Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho the hell is that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you fucking blind? Can\u2019t you see the hair, it\u2019s the other Moonborn.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other Moonborn? Are you serious, the plain-looking girl? I have never seen her look this beautiful in my life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, right? Look at the dress, it\u2019s showing her curves. And her face, pale and flawless, she\u2019s not even wearing makeup and still looks better than everyone else here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The murmurs spread through the courtyard, a mix of disbelief and fascination. Heads turned, conversations halted, and eyes followed me where I stood. I kept my expression calm, my posture straight, as though I couldn\u2019t hear a single word they said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze was locked on Adrian.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked younger than the last time I saw him. If I was eighteen now, that meant he was twenty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Time moved differently for werewolves. Our lives stretched long, and so did the years it took us to age. A werewolf could remain twenty for decades before turning twenty-one. Even after all this time, he looked unchanged, the same green eyes, the same black hair, the same commanding presence that always seemed to fill the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I used to love that expression. It used to make me feel hot all over. But now, just looking at his face made me want to punch him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI, Adrian Blackthorn, Alpha of the Mooncrest Pack, reject you, Selene Bloodrose, as my mate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words still echoed in my mind like a curse. He had thrown me away as though I was nothing. After everything I gave him, he left me bleeding and humiliated in front of the entire pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And now, I would make him feel exactly what I felt. I would take everything from him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I finally tore my gaze away from him, breaking that silent pull between us. My eyes found Sienna and Kane. Sienna\u2019s expression almost made me laugh. The flawless smile she always wore faltered, the mask was slipping. Disbelief flashed first, then anger spread across her cheeks. Her fingers dug into the silk of her dress, knuckles white, eyes wide with a mix of jealousy and fury. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to leap across the room and tear me apart right there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna probably expected something different.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She expected me to walk in wearing that plain, pitiful dress, head bowed and eyes lowered, her perfect little shadow. The forgotten sister who made her shine brighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My lips curved upward into a small, mocking smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her face went redder, and her breath caught as if she\u2019d been struck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside her, Kane noticed her change immediately. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d he asked, his hand reaching out to steady her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna blinked, snapping back into her performance, and quickly shook her head. \u201cY-Yes, I\u2019m okay. I was just\u2026 dizzy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane frowned, still worried. \u201cDo you want to rest for a bit?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She forced a faint smile and said, \u201cI\u2019m fine, brother.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I watched the exchange quietly. Kane had always been protective of her, though he rarely noticed how easily she\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:48 Tue, Dec 23 MG\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
manipulated him with that sweet act. It was almost impressive how quickly she could change her expression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze shifted slightly to Cross. He hadn\u2019t let go of my hand. Yet I noticed his gaze was on Sienna.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He should have already gone to her side, abandoning me the moment Sienna looked unwell. That was how it always was. Sienna fainted, Sienna frowned, and the world bent around her, but he didn\u2019t move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were all strange.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a soft breath and turned slightly toward him. \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t respond, but he followed, his steps aligning with mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When we reached the center of the courtyard, I could feel the weight of every gaze following me. Kane and Sienna stood just ahead. I passed them without a second glance and turned my attention to the Alpha seated nearby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The old man looked exactly as I remembered him. Strong features, a commanding presence, and the same steady brown eyes that held both kindness and danger. There was something in him that mirrored his son, Prince Adrian, only more seasoned, and guarded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My opinion of him had never been simple. I respected him. He was a great ruler, someone who valued his pack above all else. But that was also his greatest flaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He would do anything for his pack. Even if it meant spilling innocent blood. Even if it meant destroying another pack for more territories.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t cruel for the sake of cruelty, he simply believed that power and survival were the same.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had never treated me unfairly, but he had never treated me as one of them either. I always knew he wanted Sienna to be Adrian\u2019s mate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled and bowed my head slightly, lowering my gaze just enough to appear respectful, but not meek. \u201cGood evening, Alpha.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Rhydian\u2019s deep voice rumbled through the courtyard, calm and authoritative. \u201cGood evening, Selene.\u201d His brown eyes softened a little as he studied me. \u201cHow have you been? It\u2019s been a long time since I last saw you. I remember, you were only ten back then. Your father always brings your sister to the palace, yet you never come along. Tell me, do you find the palace boring?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His tone was light, but there was an undertone there, like he wanted to see how I would respond.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I met his gaze with a small smile. \u201cNot at all, Alpha. I\u2019ve simply been busy with the temple. That is why I\u2019ve been unable to attend. Please forgive my absence.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He tilted his head, that curious smile never leaving his face. \u201cBusy?\u201d he asked. \u201cWhat could you possibly be busy with that even your sister is not?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ah. There it was. The jab hidden behind a kind voice,\u00a0<\/p>\n
The murmurs around us quieted. I could feel the shift in the air, the expectant pause of the crowd waiting for me to stumble. Even my father\u2019s gaze was heavy on me. I didn\u2019t need to look up to know he was glaring. When I glanced his way, I saw the same cold warning in his eyes that he\u2019d given me my entire life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Don\u2019t embarrass me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He really never saw anything good in me, but I wasn\u2019t here to please him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled and turned back to the Alpha. \u201cI have been busy learning the harp instrument, Alpha.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:49 Tue, Dec 23 M\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 39\u00a0<\/p>\n
Surprise flickered across the faces around us. Even Adrian raised his eyebrow slightly, his eyes narrowing as if trying to read\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe harp?\u201d Alpha Rhydian repeated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Alpha,\u201d I said smoothly. \u201cI learned that you are fond of the instrument, so I have been practicing, hoping one day to show you my skill and, perhaps, please you with my performance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, there was silence. Then, the Alpha chuckled, a low, genuine sound that carried through the courtyard. \u201cIs that so?\u201d he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. \u201cYou do know, Selene, that the harp is not an easy instrument to play. Only a few people manage to master it. Your sister, for example, played the harp for me just last week. And she did quite well.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. \u201cCan you play as well as her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I met his gaze directly, my lips curving into a confident smile. \u201cI believe I can play better than her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 39 Chapter 39\u00a0 Chapter 39\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 \u201cWho the hell is that?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cAre you […]<\/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-27833","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\/27833","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=27833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27833\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}