I Refuse To Be Your Luna

Flourish’s POV

The moon altar had been prepared for two wolves, but only one of us showed up.

Harold Virel should have been standing there..

Beside me, before the Moon Altar, before the elders of Stonehedge.

Before every wolf who had spent the last six years waiting to see whether I would finally become his Luna or remain the woman he kept close enough to shame but never close enough to honor.

Tonight was supposed to settle it.

The Luna Rite only happened once under the blood moon. Once the Alpha placed his mark over my pulse and accepted me before the elders, no one in Stonehedge would be allowed to question my place again.

“Lady Flourish,” Elder Marwin said quietly, “shall we send another summons?”

Another summons.

As if the first five had not been ignored.

I kept my chin lifted even though my fingers were cold beneath the folds of my ceremonial sleeves. The white claiming robe felt heavier with every passing breath, its silver embroidery pressing against my skin like chains.

“No,” I said. “If Alpha Harold wanted to be here, he would be.”

A murmur passed through the hall.

My wolf stirred beneath my ribs, not in anger yet. Just wounded. Quiet in that dangerous way wounded creatures became when they realized the pain was not an accident.

Across the hall, a young warrior rushed in through the side arch. His boots scraped against the stone before he stopped near the elders. He looked at them first, then at me.

That hesitation told me enough.

Elder Marwin’s face tightened. “Speak.”

The warrior swallowed. “Alpha Harold has dismissed the Moon Guard assigned to escort him here.”

My breath caught before I could stop it.

Dismissed them?

A cold ripple passed through the gathered wolves. Even the servants near the walls froze.

A Luna Rite was not a casual promise. It was law, blood, rank, and territory. If an Alpha delayed it because of war, illness, or death, the elders could forgive him.

But dismissing the guards meant Harold had not simply missed the rite.

He had refused to come knowingly, publicly, and without the slightest intention of hiding it.

Elder Marwen’s gaze shifted to me, and for the first time that night, I saw pity in his eyes.

I hated him for it.

Before anyone could speak, elder Hailey whispered loudly enough for half the hall to hear, “Maybe Widow Phina needed him again.”

My body went still.

The name moved through the hall like smoke.

Phina.

Harold’s late beta’s widow.

The fragile beauty Stonehedge protected like sacred glass.

Three years ago, Harold’s beta, Rowan, died during a border ambush. Phina survived, but barely. They said the moon sickness entered her blood that night and hollowed her slowly, leaving her too weak for court gatherings, too delicate for pack life, too broken to be blamed for anything.

For years, Harold had guarded her recovery with a devotion that made people lower their voices whenever I passed.

At first, I pitied her.

Then I noticed Harold only smiled gently when her name was spoken.

Then I noticed her scent lingering in places where mine should have been.

Then I started hating myself for noticing at all.

Elder Marwin barked, “Silence.”

But it was too late.

The thought had already entered the room.

Maybe Harold had abandoned his Luna Rite for his dead beta’s widow.

My wolf’s claws pressed beneath my skin.

I turned away from the altar.

“Lady Flourish,” elder Marwin called. “The rite has not been dismissed.”

I looked back at him. “No. I was.”

No one stopped me after that.

They only watched as I walked out of Moonveil Hall in my claiming robe, my unmarked throat bare beneath the moon.

Outside, the night air bit into my skin.

I followed Harold’s scent myself.

Cedar. Storm rain. Alpha blood.

The trail should have led toward the eastern wing where his private chambers waited for the rite.

It did not.

It curved through the inner garden, past the old training yard, and down toward the lower hunting lodge near the black pines.

Stonehedge Lodge.

The place where warriors drank after successful hunts.

The place where widows did not go unless someone powerful invited them.

Music reached me first.

Then laughter.

Then Harold’s voice.

I stopped outside the open courtyard, hidden by the shadow of a stone pillar.

The lodge doors were wide, and firelight spilled across the ground. Inside, Stonehedge warriors lounged around a long table crowded with meat, wine, and hunting blades.

Harold sat at the head.

Not dressed for a Luna Rite, no ceremonial cloak, no moon cuffs.

No silver binding cord around his wrist.

He had removed every sign that tonight meant anything.

Phina sat beside him.

She wore black, widow’s black, but Harold’s grey fur mantle rested around her shoulders. It was too large for her narrow frame and too intimate to be mistaken for kindness.

My throat tightened.

That mantle was not just clothing.

It carried the Alpha’s scent.

Only a mate, a blood heir, or a protected female of the Alpha’s household had the right to wear it.

Phina lifted Harold’s cup and drank from it.

No one even looked surprised.

A warrior near the fire laughed. “Alpha, the elders must be chewing stone by now.”

