Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian\u00a0<\/p>\n
I watched her leave the auction hall, the woman with the calm eyes and that expression that said she didn\u2019t care about a single soul in the room. She didn\u2019t even glance back once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a long moment, I just sat there, my face blank..\u00a0<\/p>\n
That woman\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t know what it was about her, but something didn\u2019t add up. She felt familiar, and yet, with the way she carried herself, I was sure I\u2019d never met her before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned slightly, eyes narrowing at the door she\u2019d disappeared through.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I\u2019d met a woman like her before, I would\u2019ve remembered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPrince Adrian?\u201d The deep voice cut through my thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned, meeting the amused gaze of the man sitting beside me, he was dressed in white, a lazy grin on his lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Tristan, the crazy alpha who had come to discuss business with my father.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re lost in thought,\u201d Tristan said, smirking. \u201cOr is it that you\u2019re thinking about someone?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t react, though his words hit a little too close. \u201cYou\u2019re imagining things,\u201d I said flatly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He chuckled, resting his chin on his knuckles. \u201cHmph. Am I?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t bother replying to that question. Instead, I said, \u201cI apologise. You said you wanted to purchase the red sword, but someone else took it before it was even auctioned.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tristan tilted his head back and gave a short laugh, clearly unbothered. \u201cAh, yes. It\u2019s fine. Maybe the Moon Goddess is telling me to let it go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He grinned, but there was something dangerous in his eyes, the kind that made most men step back. \u201cAfter all, if I took that sword, its power might drive me mad or worse.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced at him. \u201cWorse?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned forward, grin widening. \u201cThe demon of the west might come for his sword.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t need to ask who he meant. Everyone in this world knew that name.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Damien.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man who had alphas kneeling before him. The man who didn\u2019t just win wars, he erased entire packs from existence. They called him the Demon of the West for a reason. His territory stretched further than any other alpha\u2019s, vast enough that other alphas believed they could steal a piece of it. But every pack that had tried was gone, and wiped out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even my father once dared to dream of taking it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I remember the tension in the palace back then, the fear in his eyes when news reached him that Damien had found out. My father was smart enough to stop before the real bloodshed began, but the thought still haunted him. He\u2019d tell me sometimes, after a few drinks, that he could still feel Damien\u2019s gaze on his back even after all those years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a rumor across kingdoms, that no one who looked upon Alpha Damien\u2019s face ever came back alive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
So yes, I understood perfectly well why Alpha Tristan, the lunatic who enjoyed wars, wasn\u2019t foolish enough to chase after the\u00a0<\/p>\n
demon\u2019s sword.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tristan drummed his fingers on the table. \u201cIt seems like the Mooncrest Pack has interesting women.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze slid toward him, brow raising slightly. \u201cInteresting women?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t look at me. His golden eyes were still on the door the woman had just walked through. \u201cThat woman and the Moonborn.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze for a second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Moonborn?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Did he mean-Selene?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked, shaking the thought off almost immediately. No, that wasn\u2019t possible. He couldn\u2019t be talking about her. There was nothing particularly interesting about Selene. She was quiet, awkward, the kind of girl who couldn\u2019t start a proper conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tristan had to be talking about Sienna. Everyone was obsessed with her anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But then\u2026why did the idea of him meaning Selene irritate me? Why did something twist unpleasantly in my chest at the thought of Tristan finding her interesting?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked away, jaw tightening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridiculous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t even know that woman from the auction, nor did I care about the Mooncrest priestess or whoever Tristan was fascinated by. Still, when I glanced once more at the door she had disappeared through, that same uneasy feeling returned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I finally realized why that woman seemed so damn familiar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even though half her face had been covered, her movements, her voice, the way she tilted her head when she spoke all reminded me of someone I knew far too well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But that didn\u2019t make sense. It couldn\u2019t be her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene wasn\u2019t the kind of woman who looked at men like they were beneath her notice. And yet, the resemblance was undeniable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mind went back to the river. The way she stood up for herself that day, the quiet, sharp defiance in her eyes, so unlike the timid girl I\u2019d always known. It had been subtle then, but now that I thought about it, there was something different in her gaze. Like she wasn\u2019t the same person anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through my hair as a dull headache began to form behind my temples.