Chapter 110\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
918\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
My hand clenched on its own, fingers curling so tightly that my nails bit into my palm. I barely felt the pain. My heart was pounding too fast, each beat loud in my ears, drowning out every other sound as my mind spiraled out of control. I couldn\u2019t react or answer. All I could do was stare at the formidable man in front of me, my shock so deep it rooted me in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Memories of the garden surged forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had been thrown across the wall like I weighed nothing, my body crashing into the wall before I could even understand what had happened. I didn\u2019t see the person until the moment I was torn away from Selene. One moment I was there, the next I was flying. That alone told me everything I needed to know about how terrifyingly powerful that person was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had never felt anything like it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not even Ian\u2019s aura compared to that moment. That presence had been overwhelming. For a split second, it had felt as though I was standing before a god, something ancient and untouchable. Someone who didn\u2019t need to acknowledge me to erase me. The fact that I was still alive felt less like mercy and more like indifference.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze dropped to my hands, still trembling slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What I couldn\u2019t understand was why that person would dare to attack me knowing exactly who I was. I was the prince of the Mooncrest Pack. And yet, that person had thrown me aside without hesitation or concern for consequence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Did he not value his life? And worse, why take Selene?\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was Moonborn, my mate. What could anyone possibly want with her? The thought spiraled darker when another realization struck me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her heat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My jaw tightened, irritation flaring hot in my chest. The idea of another man anywhere near Selene made something ugly twist inside me. It didn\u2019t matter how irrational it was, it didn\u2019t sit right. It angered me. No, it infuriated me. Selene wasn\u2019t someone anyone could just touch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She would never allow it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At least, that was what I told myself, clinging to the thought like a lifeline. Selene was in love with me. She would never let another man lay hands on her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nothing happened. Nothing could have happened. I repeated it in my head, forcing the thought down even as doubt tried to claw its way up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t what I should be thinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What mattered was finding her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:05 Wed, Jan 21 ..\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 110\u00a0<\/p>\n
91\u00a0<\/p>\n
E55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had to find her. No matter the cost. No matter who stood in my way. Selene was my mate, and I would not allow her to disappear without tearing the world apart to get her back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPrince Adrian.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ian\u2019s voice cut through my thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I snapped out of it, my head lifting sharply as I finally remembered I wasn\u2019t alone. My eyes met his, those cold, piercing blue eyes that looked less like a man\u2019s and more like a war god\u2019s. My frown deepened instinctively. Selene being taken was only one problem.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The other stood right in front of me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ian Bloodrose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Few people knew this, but Ian cared deeply for Selene. More than anyone. Before he left for the front lines, he had made me promise that nothing would ever happen to her. And now she was gone. Judging by his presence alone, it was obvious he had come here the moment he heard. He might have halted an entire war to sit in this room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was no universe where he would take this lightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His gaze bore into me as he spoke again, his voice calm. \u201cFrom what I heard, my sister rejected you. Don\u2019t tell me her disappearance was some kind of revenge, your highness?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest tightened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t like that question. I didn\u2019t like the implication behind it. No matter how strong he was, Ian had no right to accuse me of something like that. Anger sparked, my mouth opening as I prepared to defend myself, when the door suddenly opened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My head turned instinctively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My father stepped in first, followed by my mother, and then Avery. Behind them came Cross, Kane, and Sienna.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When my mother noticed I was awake, she froze for a second before rushing toward me, looking relieved. She wrapped her arms around me tightly, holding me as if I might disappear if she let go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, thank the Moon Goddess you\u2019re awake,\u201d she said, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound composed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could even process her words, Sienna was there too, stepping close on my other side. She reached for my hand and clasped it between both of hers. \u201cPrince Adrian, are you okay?\u201d she asked softly. \u201cI was so worried. I thought something terrible had happened to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at them, but I didn\u2019t respond. My thoughts were still tangled with the remnants of that dream. The image of Sienna standing beside me as I rejected Selene flashed through my mind. Without a word, I slowly pulled my hand away from hers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The movement was subtle, but not unnoticed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:05 Wed, Jan 21\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 110\u00a0<\/p>\n
A\u00a0<\/p>\n
(91)\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a brief moment, I caught the flicker of annoyance that crossed Sienna\u2019s face, her brows drawing together almost imperceptibly. It vanished just as quickly, replaced by the same gentle expression she always wore so well, but the damage was already done. The unease in my chest deepened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery stepped forward. I assumed she was coming to hug me as well, maybe to scold me lightly for worrying everyone. I barely had time to register her expression before her hand came up and struck my face with a sharp crack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sound echoed through the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My head snapped slightly to the side from the force, my cheek stinging. My mother stared at Avery in shock, her eyes wide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAvery!\u201d she exclaimed. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery didn\u2019t answer. She raised her hand again, fury blazing in her eyes, clearly intending to strike me a second time. Instinct finally kicked in. I caught her wrist mid-air, my fingers closing around it firmly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStop it, Avery,\u201d I said, my voice low.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She struggled against my grip, trying to yank her hand free. \u201cLet me go, you asshole,\u201d she snapped, her voice shaking with anger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mother stepped closer, clearly panicked now. \u201cAvery, enough! Why are you doing this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery turned her head sharply toward her, her eyes burning. \u201cWhy am I doing this?\u201d she repeated, her voice rising. \u201cBecause Adrian is a scumbag. I know he doesn\u2019t care about anything but the pack, but how could he be so careless? How could he let Selene disappear from his sight?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words hit harder than the slap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he can\u2019t even protect his mate,\u201d she continued, her voice cracking despite her anger, \u201chow is he supposed to protect anything? All of this is his fault. Why didn\u2019t you protect Selene?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My grip loosened slightly, my mind going blank as her accusation echoed in my mind. I didn\u2019t know Avery cared about Selene this much. I didn\u2019t expect this kind of reaction from her. And even though I wanted to deny it, and defend myself, there was a part of me that knew that her words weren\u2019t entirely wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I couldn\u2019t protect Selene, then what right did I have to call myself the future Alpha of the pack?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPrincess Avery, please,\u201d Sienna said quickly, stepping forward, her voice urgent. \u201cDon\u2019t blame Prince Adrian for this. It wasn\u2019t his fault that he-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t get to finish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery\u2019s free hand came up without hesitation and struck Sienna across the face, the sound just as sharp as before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 110 Chapter 110\u00a0 Adrian\u00a0 \u2026\u00a0 918\u00a0 55 vouchers\u00a0 My hand clenched on its […]<\/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-27904","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\/27904","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=27904"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27904\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27904"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27904"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}