Another said, “Careful. Lady Flourish may curse us all if she finds out you chose the widow’s first full night out over her rite.”

Phina lowered her eyes, but the curve of her mouth was there.

“Don’t tease him,” she said softly. “Harold has only been kind to me because Rowan is gone.”

Harold’s hand closed around the armrest of her chair.

His voice was too calm.

“Do not use my beta’s name like a wall between us.”

The room quieted.

Phina looked at him, her lashes trembling. “Harold…”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice, but not enough.

“I’ve already sacrificed too much to this pack. I won’t lose you too.”

A few warriors exchanged glances.

My heart did not shatter all at once. It simply went cold, little by little, until there was nothing warm left for him..

His warriors tried to laugh off the tension. “And Lady Flourish?”

Harold leaned back.

“She will wait.”

Those three words stripped the last softness out of me.

She will wait.

Because that was what I had always done.

I had waited while he carried Phina through fevers.

Waited while he missed dinners because Phina had nightmares.

Waited while he defended her from whispers he never defended me from.

Waited while my own place in his life became a room I was never allowed to enter fully.

My wolf rose beneath my skin, no longer begging for him to choose us. This time, she stepped out beside me ready to bite back.

The first warrior who saw me choked on his wine.

Silence swept through the lodge so quickly even the fire seemed to quiet.

Harold turned.

For one breath, surprise crossed his face.

Then irritation followed, as if I was the one who had embarrassed him.

“Flourish,” he said. “Why are you here?”

I walked inside slowly, my white claiming robe brushing against the blood-dark floor. Every eye followed me.. Let them look. Let them remember exactly what Harold Virel had done.

I stopped before his table.

“Moonveil Hall asked the same question about you.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw. “This is not the place.”

“No,” I agreed. “The place was the altar. You chose this one instead.”

Phina stood suddenly, Harold’s mantle slipping slightly from her shoulders. “Flourish, please don’t misunderstand. Harold only stayed because I was weak.”

I looked at her properly for the first time that night.

She looked fragile in the most dangerous way possible—pale skin, soft eyes, trembling fingers. The kind of woman men instinctively protected before asking questions they should have asked first.

“You recovered enough to drink from his cup,” I said. “I’m glad the Moon Goddess worked quickly.”

A few wolves drew in sharp breaths.

Harold’s eyes hardened. “Watch your tongue.”

I turned back to him. “I watched my tongue for six years.”

His expression darkened.

I reached up and unclasped the silver veil from my hair. The fabric slid down into my hands, cold and weightless now.

“This was prepared for your Luna.”

Harold stood slowly. Alpha power rolled from him, pressing against the room. Several wolves lowered their heads instinctively.

I did not.

“Do not make a scene,” he said.

A laugh escaped me, soft and empty. “You abandoned me before the elders of Stonehedge, and now you’re worried about a scene?”

Phina’s voice trembled. “I never wanted to come between you.”

I looked at the mantle on her shoulders.

“Then give back what belongs to his Luna.”

Her face changed.

Only for a second.

But I saw it.

So did my wolf.

Harold stepped between us. “Enough.”

There it was again.

That instinct.

He did not even think before protecting her from me.

The last piece of me that still wanted him finally burned away.

I placed the veil carefully on the table before him like a corpse prepared for burial.

“I release myself from your claim, Harold Virel.”

The words struck the room harder than any scream could have.

A woman left unmarked beneath the blood moon had the right to withdraw before the final bite.

It was ancient law.

The kind of law Alphas hated because even power had limits under the Moon Goddess.

Harold’s face went dangerously still. “Say that again.”

I held his gaze.

“I will not stand as your chosen female. I will not carry your name into the Luna circle. I will not kneel for your mark.”

His eyes flashed gold. “You are angry.”

“Yes,” I said. “And awake.”

Phina touched his sleeve. “Harold, let her calm down.”

I smiled then.

Not because anything was funny.

Because of course she thought I would calm down.

Everyone did.

I looked around the room, making sure every wolf heard me.

“Let Stonehedge hear this clearly. If I ever return to Harold Virel, may the Moon Goddess strip my wolf from my blood and leave my womb empty beneath every moon.”

Flourish’s POV

I did not cry after leaving Stonehedge Lodge.

Honestly, that scared me more than if I had.

Because six years with Harold Virel should have earned at least one dramatic breakdown beneath the moon.

Instead, I felt… cold.

Not empty, just painfully awake.

The western estate stood quiet when I arrived near dawn, silver lights glowing softly through the tall windows. This place was supposed to become my home after the Luna Rite.

Funny how quickly a place could stop feeling welcoming.

The guards at the gates looked confused when they saw me returning alone in ceremonial white.

