Ch. I Refuse to Be Your Luna 117 I Refuse to Be Your Luna 117

Chapter 117 After The Storm

Lady Flourish’s POV

The silence that followed the confrontation felt heavier than the chaos that had come before. Everyone remained frozen in their seats as if they were still trying to process how close disaster had come.

No one reached for their food again, and no servant dared to move without permission. The scent of spilled wine and Nightshade Root still lingered in the dining hall, tainting the expensive meal beyond repair.

Alpha Magnus slowly lowered himself back into his chair, but the fury in his eyes had not faded. His weathered face looked years older than it had only an hour earlier.

“This dinner is over,” he declared quietly. “Clear the table.”

The servants hurried into motion without saying a word. They removed every plate, every glass, and every bottle of wine from the table as if each one carried poison.

Damian never released my hand throughout the entire process. His fingers remained tightly intertwined with mine, almost as though he feared I would disappear if he let go.

His wolf was calmer now, but I could still feel the restless energy beneath his skin. It hadn’t forgiven what had almost happened.

Ragnar finally stood from his chair with his shoulders hanging low. For the first time since I had met him, he looked less like the respected Beta of Stonehedge and more like a father who had completely failed his family.

“I owe both of you an apology,” he said hoarsely. “There are no excuses for what happened tonight.”

Neither Damian nor I answered immediately. Some apologies came too late to repair what had already been broken.

“I should have seen what Lydia was becoming,” Ragnar continued. “I kept convincing myself that she was only bitter after everything Harold lost.”

His eyes slowly shifted toward me. Shame filled every inch of his expression.

“I ignored every warning because I wanted to believe my family could still be fixed.”

“It wasn’t your blindness that nearly hurt me,” I replied calmly. “It was her choices.”

Ragnar swallowed hard before lowering his head. He seemed unable to argue with that truth.

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“My resignation from the council will be on your desk before sunrise, Damian.”

Damian’s sharp gaze remained fixed on him. His face revealed nothing.

“No.”

The single word made Ragnar look up in surprise. Even Alpha Magnus lifted an eyebrow.

“You don’t resign because your wife committed treason,” Damian said evenly. “You resign when you become unfit to serve.”

Ragnar frowned slightly. “After tonight, do you still believe I am fit?”

“I believe you failed as a husband,” Damian answered without hesitation. “That is different from failing this pack.”

The room fell silent again.

“You have served Stonehedge loyally for over thirty years,” Damian continued. “One person’s crimes do not erase your own record.”

Ragnar’s eyes became glassy, but he quickly looked away before anyone could notice.

“I won’t reward Lydia by letting her destroy another part of this pack.” Damian finished. “You will remain Beta until I decide otherwise.”

Alpha Magnus gave a slow nod of approval.

“A leader who judges fairly instead of emotionally earns lasting loyalty,” he said. “You made the correct decision.”

Harold, who had remained near the doorway, slowly turned around. His face looked pale, and the confidence that had once defined him was completely gone.

“I don’t deserve another chance,” he admitted quietly. “But I want to make one request.”

Damian’s expression remained cold.

“You have one minute.”

Harold looked directly at me instead.

“I know nothing I say will matter anymore.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

11:41 Thu, Oct 1

Chapter 117 After The Storm

“But Lydia kept financial records.”

My heartbeat slowed.

“What records?”

“Payments,” Harold answered. “Messages. Transactions with people outside Stonehedge.”

Damian immediately became alert.

“What kind of people?”

Harold shook his head.

“I never looked closely because I assumed they were related to charity events and social investments.”

He laughed bitterly.

“I stopped asking questions a long time ago.”

Alpha Magnus stood once again.

“Where are these records?”

“In Lydia’s private office,” Harold replied. “Hidden behind the bookshelf.”

Damian’s eyes narrowed.

“You’ve known about the hidden compartment all this time?”

“I knew it existed,” Harold admitted. “I never knew what was inside.”

My instincts suddenly stirred.

“Lydia doesn’t seem like someone who works alone.

Everyone turned toward me.

Finished

“The poisoning wasn’t impulsive,” I continued. “Nightshade Root isn’t something ordinary people casually keep at home.”

“It had to be purchased.”

“It had to be prepared.”

“And someone had to know exactly when my wine would be served.”

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Damian’s jaw tightened.

“You’re thinking there’s another accomplice.”

“I think someone supplied the poison.”

Alpha Magnus immediately looked toward the captain of his guards.

“Seal Lydia’s office.”

The captain bowed immediately.

“No one enters until Damian personally inspects it.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Within seconds, the guards disappeared from the dining hall.

Harold looked exhausted.

“If those records expose more people…then I’ll testify against every one of them.”

Damian studied his brother for several long moments.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Harold gave a slow nod before quietly leaving the room without another word.

The heavy doors closed behind him with a dull thud.

For the first time all evening, I felt as though the air inside the dining hall had become easier to breathe.

Alpha Magnus walked toward us with slower steps than usual.

He stopped directly in front of me.

“You handled yourself well tonight.”

I smiled faintly.

“I nearly drank poisoned wine.”

“You didn’t.”

His firm voice carried absolute certainty.

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Chapter 117 After The Storm

“You trusted your Alpha before your own confusion.”

I looked up at Damian.

“I did.”

Magnus rested one hand against Damian’s shoulder.

Finished

“Your grandmother always used to say that a true mate notices danger before everyone else.”

Damian gave a small smile.

“I’d rather never test that theory again.”

A quiet chuckle escaped Magnus before his expression became serious once more.

“Unfortunately, I don’t believe tonight was the end.”

Neither did I.

The more I thought about Lydia’s actions, the less they felt like the desperate revenge of one jealous woman.

Too many pieces fit together too perfectly.

Too many opportunities had been created.

Someone had expected me to drink that wine without hesitation.

Someone had believed Damian wouldn’t notice.

Someone had underestimated both of us.

As Damian wrapped his arm protectively around my shoulders and guided me toward the dining hall exit, an uneasy feeling settled deep inside my chest.

Lydia had been caught.

Selene had confessed.

But somehow, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the person who truly wanted me gone had never sat at that dinner table in the first place.

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