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nothing made sense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced over my shoulder at the man standing quietly behind Tristan and me. \u201cThat woman who was sitting here earlier,\u201d I said, voice low but firm. \u201cFollow her, and find out where she goes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man bowed his head instantly. \u201cYes, my lord.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He left without another word, slipping through the crowd and out of sight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:44 Tue, Dec 23 MG\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I turned back, Tristan was watching me, but, for once, he didn\u2019t say anything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Good. I wasn\u2019t in the mood to explain myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My fingers curled into a fist on the table. I didn\u2019t know what was happening, why I kept noticing her, why she suddenly seemed different. But I would find out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Especially tonight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the moon rose and the two Moonborns finally awakened their wolves, the bonds would form, and one of them might end up being my mate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If it turned out to be Selene, I wasn\u2019t sure if I should feel intrigued, or terrified.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Third person pov\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack moved silently through the thick forest, his boots barely making a sound against the damp earth. Ahead of him, just a short distance away, the woman he\u2019d been ordered to follow walked calmly with her maid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He kept his pace steady, careful not to draw attention. Prince Adrian\u2019s instructions were simple: find out who she is, and where she goes. Nothing more, nothing less.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack adjusted his hood and was about to move closer when something whizzed through the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thunk!\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp pain exploded at the side of his head. He hissed, clutching his temple, eyes darting through the trees. \u201cWhat the hell\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another small stone struck him, this time square on the shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack\u2019s expression darkened. His hand went to the dagger strapped to his thigh as he scanned the branches above him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when he saw her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A woman sat casually on a thick branch, one leg crossed over the other. She wore a dark cloak, hood drawn low over her face. In her hand, she tossed a stone into the air, catching it lazily and repeating the motion, like she had all the time in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Jack snapped, glaring at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The woman tilted her head slightly. Then, with a small motion, she pulled her hood down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack froze for a brief second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The woman was striking, short black hair that framed her sharp jawline, and eyes that gleamed hazel-gold even in the dim light. There was a smirk tugging at her lips, one that carried more amusement than apology.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d she said, voice teasing. \u201cI\u2019m just doing my job.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour job?\u201d Jack raised an eyebrow. \u201cAnd what exactly is that supposed to be?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yara looked at him for a long moment as if actually thinking about it. Then she shrugged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI also don\u2019t have an idea,\u201d she said simply, lips curving again. \u201cIt\u2019s strange, but I\u2019ll never disobey my lord. And right now\u2026\u201d Her gaze flicked toward the distant silhouette of the woman Jack had been following. \u201cHe wants me to watch over that woman. So, here I am.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:44 Tue, Dec 23 IMG\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack scoffed. \u201cThat\u2019s unfortunate for you, because I was given the same order. Which means one of us has to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yara\u2019s smile didn\u2019t fade. If anything, it grew softer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI see you don\u2019t want to leave while I\u2019m being nice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell then\u2026 goodbye.\u201d She waved her hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before Jack could even process her words, a massive shape burst out of the shadows behind him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A white lion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
05\u00a0<\/p>\n
It moved like lightning, slamming into him with a force that knocked the air from his lungs. Jack barely managed to let out a startled scream before the lion\u2019s massive paw came down on his head, sending him crashing to the ground, unconscious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The beast growled, lifting its paw again, ready to strike once more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome back, Alba,\u201d Yara said lazily from her perch. \u201cThe Alpha said we shouldn\u2019t kill.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The lion froze, turning its glowing eyes toward her. Then, with a shimmer of light, its body shrank, fur rippling until a small white cat stood in its place. The cat leapt gracefully into Yara\u2019s lap, curling up without a sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yara stroked its head, eyes flicking back toward the forest path where the woman had vanished.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright then,\u201d she murmured with a faint smile. \u201cLet\u2019s resume our task.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:45 Tue, Dec 23\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 32 Chapter 32\u00a0 Chapter 32\u00a0 Adrian\u00a0 I watched her leave the auction hall, […]<\/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-27826","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\/27826","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=27826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27826\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}