One of them opened his mouth to ask questions.

I kept walking before he could.

Inside, servants immediately straightened the moment they saw me.

“Lady Flourish?” Mira hurried forward. “Did the rite finish early?”

pulled the ceremonial crest from my dress and set it down.

“No,” I said. “It didn’t happen.”

Silence dropped heavily across the entrance hall.

Mira nearly dropped the towels in her hands.

Because everybody understood what those words meant.

An Alpha abandoning a Luna Rite was humiliating enough.

But abandoning it beneath the blood moon?

Stonehedge would gossip about this for years.

Mira looked horrified. “Should we prepare chambers for Alpha Harold when he arrives?”

I almost laughed.

“He won’t be staying here tonight.”

The words came out sharper than intended.

Mira immediately stepped aside which was better.

I did not trust myself to speak kindly right now.

I walked upstairs alone.

The western estate still smelled like fresh moonflowers and candle smoke. Servants spent weeks preparing the place for the completed bond ceremony.

For me and Harold.

For a future that suddenly looked ridiculous.

I pushed open the master bedroom doors and froze immediately.

The room smelled like her moon herbs and winter sage.

Phina.

My wolf stirred angrily beneath my skin.

Near Harold’s bed sat several medicine bottles beside a half-empty cup of healing tea.

A soft grey blanket rested across the couch near the fire.

Not just any blanket.

Harold’s blanket.

The one he never let anyone touch because his late beta gave it to him years ago.

Yet Phina’s scent covered it completely.

My chest tightened painfully.

Slowly, I walked deeper into the room.

A dark silk robe hung beside Harold’s clothes near the wardrobe.

Not mine.

Phina’s.

My stomach twisted.

How long had she been staying here?

How long had everybody known except me?

Then a notification sound broke the silence.

I turned toward the couch.

Harold’s tablet lit up briefly across the cushions.

Normally, I would never touch it.

Harold hated people using his personal things.

Once, he snapped at me for moving it while cleaning coffee off the table.

Yet tonight, the device sat unlocked beside Phina’s medicine like she used it freely.

A bitter laugh almost escaped me.

Of course she did.

I picked up the tablet slowly.

The screen displayed a reminder notification.

Phina’s treatment after moonrise. Don’t forget this time.

My throat tightened.

Below it sat another unfinished note Harold apparently forgot to delete.

Move Phina into western room permanently before winter gets worse.

I stared at the words for several long seconds.

Western room.

This room.

The future Luna chambers.

A painful knot tightened inside my chest.

Not because I still doubted what Harold felt for her.

But because he planned all of this before tonight.

Before the failed rite.

Before humiliating me before the elders.

He already made space for her here.

Scrolling down I found a private voice memo.

Without thinking, I pressed play.

Soft breathing filled the bedroom first.

Then Phina laughed quietly. “You really shouldn’t touch me there.”

Harold’s voice came low and rough. “Then stop climbing into my bed wearing that.”

A kiss followed.

Slow. Intimate. Familiar enough to make my stomach twist.

“Your future Luna is going to hate me,” Phina whispered between breaths.

Harold answered without hesitation.

“She doesn’t need to know.”

The recording ended there.

Suddenly every cold kiss Harold ever gave me finally made sense.

I had spent six years trying to earn warmth that came naturally to another woman.

I lowered the device slowly back onto the couch.

My wolf curled away from the bond between Harold and me like she finally understood what kind of male he truly was.

I stood there quietly for another minute before walking toward the wardrobe.

I did not pack much.

Mostly because there was not much of me left inside this room anyway.

I removed my scent oils from the bathroom.

My clothes from the wardrobe.

The silver Luna hairpiece from the vanity table.

Then I paused beside the bed.

A framed sketch rested near the lamp.

Harold and me beneath the winter moon during last year’s hunt festival.

I stared at it briefly before turning the frame face down.

That felt more honest somehow.

By sunrise, I was gone.

Harold returned to the western estate the following night.

I knew because Mira mind-linked me almost immediately.

Lady Flourish… Alpha Harold is asking for you.

I sat near the fireplace inside my smaller cliffside residence, slowly stirring tea I no longer wanted.

Tell him I’m not there.

A long pause followed.

Then she responded…

He already noticed.

Good.

Several minutes later, Harold’s mind-link forced itself against mine.

“Where are you?”

No apology. No explanation. Just Harold being exactly who he had always been..

I leaned back against the chair slowly.

“Interesting,” I said calmly. “You noticed I left.”

His breathing sharpened slightly through the bond.

“What childish game are you playing now?”

That almost made me laugh.

Because somehow humiliating me before the entire territory was reasonable.

