From Rejected Luna To Lycan Queen (Eloise and Edward) novel Chapter 179

Chapter 179 Manpower

ELOISE.

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Zara had always been the kind of person who wore her heart on her sleeve, even when she tried to hide it behind jokes and confidence. As we sat across from each other in the café, I could tell there were still pieces of her past that hadn’t fully settled. The way her fingers traced the edge of her glass absentmindedly, the slight pause before she spoke about certain things–it all said more than her words ever could.

She had loved deeply once. And she had been hurt just as deeply. And the person she loved was my brother, Antoine.

“I used to think I was the problem,” she admitted after a while, her voice quieter now, stripped of its earlier playfulness. “Back then, I kept wondering if I just wasn’t enough. Not rich enough, not polished enough, not… whatever his family wanted.”

I didn’t interrupt her. I simply watched her, letting her speak at her own pace.

“But it wasn’t that,” she continued, letting out a small, almost bitter laugh. “It was her. Everything always came back to her. She wanted control over everything–over him, over his choices, over who he could even care about. And I didn’t fit into that picture.”

I didn’t need to ask who she meant.

Summer.

Even outside the family, her influence had stretched further than most people realized. It wasn’t just about jealousy–it was about possession. About control.

“She made things difficult on purpose,” Zara added, shaking her head slightly. “At first, I thought I was imagining it. Missed meetings, changed plans, things going wrong at the worst possible time… it all felt too convenient. But after a while, I knew. She didn’t want me around.”

Her lips pressed together briefly before she exhaled.

“And the worst part?” she said softly. “He never really saw it. Or maybe he did and just chose not to deal with it. Either way… I got tired.”

There was no anger in her voice now. Just something quieter. Something settled.

“I left,” she continued. “Packed everything and just… went. I needed space. Needed to figure out who I was without all of that noise around me.”

I leaned back slightly, studying her.

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Chapter 179 Manpower

“And did you?” I asked.

This time, her smile was real.

“Yeah,” she said simply. “I did.”

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There was a quiet strength in the way she said it. Not loud, not forced–just steady. It was the kind of confidence that didn’t need to prove anything to anyone.

“I started working again,” she went on, her tone growing lighter. “Properly this time. No distractions. No family drama. Just me and my work.”

“And?” I prompted.

“And it turns out,” she said with a small grin, “I’m actually very good at what I do.”

I huffed a soft laugh. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

“It surprised a lot of people,” she replied, lifting her chin slightly. “I worked with a few rising artists. Helped shape their image, guided their careers… and some of them actually made it big.”

There was pride there now. Earned pride.

Not borrowed. Not given.

Built.

“I didn’t need anyone’s approval anymore,” she added. “Not his, not hers, not anyone’s. And once I realized that… everything just got easier.”

I nodded slowly, understanding more than she probably realized.

Sometimes, distance was the only way to see things clearly.

She glanced at me then, her expression softening slightly. “You were the only one who didn’t make me feel like I was losing my mind back then,” she said. “Even when everything was messy… you just listened.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I simply gave her a small smile.

“You didn’t need fixing,” I said after a moment. “You just needed space.”

She held my gaze for a second before nodding.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “I guess I did.”

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Chapter 179 Manpower

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For a brief moment, the conversation settled into something comfortable. Quiet. Easy.

Then an idea formed in my mind, clear and sharp.

I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbow on the table.

“So,” I said casually, though there was intention behind it, “now that you’re back… what are you planning to do next?”

She blinked at me, a little surprised by the shift. I was thinking of rebuilding my career here,” she said. “Starting fresh. Why?”

I tilted my head slightly, watching her.

“Work with me.”

She froze.

“…What?”

“I’m starting something new,” I said, my voice cam but firm. “A company. Media, talent development, production–everything. I want to build it from the ground up. No shortcuts. No borrowed influence. And it’s strictly for werewolves. I want us to have a community of our own in the industry, not like these other people that have humans in their companies.”

Her

eyes widened slightly. “You’re serious?”

“I wouldn’t joke about something like that,” I replied.

There was a brief silence as she processed it.

“When did this even happen?” she asked, still clearly surprised.

“Recently,” I said. “I’ve been planning it for a while, but now the timing feels right.”

That was the simple version.

The truth was, I needed something of my own. Something outside the family, outside the expectations, outside the constant games. Something I could control.

Something no one could take from me.

“And you want me… involved?” she asked carefully.

“I want you leading part of it,” I corrected. “You have experience. Real experience. You know how the industry works, how to manage talent, how to build something from nothing.”

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Chapter 179 Manpower

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