\u00a0<\/p>\n
91 I\u2019ll advise you to know your place, wolf\u00a0<\/p>\n
911 I\u2019ll advise you to know your place, wolf\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian\u00a0<\/p>\n
Who would have thought that the sight of Selene with another man could make me this furious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could barely control my anger as I watched her dance with Alpha Tristan, right there in the center of the hall, in front of everyone. As if it were normal, as if it were nothing, as if she hadn\u2019t once clung to my side and chased after my shadow like I was the center of her world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t believe it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Selene I knew, no, the Selene I thought I knew, would never have allowed another man to touch her. She would glare, retreat, hide behind me, or make some excuse just to stay close. Yet there she was now, standing perfectly still when I arrived, not pulling away, not stepping back, allowing Alpha Tristan\u2019s hands to remain on her waist as if they belonged there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That sight alone made something ugly twist inside me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d felt it earlier, a faint, nagging instinct whispering that Alpha Tristan\u2019s interest in Selene was anything but harmless. But I brushed it off immediately. It was ridiculous. Why would a man like Tristan, war-hungry, arrogant, obsessed with strength, be interested in Selene of all people, someone who probably couldn\u2019t even hold a sword?\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had no redeeming qualities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was boring, quiet, always lurking in the background. Overshadowed by Sienna in every possible way. Why would a strange, dangerous alpha look twice at someone like her?\u00a0<\/p>\n
And yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stood there, calm and unbothered, even after seeing me. Worse, she was still talking about rejection, as if it were some casual topic she could throw around whenever she pleased.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My jaw ticked violently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took a step toward her, my tall frame casting a shadow over her smaller one, my presence was usually enough to make people falter. She didn\u2019t move even an inch. She only lifted her gaze to meet mine, her eyes cold, and detached, as if everything unfolding before her was just a nuisance she wanted to get over with quickly..\u00a0<\/p>\n
That look infuriated me more than her dancing ever could.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many times do I have to tell you this?\u201d I snapped, my voice low but sharp. \u201cI\u2019m not rejecting my mate. This is the last time we\u2019ll have this conversation, Selene.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She held my gaze, her lips curving into a mocking smile. Before I could react, her eyes slid past me, over my shoulder, straight to my father.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Rhydian,\u201d she said calmly, \u201cyou haven\u2019t told Prince Adrian?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brows furrowed deeply. I turned slightly, confusion mixing with irritation. \u201cTold me what?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, my father finally spoke. He sighed, and just that alone sent a strange chill down my spine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAdrian,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned fully to face him. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression was firm, resolved in a way I didn\u2019t like.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why I called you back, I\u2019ve made a decision. You will reject the moonborn Selene as your mate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, everything stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My body went rigid, as if struck by lightning. The sounds of the hall blurred into nothing but static in my ears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d The word left my mouth hollow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My father went on, as if he hadn\u2019t just shattered something inside me. \u201cA while ago, I called Selene to ask why she wanted\u00a0<\/p>\n
to reject you. She explained that it was the Moon Goddess\u2019s will. It has something to do with the phoenix. If she rejects you, the phoenix will-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t fucking care.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice exploded through the hall, echoing off the walls, silencing every whisper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care about the reason,\u201d I continued, my Successfully unlocked! alms burned. \u201cI don\u2019t care about the phoenix. I\u00a0<\/p>\n
don\u2019t care about the Moon Goddess\u2019s plans.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at him, my chest heaving.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
911 advise you to know your place, wolf\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will not reject her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone was staring at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could feel the shock rippling through the hall, the disbelief etched on every face turned in my direction. Even I was stunned by my own reaction. My chest was tight, my pulse loud in my ears, my temper frayed beyond reason, all because of\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before this, I wouldn\u2019t have cared.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had never cared who my mate was. If rejecting my mate meant protecting the pack, strengthening alliances, or preventing disaster, I would have done it without hesitation. I had always put the Mooncrest Pack first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So why now?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why did the mere thought of rejecting Selene make my blood boil?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was still calm, and unbothered. Her expression was composed as if my outburst meant nothing to her as long as she got what she wanted in the end. And that, more than anything, angered me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was the cruel part of the mate bond. Both parties had to agree, and accept the rejection. And she was waiting for me to say the words so she could finally be free of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hand clenched into a fist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damn it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could stop myself, I reached out, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her with me. Gasps echoed behind us as people instinctively stepped aside, unwilling to be caught in whatever storm was unfolding between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was almost at the door when someone blocked my path.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A man stood there, arms crossed, posture relaxed yet unmistakably threatening. His golden eyes flashed as they locked onto mine, then shifted briefly to Selene before returning to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGet your hands off her,\u201d he said, his voice deep, and dangerous. \u201cBefore I get them off myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glared at him, already furious, and his presence only added fuel to the fire. My eyes flashed as I opened my mouth to respond,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, Lucas.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both of us froze. I looked at Selene. The man did too. But she wasn\u2019t looking at me. Her gaze was fixed on him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m okay,\u201d she said calmly. \u201cStand back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucas stared at her, defiance flashing in his eyes, as if he wasn\u2019t used to being ordered by anyone. For a moment, I thought he might refuse, but then he nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before stepping aside, he looked at me again, his lips curling into a slow, mocking smirk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll advise you to know your place, wolf,\u201d he said. \u201cThat man is already here. And the more you touch her, the less you survive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brows furrowed. I didn\u2019t understand what he meant, but before I could question it, he moved out of the way, as if I no longer mattered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t like his words. I didn\u2019t like his tone. But I had more important things to deal with.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without looking back, I dragged Selene out of the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The doors slammed shut behind us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 91 \u00a0 91 I\u2019ll advise you to know your place, wolf\u00a0 911 I\u2019ll […]<\/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-27885","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\/27885","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=27885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27885\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}