Leaving quietly was childish.

“I’m tired, Harold.”

“Then stop being difficult and come back.”

Difficult.

Not heartbroken. Not humiliated. Not furious enough to walk away after what he did.

Just… difficult..

My wolf bared her teeth silently.

“You should focus on Phina instead,” I replied softly. “Wouldn’t want her medicine getting cold.”

Silence settled heavily between us before Harold finally spoke.

“You went through my tablet?”

I closed my eyes briefly.

There it was, not regret or guilt.

Only irritation that I saw the truth.

“I’m done having this conversation,” I said.

“Flourish…”

I severed the link completely.

The next morning, Alpha Magnus contacted me personally.

Unlike Harold, his grandfather at least sounded tired.

“Tomorrow is the pack’s winter moon gathering,” he said. “Every major Alpha territory will attend.”

I stared out across the cliffs quietly.

“And?”

“And after what happened during the Luna Rite, Stonehedge cannot afford more rumors.”

There it was again—the pack’s image, the territory’s reputation, the endless politics that somehow always mattered more than people did..

“You still want me standing beside Harold after he abandoned me publicly?”

A long silence followed.

Then the old Alpha sighed heavily.

“You know I care for you, child.”

Unfortunately, care was not the same thing as choosing me.

“I’ll think about it.”

After the call ended, I sat quietly for several minutes before reaching for my phone.

Then I opened Harold’s messages.

If Alpha Harold wants me smiling beside him tomorrow night, it will cost him.

The reply came almost immediately.

You’re unbelievable.

My smile widened slightly.

“And yet you still need me there”.

Several minutes passed.

My phone buzzed again moments later.

This time, it wasn’t a reply.

It was a black-card authorization under the Virel family seal.

Another message followed immediately after..

“Be ready before moonrise”.

I stared at the screen briefly before replying.

“Pleasure doing business with you, Alpha”.

Flourish’s POV

By the time my ride reached the main fortress of Stonehedge, the entire territory was already glowing beneath moonlight and silver fire lanterns.

Music drifted from the upper balconies while servants moved briskly across the massive courtyard carrying trays of wine and crystal cups toward the grand banquet hall. Alpha Magnus’s winter moon celebration was always excessive, but tonight felt heavier than usual. Wolves from neighboring territories filled the fortress, their scents mixing together beneath the cold winter air.

Every wolf that mattered was here.

And everyone already knew about the failed Luna Rite.

Fine by me. I was done hiding my humiliation for their comfort.

The first thing I saw when I stepped down was Harold standing near the entrance stairs speaking to several council wolves.

The conversation stopped the second his eyes landed on me.

I almost smiled.

For one long moment, he simply stared.

Not subtly either.

His gaze moved over the lavender gown hugging my waist before falling smoothly toward the slit running along my thigh. The dress itself was elegant enough for a formal Alpha gathering, but it was softer than what I normally wore, the color making my skin appear warmer beneath the moonlight.

I chose it carefully.

Not because Harold would like it.

Because I knew he wouldn’t.

A dangerous look crossed his face before he excused himself from the council wolves and walked directly toward me.

“You changed your mind about dressing modestly, I see.”

His voice remained calm, but I knew Harold well enough to hear the irritation beneath it.

I adjusted one sleeve lazily “You granted me enough privileges to deserve visual satisfaction.”

The nearby servants immediately lowered their heads to hide their reactions.

Harold stopped directly in front of me, close enough for me to catch the familiar scent of cedarwood and winter smoke clinging to his ceremonial coat. Usually, that scent settled my wolf instantly.

Tonight, it only reminded me of the medicine-covered blankets inside the western estate.

“You’re drawing attention,” he said quietly.

“Excellent,” I replied. “That was the goal.”

His jaw tightened slightly. “This is Alpha Magnus’s banquet, not some childish revenge game.”

“And abandoning your Luna Rite for your dead beta’s widow wasn’t childish?”

The words landed sharply between us.

For a brief second, genuine anger flashed through his eyes.

I was tired of being the only wounded person in this situation.

Several wolves near the staircase were already pretending not to listen, so Harold lowered his voice further before speaking again.

“We are not discussing this here.”

I looked past him toward the brightly lit hall entrance. “Then perhaps you shouldn’t have created the discussion in public.”

That silenced him for a moment.

Interesting.

I had spent years avoiding conflict with Harold because I hated the cold distance he slipped into whenever we argued. Now that I no longer cared whether he pulled away from me, I realized something almost embarrassing.

Winning against him was not difficult.

You simply had to stop loving him enough to surrender first.

Harold exhaled slowly through his nose before offering me his arm. “The northern Alphas are already inside. We’re late.”

