Chapter 366: There is....
Adrein.
I genuinely could not believe it.
Out of everyone in the room, I had somehow managed to pick him.
The realization settled heavily in my chest, and my mood instantly soured.
A wave of frustration washed over me as I stared at the folded piece of paper, wishing I could somehow change what had already been decided.
Why Him?
Of all people, why did fate have to choose him?
I clenched my jaw and looked away.
The truth was painfully simple–I wanted to be the one.
The thought of seeing Maria again had consumed my mind from the very moment Noah revealed she was here.
I missed her, more than I cared to admit and more than I should.
The ache of her absence had lingered for so long that I had almost grown used to carrying it around.
But now that I knew she was close—close enough to speak to, close enough to see—every emotion I had been suppressing came rushing back with frightening force.
All I wanted was to hold her, to pull her into my arms and feel her warmth again just to reassure myself that she was truly alright.
And if I was being completely honest, I wanted to kiss the breath out of her for daring to stay away from me for so long.
The mere thought made my chest tighten.
"Who did you pick?" Davian asked, as his voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I lifted my gaze toward him.
There was curiosity in his eyes, but there was something else there too.
Expectation.
From his expression alone, I could tell he had secretly hoped his own name would be called.
Unfortunately for him, luck hadn’t been on his side either.
I swallowed hard, as the answer felt bitter on my tongue.
"I picked Noah." I said, as my voice came out slow and quiet, barely above a whisper.
For a moment, complete silence filled the room.
Then the disappointment became visible.
Davian’s face immediately lost its color. The hopeful look he’d been carrying vanished almost instantly.
Aidan, on the other hand, seemed determined not to show his reaction. His expression remained mostly neutral, but the slight tightening of his jaw betrayed his disappointment.
Damien reacted differently. He simply groaned and threw himself backward onto the bed.
A moment later, he lay completely flat, staring at the ceiling as though life had personally betrayed him.
"I think that’s for the good," Noah said, as a smug look immediately appeared on his face.
The sight alone irritated me.
His confidence seemed to double the moment his name was chosen.
"It’s decided," he continued, sounding far too pleased with himself. "I will meet with Maria and discuss the plan." He paused briefly before adding, "You all have to stay alert."
I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
Honestly, I hated the way he was talking.
The way he carried on made it sound as though he had just been appointed commander of some grand mission.
The more he spoke, the more I regretted suggesting the selection process.
And more than that, I regretted being the one who picked the paper.
"Just ensure you don’t put us all in danger." Aidan finally spoke, his voice low and calm, yet the warning hidden beneath those words was impossible to miss.
The room fell silent once more, and despite Noah’s confidence, an uneasy feeling continued to settle heavily inside my chest.
"I’m not so dumb," Noah said, a smug smirk settling comfortably on his lips.
The expression alone was enough to irritate me. As though being chosen had somehow elevated him above the rest of us. As though he had already accomplished something important.
Everything about it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Without bothering to respond, I pushed myself to my fee, and surprisingly nobody stopped me nor questioned where I was going.
Truthfully, I didn’t know myself.
I simply needed to leave.
Probably I needed air, or I needed distance from that room and the frustration building inside me.
So I walked out.
The corridor outside was surprisingly empty, luckily, there were no guards stationed nearby.
The silence stretched around me as I continued moving forward without any real destination in mind.
My thoughts drifted aimlessly, mostly toward Maria and that only worsened my mood.
I continued walking through the hallway until a familiar sight caught my attention.
A few feet ahead, Galen was walking directly behind Daniel.
The sight made me pause briefly and then I scoffed.
"What a match," I muttered out loud.
The sarcasm in my voice was impossible to miss, but neither of them heard me.
Which was probably for the best.
Shaking my head, I looked away and continued down the corridor. I took another turn, fully expecting to find an empty passage.
Instead, I nearly stopped in my tracks.
Vanessa.
The moment her eyes landed on me, her entire face lit up.
"Hey baby, did you miss me?" she asked cheerfully as she immediately began walking toward me.
I stared at her, and then I slowly shook my head in disbelief.
The audacity she possessed was honestly alarming.
Regardless of what she had done, she seemed to confident in addressing me that way.
I didn’t bother answering.
Instead, I attempted to walk past her.
Ignoring her seemed like the safest option.
Unfortunately, Vanessa never understood the concept of being ignored.
She effortlessly matched my pace.
"What do you say about conducting our wedding immediately after the Lycan Prince’s?" she asked and the bright smile on her face somehow grew even wider.
I stopped walking, and then turned to stare at her as pure disgust settled on my features.
"You are sick, Vanessa," I said firmly, my voice carrying no warmth whatsoever. "There is no wedding." I added.
For a brief second, I expected her smile to disappear, but it didn’t.
"Why?" she asked with a soft chuckle, as the amusement in her eyes only deepened. "Maria is having her wedding..." she continued. "You don’t want to remain single, do you?"
The mention of Maria immediately darkened my expression.
"Vanessa—" I barely managed to say her name before she interrupted.
"Sshhh." She said, her voice low and almost playful. "There is something..."
As she spoke, she stepped closer.
My brows furrowed slightly.
I had no idea what she was talking about, nor did I care.
Before I could ask what she meant, her gaze shifted briefly past me.
Then everything happened so quickly.
She leaned forward without warning.
Before I could process what she had supposedly seen—or what she intended to do—she suddenly pressed her lips against mine.
My entire body froze.
For a second, my mind went completely blank, as shock rooted me to the spot.
I stood there, stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
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