Chapter 17\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 17\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
I landed softly on the grass, the edges of my dress fluttering in the night breeze as my boots touched the ground with barely a sound. The air was cool, scented faintly with the sweet fragrance of moonflowers blooming along the temple walls.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A startled gasp echoed beside me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lady!\u201d Evelyn yelped, and when I turned, she was standing there, wide-eyed, one hand clutching the strap of the bag across her chest as she stared up at the towering temple wall I had just jumped from.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I dusted my hands against my dress, straightening. \u201cDon\u2019t look at me like that. It\u2019s not that tall.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her mouth fell open slightly, her gaze flickering between the twenty-foot wall and me as if comparing the two. \u201cNot that tall?\u201d she repeated in disbelief. \u201cMy lady, what if you had injured yourself?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled, brushing a stray lock of black hair from my face. \u201cThen it would\u2019ve been a quick way to test my recovery speed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn made a strangled sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a groan. \u201cYou\u2019re unbelievable, my lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I chuckled and stepped closer. \u201cI can\u2019t go through the entrance. If anyone sees me leaving the temple, there\u2019ll be endless questions. Jumping was simply faster.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shook her head in disbelief, still clutching the bag.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you get the clothes?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, my lady,\u201d she said quickly, brightening. She opened the bag and pulled it down slightly to show me what was inside. Two long, beautifully patterned dresses, one in deep blue, the other in rich red, peeked from within.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised a brow. \u201cThese are\u2026?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn smiled shyly. \u201cSarees, my lady. My pack wears them often. Since people from different tribes will be at the auction, we can blend in with them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ah, Evelyn wasn\u2019t born in the Mooncrest Pack; she was from the Bengal Pack, known for their exotic silks, strength, and enigmatic ways. I didn\u2019t know much about her past, only that a woman from her pack had brought her to the temple before she disappeared. From that day on, Evelyn had served quietly by my side.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A small smile tugged at my lips. \u201cPerfect choice,\u201d I said. \u201cNo one will suspect a thing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn nodded eagerly. And, as if remembering something, she straightened. \u201cWhat about the coins, my lady? I brought some of my salary, just in case you couldn\u2019t find any.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words made me chuckle. I reached into the folds of my dress and pulled out a small, velvet pouch. The golden embroidery caught the sunlight, glittering faintly. I held it up between two fingers, grinning. \u201cOh, I got it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn leaned closer, squinting. When she recognized the delicate crest stitched into the fabric, her eyes widened so fast I almost laughed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lady,\u201d she breathed, her voice hushed but filled with shock. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026 that\u2019s Lady Sienna\u2019s pouch!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head innocently, tucking it back into my dress. \u201cIs it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lady!\u201d she whispered urgently. \u201cYou stole from Lady Sienna?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStole? Evelyn, I simply took what\u2019s mine. Consider it\u2026 reclaimed interest for years of unpaid debt.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:41 Tue, Dec 23 MG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 17\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn pressed a hand to her. \u201cYou\u2019re serious\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
SCE\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smirked, turning toward the forest path that led away from the temple. \u201cCompletely. Now, come along. We have an auton\u00a0<\/p>\n
to attend.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damien\u00a0<\/p>\n
The streets were loud and crowded. Vendors shouted to get attention, and children laughed as they ran between the stalls.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked forward with my hood pulled low, blending into the noise and chaos. Behind me, Jason, Yara, and Kaius followed quietly. Even with our faces hidden, people still turned to stare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I ignored the stares and kept walking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We hadn\u2019t gone far before two guards stepped into our path, blocking the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShow us your identity,\u201d one of them ordered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped, tilting my head slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They couldn\u2019t see my face beneath the hood, but the moment my gaze lifted to meet theirs, both men stiffened. Their hands twitched toward their weapons, trembling slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t realize walking down a public street required an identity check,\u201d Jason said calmly, his voice firm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The guards exchanged a look. The bigger one, a man with a jagged scar running across his cheek, stepped forward, puffing out his chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t need an identity to walk, but you people look suspicious. It\u2019s our duty to keep the pack safe. So be smart, show us your identity, and you can leave quietly\u2026\u201d His gaze locked on me, narrowing. \u201cOr are you planning to obstruct our duty, rogue?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, the air shifted. My warriors were already on edge. Jason\u2019s low growl rumbled through the air. I didn\u2019t need to look back to know his hand was already on the hilt of his sword.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can\u2019t control your tongue, I\u2019ll gladly tear it out myself,\u201d he snarled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before his sword could even clear its sheath, my voice cut through the tension.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jason stilled at once, muscles tense beneath his cloak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The guards laughed, mistaking restraint for fear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter? Cat got your tongue? We didn\u2019t say anything wrong, did we? You people look out of place, no pack\u00a0<\/p>\n
dresses like that. So what does that make you?\u201d He\u00a0<\/p>\n
leaned eyes gleaming with mockery,\u00a0<\/p>\n
He drew his sword, pointing it directly at me. \u201cRogues, hiding in disguise. And rogues aren\u2019t welcome in Mooncrest territory.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t flinch. \u201cThe last man who pointed a sword at me never got the chance to lower it,\u201d I said, my tone calm but laced with warning. My eyes flashed red for a moment, and the guard\u2019s smirk faltered. Instinctively, he took a step back, his grip on the blade tightening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, goddess, did you see that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 17\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw it, look at them, they\u2019re actually scared of him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cScared? Of one man? Tch, guards these days are pathetic.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The murmurs spread quickly, voices overlapping as the crowd leaned closer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His jaw clenched. He planted his feet, drove the blade toward my throat and hissed, \u201cRefuse to do what I say, and I\u2019ll cut you down within minutes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed. I\u2019d hoped to pass through Mooncrest without bloodshed, but it seemed I\u2019d have to change my plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou failed to comply with my orders. For that, you and your people will die.\u201d The guard sliced the air with his sword.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShould I handle this, my lord?\u201d Kaius murmured behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The blade fell in a blur. I was still weighing my next move when a woman\u2019s voice cut across the street.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t it a little early to start killing people?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone turned toward the voice. I almost ignored it, until Thane growled low in my head, a sound that rumbled with approval.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I like her scent, Damien.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brow lifted. He liked her scent?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thane rarely spoke unless I summoned him. He preferred silence, retreating deep inside me until I needed him. But now, out of nowhere, he was speaking, and about a scent?\u00a0<\/p>\n
My curiosity stirred. I turned toward the source of his interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A woman stood there, arms crossed, her face mostly hidden, only her piercing blue eyes visible. There was something about them, something that made my wolf shift restlessly inside me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comment\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send gift\u00a0<\/p>\n
No Ads\u00a0<\/p>\n
Editorial Board: Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.<\/p>\n
Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 17 Chapter 17\u00a0 Chapter 17\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 I landed softly on the grass, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27811"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27811\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}