I stared at his arm briefly before accepting it, though not because I suddenly felt cooperative. Alpha Magnus had treated me kindly for years, and I refused to humiliate him publicly on this night.

Still, the moment my fingers brushed Harold’s sleeve, another scent reached me immediately.

Moonflowers.

Soft winter herbs.

Phina.

The warmth disappeared from my expression instantly.

My eyes drifted toward the silver strand caught near the shoulder of his coat.

It was long, pale.

Definitely not mine.

I looked at it quietly for several seconds before lifting my gaze back toward Harold’s face.

“You missed a spot.”

His brows furrowed. “What?”

I nodded toward his shoulder.

Understanding crossed his expression almost immediately, followed quickly by irritation. Without another word, he brushed the strand away.

A soft laugh escaped me.

“Careful,” I murmured. “People might start thinking your beta’s widow spends more time touching you than she should.”

His grip tightened around my hand instantly.

“Flourish.”

“What?” I asked innocently. “I’m protecting your reputation.”

The vein near his temple pulsed sharply, but before he could answer, several elders approached from the entrance hall, forcing the conversation to end there.

The second we entered the banquet hall, the atmosphere shifted noticeably.

Conversations softened.

Eyes followed us openly.

Some wolves looked curious while others looked entertained, but almost all of them stared at me with the same question written across their faces.

After publicly rejecting the Luna Rite, why was I still standing beside Harold Virel tonight?

Poor Flourish.

Still chasing him.

Still hoping.

If only they knew I was being financially compensated for my suffering.

Harold leaned slightly closer as we moved deeper into the hall. “Stay here for a moment. Alpha Magnus wants me greeting the eastern territories personally.”

I smiled politely. “Go entertain your political obligations.”

His eyes narrowed faintly, but he eventually released my hand and disappeared toward the center of the hall where several territory leaders already waited for him.

The second he left, the whispers started.

“Well, this is embarrassing.”

I turned slowly to find three she-wolves standing near one of the wine tables watching me with open amusement. They belonged to lesser Alpha families within Stonehedge, wealthy enough to act arrogant and unimportant enough to gossip constantly.

One of them smiled too brightly. “After all that drama during the Luna Rite, I honestly expected you to hide for at least a month.”

Another laughed softly into her wine glass. “Maybe she realized Alpha Harold still hasn’t replaced her yet.”

I stared at them calmly before reaching for a glass from a passing servant’s tray.

“You know,” I said thoughtfully, “Stonehedge really should improve its banquet entertainment. The wolves here repeat the same insults every season.”

The taller woman folded her arms immediately. “At least we’re not publicly begging males to choose us.”

That almost made me laugh.

“Begging?” I repeated softly. “Please. If Alpha Harold wants me standing beside him tonight, he has to pay for it now.”

Shock flashed across all three faces.

I took a slow sip of wine while enjoying the silence that followed.

“You’re lying,” one of them finally snapped.

I shrugged carelessly. “You’re welcome to ask him yourself. Although judging by how obsessed half this territory is with him, I might need to start selling appointments.”

A servant nearby choked violently trying to suppress laughter.

The women looked horrified.

For years, I stood quietly while Stonehedge wolves whispered about me behind my back. Tonight, I suddenly understood how entertaining it felt to make other people uncomfortable instead.

Before another argument could begin, a familiar voice interrupted sharply behind me.

“Flourish.”

My mood worsened instantly.

I turned to find my stepsister Selene approaching with my stepmother Lydia beside her. Selene looked elegant in pale blue silk, her golden hair pinned carefully away from her face, but the irritation in her expression ruined the effect immediately.

“Mother and I have been trying to reach you since the Luna Rite,” she said. “You disappeared.”

I swirled the wine inside my glass lazily. “That sounds peaceful. Maybe I should disappear more often.”

Selene’s face tightened. “Why are you acting like this?”

Lydia placed a gentle hand against her daughter’s arm before stepping forward with her usual composed smile.

“You frightened your father,” she said carefully.

That finally earned a real laugh from me.

“My father barely notices whether I’m alive unless someone important is watching.”

The smile on Lydia’s face faltered for half a second before recovering smoothly.

Years ago, that tiny crack would have satisfied me. Now it mostly exhausted me.

Selene suddenly glanced toward the grand staircase near the upper hall entrance, and her entire expression brightened instantly.

“Phina’s finally downstairs.”

The room shifted subtly the moment Phina appeared at the top of the staircase dressed in soft silver, her dark hair falling loosely around her shoulders. Wolves immediately moved aside for her while conversations softened into whispers.

Beautiful, fragile and untouchable.

Phina had always looked like the type of woman wolves wanted to protect instinctively.

