Chapter 51\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 51\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
The courtyard was alive with music. Laughter and chatter spilled through, echoing off the marble walls.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many noblewomen surrounded my stepmother, each one trying to outshine the other with their fake smiles. My stepmother stood at the center of them all, her chin raised. She basked in their attention, pretending to be humble while clearly enjoying every word of praise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations, Lady Jessica,\u201d someone said, their tone dripping with admiration. \u201cSienna will have a full white wolf. What a blessing, it\u2019s truly something to celebrate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stepmother chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with pride.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d she said sweetly. \u201cI\u2019m so happy for my stepdaughter. She\u2019s always been so talented and beautiful. I can\u2019t wait to see her white wolf.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another woman leaned closer, whispering just loud enough for others to hear. \u201cYou\u2019re so kind. I\u2019ve never seen anyone so devoted to their stepchildren. It\u2019s as if you gave birth to Sienna yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stepmother placed a hand over her chest and gave a modest laugh. \u201cSienna has always been a good girl since she was young. Of course, I love her as my own.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not far away, my father was deep in conversation with the other noble men. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to see the white wolf,\u201d he said proudly. \u201cI know Sienna will make our family proud.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane, standing with a group of men, wore that usual smug expression of his. \u201cIf any of you idiots think you can touch Sienna after she gets her wolf,\u201d he said with a smirk, \u201cI\u2019ll kill you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cross didn\u2019t bother to join in. He simply drank and watched everything with that calm look of his.\u00a0<\/p>\n
From where I stood, I heard everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was no expression on my face. I had learned long ago not to waste them\/ Everyone believed Sienna would be the one blessed by the moon goddess.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was fine. I wanted it that way. I wanted to set the stage perfectly, to make their shock that much sweeter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had already finished what needed to be done, but I waited, leaning lazily against the great oak tree at the edge of the forest. My arms were crossed, my eyes half-lidded as the music drifted through the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I heard the sound of a branch snapping behind me. I tilted my head slightly, not surprised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna stumbled out from between the trees. Her elegant dress was torn in several places, streaked with dirt and blood. Thin scratch marks lined her arms and neck, and her perfect white hair, once styled into careful curls, was now a tangled mess of leaves and twigs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked as though she had crawled through hell itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sight made my lips twitch in amusement. It was honestly worth the wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pushed myself away from the tree, and as I did, a branch broke under my heel. The sudden sound made Sienna gasp. She whipped around, her face pale, clutching a long stick like a weapon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s there?\u201d she cried out, panic lacing her voice. \u201cDon\u2019t hurt me! I\u2019ll kill you!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The branch came swinging wildly toward me, but I caught it easily mid-air, my grip firm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:52 Tue, Dec 23 MG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 51\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHurt you?\u201d I scoffed, my voice cool. \u201cNow why would I do that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her breath caught. Slowly, her wide eyes lifted to meet mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSelene?\u201d Sienna whispered, her voice trembling. She stared at me, eyes wide and raw. Fear sharpened the edges of her face; for a moment she looked as if she could not believe what was happening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cY-you\u2026 what colour is your wolf, Selene?\u201d she asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smirked, the smile slow. \u201cWouldn\u2019t you like to know?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She flinched like I had slapped her. \u201cImpossible\u2026\u201d she muttered, as if saying it would make it less true.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned, ready to go. \u201cLet\u2019s go. They must all be waiting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her fingers closed on my sleeve. The hold was desperate. She shook her head, voice pitched low. \u201cSelene, please-don\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I crossed my arms and pulled my sleeve free. \u201cDon\u2019t what?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her cheeks flushed a painful red. She bit her lip, then blurted, \u201cD-don\u2019t show them your wolf. If you have the white wolf, please don\u2019t let anyone know. Not tonight. Father\u2026 they\u2019ll be disappointed in me. You know how they are. They\u2019ll put everything on me. If I fail them, they\u2019ll be furious.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Disgust washed through me. She wanted me to hide what I had been given so she could keep the spotlight, keep her comfortable place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mira\u2019s voice slid into my head. \u2018Shameless.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Tell me about it.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I can get rid of her if you want. I should have my revenge for what she put me through.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt the hungry part of myself lean toward that thought. I shook my head. \u2018Not yet. A fast death would be mercy. But I promise you this, one day she will pay. You will be the one to take her life?