Chapter 26\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 26\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we stepped into the grand auction hall, the brightness from the chandeliers hit my face. The air smelled of incense and polished wood. All around me were people dressed in different styles, colours, and insignias stitched into their robes, Wolves from every major pack had gathered here tonight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It made sense. This was said to be one of the biggest auctions of the decade. Rare artifacts, enchanted weapons, relics from fallen dynasties, treasures that could shift power between packs. Of course, everyone wanted a piece of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pulled my sari a little tighter and walked further in. Luckily, nobody paid any attention to me. With how crowded it was, I blended in easily, I was just another face among the wealthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I spotted an empty table near the middle rows and gestured for Evelyn to take a seat. She hurried over, settling beside me as I sank into the cushioned chair with a quiet sigh. The auction hadn\u2019t even begun, yet I already felt drained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lady,\u201d Evelyn whispered, \u201cpardon me for asking, but why didn\u2019t we go in with those people? We were going to the same place after all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned to her and shook my head. \u201cWe can\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her brows furrowed. \u201cWe can\u2019t?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said simply. \u201cWe can\u2019t get ourselves associated with strangers. The only reason I was with them to begin with was because they were rich.\u201d I rested my chin on my hand. \u201cBut if we keep our distance, we\u2019ll avoid unnecessary trouble. People like them don\u2019t mix well with people like us. Well, at least for now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn frowned softly. \u201cBut they didn\u2019t seem dangerous.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s exactly why we should be careful, the most dangerous ones never do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Besides, I couldn\u2019t read his mind. Being able to hear everyone else\u2019s thoughts but his didn\u2019t sit right with me, it meant he was far stronger than he appeared. And maybe I\u2019d been powerful in my past lives, but right now, I was just a helpless girl, unable to protect myself or the people I cared about.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn nodded after a moment. \u201cYou\u2019re right, my lady. We should be careful.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her loyalty was endearing, and sometimes worrying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gave her a small smile and then remembered something. \u201cOh, before I forget,\u201d I said, pulling out a small glass bottle from my pouch. I uncorked it and took a small sip before handing it to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without hesitation, Evelyn took it and drank.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked at her. \u201cYou didn\u2019t even ask what it is. What if it\u2019s poison?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wiped her lips and smiled sweetly. \u201cThen it would be an honour to die by your hands, my lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her, speechless for a moment before sighing deeply. \u201cYou really are insane.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn\u2019s laughter tinkled softly beside me, and I found myself smiling faintly at the sound. \u201cThat drink earlier is just a plant\u00a0<\/p>\n
I soaked in water before we came here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her head tilted in curiosity. \u201cA plant?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMhm.\u201d I nodded. \u201cIt\u2019ll help us hide our scent if we end up running into people we know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:42 Tue, Dec 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 26\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn blinked, processing that. \u201cI see, but, my lady, how do you even know what kind of plant can do that? You didn\u2019t know things like that before.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shrugged casually, a small smile tugging at my lips. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you soon enough. For now, just relax and enjoy the auction. If I spot anything worthwhile, we might walk away with quite a few treasures today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, my lady!\u201d she said eagerly, already looking around the grand hall as though deciding what treasures we would take\u00a0<\/p>\n
home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for just a moment to rest. The low hum of conversation filled the hall, when suddenly, a furious voice rang out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThose bastards! How dare they! How could they say the entire VIP area was already booked? How dare they do this to the temple!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t need to open my eyes to know who that voice belonged to. Evelyn gasped beside me, gripping my sleeve. \u201cMy lady, it\u2019s Master Kane!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed inwardly and slowly opened my eyes. There they were, Kane, Cross, and Sienna, standing near the center of the hall where everyone could see them. Kane\u2019s face was red with anger, his voice loud enough to echo across the marble walls. Cross, on the other hand, looked the same as always, cold and detached, arms crossed, watching his brother\u2019s outburst in silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And Sienna, sweet, perfect Sienna stood between them, her innocent expression intact, as though she didn\u2019t realize the entire hall was staring at them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane slammed his hand against the counter, making the attendants flinch. \u201cThose people-I could have them arrested for treating us like this! Especially you, Sienna, the Moonborn herself! How dare they show you such disrespect!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cross\u2019s voice cut through his brother\u2019s fury. \u201cYou can\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane turned to him sharply. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cross met his glare evenly. \u201cThe auction house has its own authority. Two years ago, after several nobles tried to exploit their power, the Alpha granted them autonomy. They can do whatever they want as long as it isn\u2019t against the law. Even the Alpha can\u2019t interfere without just cause.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane clicked his tongue, his jaw tightening. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make sense. We\u2019re from the temple! Do they not know who we\u00a0<\/p>\n
are?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A low murmur rippled through the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are they?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at the girl\u2019s hair, white as snow. That must be the priestess. The Moonborn from the temple.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard she\u2019s powerful.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPowerful or not, this is an auction. Everyone\u2019s equal here. What\u2019s the point of making a scene?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were denied the VIP section. It was probably reserved by someone wealthier.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, right? They should just sit down instead of causing trouble. The auction\u2019s about to start.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smirked faintly to myself, leaning my chin on my hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Typical Kane, always barking at anyone who dared not bow to him. Typical Sienna, playing the innocent while secretly\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:4 Tue, Dec 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 26\u00a0<\/p>\n
drinking in every drop of attention. Typical Cross, unbothered, detached, as if none of it concerned him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And typical me, sitting quietly in the crowd, watching the chaos unfold like some poorly written play.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What a bunch of drama queens.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u7530\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comment\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send gift\u00a0<\/p>\n
No Ads\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:42 Tue, Dec 23 M\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 26 Chapter 26\u00a0 Chapter 26\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 As we stepped into the grand auction […]<\/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-27820","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\/27820","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=27820"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27820\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}