Especially Harold.

Lydia followed my gaze before sighing softly. “The poor thing still looks weak. Moon sickness nearly destroyed her.”

I remained silent because I no longer trusted myself to discuss Phina politely.

“She’s lucky Harold stayed beside her through recovery,” Lydia continued carefully. “Most males would have distanced themselves after Rowan died.”

There it was.

The bait hidden beneath fake sympathy.

I glanced toward Harold across the hall just in time to catch him looking toward the staircase before Phina even reached the bottom step.

That tiny movement used to destroy me.

Now it only embarrassed me for spending six years pretending not to see it.

“You’re right,” I said quietly. “He’s very devoted.”

Lydia studied me carefully. “After everything, he still worries about her first.”

I looked back at her slowly before smiling faintly.

“Tell me something instead,” I said. “Does Harold know your daughter’s been in love with him since she was sixteen?”

The silence that followed was immediate and spectacular.

Selene nearly dropped her glass.

“Flourish!” she hissed, her face turning bright red. “What is wrong with you?”

I tilted my head innocently. “Why? We’re discussing unhealthy emotional attachments tonight, aren’t we?”

Lydia recovered quickly, though not quickly enough to hide the panic that flashed across her face.

“Selene admires Harold as family,” she said sharply.

I nearly laughed into my wine.

Family.

That word again.

Amazing how wolves kept using it to excuse relationships that clearly crossed lines nobody wanted to admit existed.

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” I said calmly.

Lydia frowned slightly. “What doesn’t?”

I looked across the hall again.

Harold stood near Phina now, leaning down slightly while she spoke to him. The expression on his face had softened in that familiar way I spent years trying to earn for myself.

For the first time, seeing it did not hurt.

It simply made me tired.

“I’m done with him,” I said quietly.

Lydia stared at me silently, but before either of them could answer, the air behind me shifted suddenly.

My wolf noticed him first.

Power.

Cold and heavy.

A dangerous Alpha scent rolled slowly across the hall carrying traces of rain, smoke, and pinewood.

Not Stonehedge.

Every instinct inside me sharpened instantly.

I turned slowly.

A tall man dressed entirely in black stood several feet away watching me with calm, unsettling focus. Silver markings lined the collar of his coat, identifying him as territory nobility, though I didn’t recognize the crest immediately.

His face was sharp enough to look almost cruel beneath the lantern light, and unlike most males in the room, he was not staring at my dress.

He was staring at me.

Like he had been listening for much longer than he should have.

Then his mouth curved slightly.

“That,” he said smoothly, “sounds like the most dangerous statement made in this hall tonight.”

Lady Flourish’s POV

Every single hair on my body stood on end the moment I heard his voice.

Low, calm.

Yet carrying an authority that seemed to sink beneath my skin and settle straight into my bones.

My wolf, who had been quietly watching everything unfold, suddenly lifted her head.

Alpha.

She didn’t say the word aloud.

She didn’t have to.

I turned slowly.

The man standing behind me possessed the most striking pair of dark green eyes I had ever seen. They were neither warm nor cold, merely unreadable, like a forest concealed beneath endless rain.

The corners of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

“Be careful,” he said. “There are more predators here than prey.”

I met his gaze without flinching. “And who says I’m not one of the predators?”

A faint smile appeared in his eyes. “Confidence. I like that.”

His scent drifted toward me.

A mix of rain, cedar, and a trace of cold mountain air.

Then something invisible brushed against me.

It wasn’t deliberate, and it wasn’t even aimed at me. It was simply… Alpha pressure.

My wolf immediately lowered herself out of instinct.

Every werewolf understood hierarchy.

Even the strongest wolves found it difficult to remain unaffected when standing before an Alpha far above their own rank.

I clenched my fists, forcing my wolf to settle.

‘Behave.’

She reluctantly obeyed, although her ears remained perked toward him in unmistakable curiosity.

‘Who… was he?’

Before I could ask, Harold’s voice suddenly echoed through the hall. “…Damian?”

The single name silenced the entire banquet. Even the conversations several tables away stopped. Every head turned toward the entrance.

The man before me shifted his gaze toward Harold. “Long time no see.”

His voice remained calm, yet the Alpha aura saturated the entire room.

There was no enthusiasm. No warmth. Only a quiet certainty that made the surrounding Alphas unconsciously straighten their backs.

For the briefest second, I noticed several lower-ranking wolves lower their eyes without realizing it.

Even the air felt heavier.

Damian…

Alpha Damian?

The Alpha who had walked away from the Stonehedge Pack years ago.

The Alpha rumored to have built an empire outside the territory.

The Alpha even neighboring packs refused to provoke.

Stories about him had spread across every major pack.

