” she said calmly, “you haven’t told Prince Adrian?”
My brows furrowed deeply. I turned slightly, confusion mixing with irritation. “Told me what?”
Behind me, my father finally spoke. He sighed, and just that alone sent a strange chill down my spine.
“Adrian,” he said.
I turned fully to face him. “What is it?”
His expression was firm, resolved in a way I didn’t like.
“This is why I called you back, I’ve made a decision. You will reject the moonborn Selene as your mate.”
For a moment, everything stopped.
My body went rigid, as if struck by lightning. The sounds of the hall blurred into nothing but static in my ears.
“What?” The word left my mouth hollow.
My father went on, as if he hadn’t just shattered something inside me. “A while ago, I called Selene to ask why she wanted
to reject you. She explained that it was the Moon Goddess’s will. It has something to do with the phoenix. If she rejects you, the phoenix will-”
“I don’t fucking care.”
My voice exploded through the hall, echoing off the walls, silencing every whisper.
“I don’t care about the reason,” I continued, my Successfully unlocked! alms burned. “I don’t care about the phoenix. I
don’t care about the Moon Goddess’s plans.”
I looked at him, my chest heaving.
1/2
911 advise you to know your place, wolf
“I will not reject her.”
Everyone was staring at me.
I could feel the shock rippling through the hall, the disbelief etched on every face turned in my direction. Even I was stunned by my own reaction. My chest was tight, my pulse loud in my ears, my temper frayed beyond reason, all because of
Selene.
Before this, I wouldn’t have cared.
I had never cared who my mate was. If rejecting my mate meant protecting the pack, strengthening alliances, or preventing disaster, I would have done it without hesitation. I had always put the Mooncrest Pack first.
So why now?
Why did the mere thought of rejecting Selene make my blood boil?
I looked at her.
She was still calm, and unbothered. Her expression was composed as if my outburst meant nothing to her as long as she got what she wanted in the end. And that, more than anything, angered me.
That was the cruel part of the mate bond. Both parties had to agree, and accept the rejection. And she was waiting for me to say the words so she could finally be free of me.
My hand clenched into a fist.
Damn it.
Before I could stop myself, I reached out, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her with me. Gasps echoed behind us as people instinctively stepped aside, unwilling to be caught in whatever storm was unfolding between us.
I was almost at the door when someone blocked my path.
A man stood there, arms crossed, posture relaxed yet unmistakably threatening. His golden eyes flashed as they locked onto mine, then shifted briefly to Selene before returning to me.
“Get your hands off her,” he said, his voice deep, and dangerous. “Before I get them off myself.”
I glared at him, already furious, and his presence only added fuel to the fire. My eyes flashed as I opened my mouth to respond,
“It’s okay, Lucas.”
Both of us froze. I looked at Selene. The man did too. But she wasn’t looking at me. Her gaze was fixed on him.
“I’m okay,” she said calmly. “Stand back.”
Lucas stared at her, defiance flashing in his eyes, as if he wasn’t used to being ordered by anyone. For a moment, I thought he might refuse, but then he nodded.
Before stepping aside, he looked at me again, his lips curling into a slow, mocking smirk.
“I’ll advise you to know your place, wolf,” he said. “That man is already here. And the more you touch her, the less you survive.”
My brows furrowed. I didn’t understand what he meant, but before I could question it, he moved out of the way, as if I no longer mattered.
I didn’t like his words. I didn’t like his tone. But I had more important things to deal with.
Without looking back, I dragged Selene out of the hall.
The doors slammed shut behind us.
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