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mira did not answer in words, but I felt the agreement between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned back to Sienna. \u201cSo you want me to hide because you\u2019re afraid of what Father and everyone else will think? Because you want all their praise and expectations for yourself? Tell me, Sienna, does that request make any sense to you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She swallowed, her eyes flicking away before forcing herself to meet mine. \u201cY-yes. Of course it does. I\u2019ve always made them proud. I carry their hopes so they don\u2019t look at you. You should be thanking me, Selene. You\u2019ve been free all this time because nobody expected anything from you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her voice trembled slightly, but she kept talking. \u201cEverything I\u2019ve done\u2026 I did it for you. If you show them your wolf, you\u2019ll lose that freedom. You won\u2019t be able to do whatever you want anymore.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed, pressing a hand to my temple. Even talking to Sienna felt like I was slowly losing my brain cells. Every word that came out of her mouth grated on my nerves, yet the more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I was angry at myself because I had fallen for her every single time in my past lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was so obvious. Her sweet smiles, her sisterly concern, her gentle words that were meant to protect me, none of it had been real. All of it had been carefully designed to make me hide my power so that she could shine as the Moonborn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my past lives, I had listened to her like a fool.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had thought Sienna was kind. That she was trying to help me avoid unnecessary attention. So I\u2019d hidden my wolf. Pretended I didn\u2019t have one. I had gone before the entire pack and said that I was wolfless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:52 Tue, Dec 23 8 MG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 51\u00a0<\/p>\n
And then the rumors began.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That I had used dark magic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That I\u2019d stolen Sienna\u2019s wolf.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That I\u2019d hidden mine to avoid suspicion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It spread like wildfire, and suddenly everyone was whispering that my holy white wolf was tainted, and impure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And all that time, it had been her plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sighed in relief, and said in her mind. \u201cThank the gods. She\u2019s still dumb. I just need to find a way to make her white wolf seem worthless.\u201d\u2018\u00a0<\/p>\n
My smile grew wider. Oh, Sienna, I thought. You really have no idea who you\u2019re playing with this time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Selene,\u201d she said sweetly, reaching to hold my hand. \u201cYou know I\u2019m doing this for you, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d I replied with a perfectly innocent smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d she said brightly. \u201cLet\u2019s go back and show everyone we\u2019re back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
We walked together into the courtyard. The cool air brushed against my skin as everyone turned to look at us, my father, stepmother, and brothers all waiting expectantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stepmother immediately spoke up, her voice breathless with anticipation. \u201cSienna, how is it? Do you have the white wolf?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna bit her lip, pretending to be shy. \u201cI\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But before she could finish, a deep voice echoed across the courtyard, one word that froze everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every head turned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Prince Adrian was sitting casually in his chair, his green eyes gleaming like polished emeralds. The Alpha\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cMate? Is your mate really one of them?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stepmother gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. \u201cOh my goddess!\u201d she cried, tears of joy already brimming in her eyes. \u201cFinally, Sienna! I knew you were the Prince\u2019s mate!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The courtyard erupted with excitement. Everyone surrounded Sienna, congratulating her. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and joy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No one noticed Adrian\u2019s gaze was fixed entirely on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And no one saw how my fists clenched at my sides, my heart pounding painfully. The bond thrummed under my skin, that familiar pull, one that I wanted so badly to ignore,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Normally, Mira would have howled mate by now, her voice echoing through my head. But this time, she was silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had given up on him, and his wolf. Just when everyone\u2019s excitement reached its peak, the world seemed to slow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian moved. In a flash, he stood in front of me. The courtyard went silent, and every whisper died.\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:52 Tue, Dec 23 IMG\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 51\u00a0<\/p>\n
His scent wrapped around me as he lifted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze. Then, without hesitation, his arm slid around my waist, pulling me close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mate,\u201d he said firmly, his voice low and certain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:52 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 51 Chapter 51\u00a0 Chapter 51\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 The courtyard was alive with music. Laughter […]<\/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-27845","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\/27845","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=27845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27845\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}