Some called him ruthless, others called him untouchable.

No one ever dared called him weak.

Harold strode over quickly, stopping between us. Unlike the composure he usually displayed before outsiders, I noticed the slightest stiffness in his shoulders.

Even his wolf had become unusually restrained. “Flourish.”

His voice carried a warning. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but don’t involve yourself with people you shouldn’t.”

I raised an eyebrow. “My, Alpha Harold.”

I smiled faintly. “Weren’t you the one who brought me here to make connections?”

His jaw tightened. “Come here.”

He reached for my wrist, and painful memories flashed through my mind.

Before he could touch me, I jerked my hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

The surrounding guests gasped. Harold stared at me as though I had become someone else entirely.

His grandfather was watching. Every elder in the banquet hall was watching.

If Harold lost control now, the consequences would be severe. His fingers curled into fists.

Before either of us could speak again, Damian stepped forward.

He didn’t release any obvious Alpha aura this time, but simply rested one hand lightly on Harold’s shoulder.

Yet the effect was immediate. Harold’s wolf quieted almost instantly. “So many eyes are watching.”

Damian’s tone remained even. “Don’t embarrass Grandfather.”

Harold’s jaw flexed. For a long second, he said nothing. Finally, he lowered his hand. “This isn’t over.”

I folded my arms. “From where I’m standing, it already is.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I rejected you once.” My voice remained calm. “I won’t hesitate to do it again.”

Shock rippled across the banquet hall.

“Did she really reject Alpha Harold?”

“She’s lost her mind.”

“Does she know who she’s speaking to?”

“And she dares say it in front of Alpha Damian?”

Harold’s gaze slowly dropped toward my wrist. The silver betrothal bracelet… was gone. Disbelief flashed across his face.

“Have some dignity, Flourish!” Lydia’s shrill voice rang through the crowd. “Your father would be ashamed!”

I looked toward her without the slightest hesitation. “My father isn’t here.” I smiled faintly. “So perhaps he should worry about his own dignity first.”

Harold inhaled sharply. “Flourish, stop making a scene.”

“No.” I held his gaze. “This is your Grandfather’s banquet, and I won’t ruin it. But don’t mistake my silence for submission. You and I are finished.”

The words landed heavily. For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Harold looked as though he wanted to argue. Instead, he turned sharply and walked away.

Only Damian remained standing beside me. He studied me quietly, those deep green eyes giving nothing away.

Just calm observation. For some reason, facing him made me far more nervous than arguing with Harold ever had.

Then, a memory surfaced without warning.

Six years ago, back when I was foolish enough to believe Harold would one day notice me. I used to sneak near the Alpha training grounds just to watch him.

One afternoon, encouraged by my friends, I prepared a traditional mind-link invitation. It was an old werewolf custom.

A discreet way for an unmated she-wolf to express interest.

If the Alpha accepted… it meant he welcomed the bond.

Heart pounding, I knelt inside the ritual circle, closed my eyes, and whispered,

“Alpha Harold…Will you accept my mind link?”

A deep chuckle answered instead. “Harold already left.”

My eyes flew open. Standing only a few steps away was Damian, fresh from training.

His dark hair was still damp, and a towel was casually draped over his shoulders.

Water slid down the powerful lines of his chest as he regarded me with unmistakable amusement.

My entire face burst into flames.

“I…” I couldn’t even finish a sentence. I fled so quickly that I nearly tripped over the doorway.

For years afterward, I buried that humiliation as deeply as I could.

And now… the man responsible for one of the most embarrassing moments of my life had suddenly returned.

His gaze lingered on me for another second before he finally spoke.

“Lady Flourish.” His voice remained as calm as before, but with a hint of excitement.

“Good to see you again...”

Lady Flourish’s POV

My wolf recognized her before I did.

I turned around at the sound of her voice, and sure enough, it was Phina.

Looking as fragile as ever, with a pale white dress that made her look even more like a lily, only to be pampered.

The eyes of the other Alphas immediately zeroed in on both of us.

“Banquet?” I retorted.

Something passed across her eyes, but she masked it instantly. She lifted her hand, the fake fear perfectly showing in her poise. “I…I didn’t meant to sound imposing, it’s just Alpha Magnus is summoning everyone and I thought as someone important, you should be there.”

I scoffed.

“Oh, of what importance am I to you dear Phina?” I asked.

The corner of her lip curled up, because she knew the implication of that question.

I wanted her to say it with her mouth.

But before she could answer, Harold magically appeared at her side. I saw his hand instinctively go to her lower back, pulling her just inches closer to him.

“Flourish, Grandpa is asking for us. Don’t make this situation any worse,” he bit out.

I stared him down, slowly realizing that I really did waste my years on this man. He was so gullible and stupid.

“Oh dear Harold, what wrong did I do now? I just asked a simple question.”

Phina lowered her voice to a whisper and spoke up. “Flourish, please don’t be mad at me or Alpha Harold. I…I had no idea the Luna Rite was that night. And Harold insisted on spending time with me since it was my first time out after my illnessPlease, my apologies.”

It took everything in me to suppress my anger. I took a bold step towards her, quick enough to make her flinch.

“Phina, the moon sickness affects the immune system, and your ability to shift. Not your brain. The Luna Rite is a ceremony that is announced weeks before it happens. Every single day leading up to it is made known. You might be locked up in your chambers all the time, but even the ants on the floor knew it was that night. If you want to play dumb, try harder,” I huffed, my voice filled with anger and sarcasm.

Phina gasped and stumbled back, then slowly dropped to her knees. Everyone gasped.

“Flourish, I was only being honest, but I understand your anger. Will you find it in your wolf to forgive me?” She said pitifully.

I shook my head in disdain. This woman would really go all out.

“Flourish! Don’t you think you’re taking this too far? She already apologized!”

“That’s enough.” An elderly but stern voice cut across the drama.

Everyone turned towards the source, and instinctively bowed their heads at the sight of him.

Alpha Magnus walked into the scene, his royal Alpha robe flowing against the floor. He looked at me with the same tired expression he had when he asked me to come here, and then at his grandson.

“These differences can be settled later. Our family is at risk of losing its reputation if you two continue like this. It’s okay for mates to have issues, but control yourselves,” he said softly. My anger vanished at his tone, but only because of the respect I had for him.

He looked at Harold, watching the way his stance was protective over Phina. I saw him dismiss the thought that almost formed in his head. “Harold, I understand your devotion to Rowan, but you have a duty to your mate as well. Do not make her feel unimportant, or challenged.”

Harold’s jaw ticked, but he nodded.

Alpha Magnus nodded at me, then at him, and proceeded to walk towards the large 150 foot banquet table.

“I’ll be there shortly, Alpha,” I said, already turning around when I caught the glint shining off her neck.

It was a moonstone necklace. The same one that got missing on my birthday night three months ago.

I’d recognize it anywhere.

I looked at it and back at Harold, waiting for an explanation. But he was already cradling her and guiding her towards the table, shooting me a disgusted look.

Deep breaths. I’m done with him already. He can give the necklace to his pets for all I care.

I walked to the large banquet table, my eyes instinctively dropping to where my chair is, beside Harold.

Phina was sitting there.

We locked eyes, and everyone else looked in her direction.

“Oh, my bad. I’ll get up,” she said, but Harold stopped her.

“There are other free seats, she can sit anywhere else,” he said sternly.

I ignored them both and took the next free seat on a whim, and regretted it soon after.

Because Damian walked over, and sat right next to me.

My wolf stirred uncomfortably at his presence, and I had to hush her inwardly just so I would be able to relax.

Luckily, Alpha Damian didn’t do as much as acknowledge my presence.

“Alright,” Alpha Magnus said as we all took our seats. He raised a glass, and everyone followed suit. “To yet another successful banquet,” he clinked his glass with Damian’s, and then Harold’s.

He smiled warmly at them both, the pride obvious in his eyes. Then he settled on Harold. “Harold, when do you plan to perform the Luna Rite properly?”

The loose atmosphere went tense.

“Very soon, grandpa,” Harold said.

Alpha Magnus shook his head. “I don’t want uncertainty. Give me a date.”

Harold glanced at me, but my expression was blank. He swallowed.

“I have a formal meeting with Alpha Walter of the Moonbridge pack tomorrow. I’ll return the day after. We can proceed with the Rite then.”

Alpha Magnus glanced at me and nodded. “Alright then.”

The rest of the meal passed without event, although I wanted nothing more than to be done with this pretense and leave this palace.

“So, my little brother is finally getting mated,” Damian’s deep voice vibrated across the table.

Harold looked up from where he was peeling scallops for Phina which I totally ignored, and glanced at him.

“Is she the one?” Damian pointed to Phina. “Because I can swear her face looks familiar.”

As if Harold could sense what he was implying, he spoke up. “No, she’s…”he hesitated, glancing at me.

Damian followed his gaze, and I saw his brow raise in amusement. The same way it did that night six years ago.

“Ah, interesting. At least I’m sure you still have good taste,” he said casually, cutting into a piece of meat.

The implication of his statement was clear.

Phina was nowhere in comparison to me when it came to beauty.

Everyone knew.

I stifled a laugh, forcing myself to maintain eye contact with my food.