I Refuse to Be Your Luna

Ch. I Refuse to Be Your Luna 37 I Refuse to Be Your Luna 37

Chapter 37 Take The Oath

Lady Flourish’s POV

The moment the realization settled in my mind, something inside me snapped.

I had been pushed too far for way too long, and I was tired.

I rose from my seat in the reception room and walked toward Harold’s office.

The secretary noticed immediately. “Lady Flourish—”

I ignored her.

“Lady Flourish, please wait.”

I continued walking.

Finished

By the time my hand closed around the handle, Clara had rushed around her desk and planted herself directly in front of the door.

Her face had gone pale.

“Please,” she said nervously. “Alpha Harold is with a guest.”

I stared at her, then I laughed. The sound was cold enough that even I barely recognized it.

“A guest?”

Clara swallowed. “Yes.”

I tilted my head. “That is interesting, because ten minutes ago you told me he was in a meeting.”

The poor woman visibly froze, and I almost felt sorry for her.

Almost.

“Move.”

“Lady Flourish, I really think-”

“I said move.”

The authority in my voice made her take a step back before she could stop herself.

I pushed the door open, and Immediately, every eye in the room turned toward me.

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The first thing I noticed was Harold.

The second thing I noticed was the bottle of lavender oil in his hand.

The third thing I noticed was Phina.

Of course.

Why had I expected anything else?

Clara hurried in behind me. “Alpha Harold, I’m sorry. I tried to stop her, but she insisted on coming in.”

Harold frowned. For a brief moment irritation flashed across his face, then he exhaled. “Leave

us.”

Clara looked relieved enough to cry. “Yes, Alpha.”

The door clicked shut behind her, and silence settled over the office. I folded my arms and smiled. “Forgive me for interrupting.”

Neither of them said anything.

“My mistake entirely. When you summoned me with such urgency, I foolishly assumed the company was collapsing. I never imagined I was actually interrupting your private treatment session.”

Harold’s jaw tightened, but I continued pleasantly. “Although I suppose I should have known better. After all, if Alpha Harold is personally applying oils, it must be for someone very important.”

The bottle in his hand visibly tightened. Across the room, Phina stiffened.

Only then did I notice the faint red patches still lingering on her skin from yesterday’s wine incident.

Interesting.

She caught me looking, then immediately looked away. “Flourish,” she began softly, “you’ve misunderstood.”

I nearly laughed.

There it was, the voice. The expression, that carefully measured concern. The performance of the century.

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“I only came because I made soup for Harold,” she continued. “The healers said he needed proper meals while recovering, and I thought it would help him heal faster. I didn’t even know he had called you as well.”

The sincerity in her voice was almost impressive. If I had not spent years watching her perfect this act, I might have believed her.

Instead, I felt mildly nauseous. “You should consider joining theatre,” I said.

Phina’s face fell immediately.

Harold stepped in before she could respond. “You don’t need to explain yourself.”

His tone was gentle and protective, the exact tone that used to belong to me. Then he looked at

ne, and everything softened by Phina vanished instantly.

ctually,” he said coldly, “before we discuss anything else, perhaps we should address your ehavior.”

I raised a brow. “My behavior?”

“Phina almost had a severe reaction from the moonrose wine yesterday.”

I stared at him, and he continued.

“You deliberately poured it on her.”

For several seconds I simply looked at him, then I laughed, but the sound held absolutely no amusement. “Deliberately?”

“Don’t play games.”

“Harold,” I said quietly, “you know absolutely nothing about deliberate harm.”

His eyes narrowed.

I gestured toward Phina. “Did she visit a healer?”

Neither of them answered. “Interesting.”

I pointed toward my own neck where the last traces of redness remained. “My reaction was significantly worse than hers, and somehow I managed to survive.”

Harold’s expression darkened. “What happened yesterday was unacceptable.”

“What happened yesterday,” I corrected “was merely public disturbance.”

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Finished

I stepped closer. “If Phina and Selene had not gone out of their way to provoke me, absolutely none of it would have happened.”

Phina lowered her eyes, the perfect picture of wounded innocence.

The sight made my stomach turn. I looked directly at her. “Or perhaps we should simplify

matters.”

Her eyes lifted cautiously, and I smiled. “Tell your precious self to stay away from me in the future.”

The room instantly grew colder.

Harold’s wolf surged forward, the pressure slamming into the office like a physical force.

Ordinarily it might have intimidated me, but today it only annoyed me. My own wolf pushed forward immediately.

The collision of dominance rippled through the room, and Phina let out a startled whimper. Her face drained of color.

Harold noticed immediately and withdrew his wolf. I did the same.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Harold stared at me. “What happened to you?”

I blinked. “What?”

His expression was full of disbelief. “You’ve become vicious and unbelievable. Absolutely out of control.”

For a moment, Phina forgot herself, and I saw it the flash of satisfaction in her eyes. The triumph.

It disappeared so quickly that most wolves would have missed it.

Me? I didn’t.

Then she lowered her head and resumed her performance. “Flourish,” she whispered, “I know you hate me, but please don’t take your anger out on Harold. I swear I never wanted any of this. If my presence hurts you so much, I’ll simply stay away.”

Something inside me finally reached its limit.”Then take the oath.”

The room froze.

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Phina blinked. “What?”

I stepped forward. “You heard me.” My voice sharpened. “Take the oath.”

Confusion spread across her face. I smiled.

“If you’re so sincere, swear it.”

Finished

Neither of them spoke, but I continued.

“Swear that if you ever appear before me again with that sugary little act you use to gather pity and attention, your moon sickness will never be cured.”

The color drained from Phina’s face.

Then I turned toward Harold. “And you.”

His eyes widened slightly.

“I’ll even help with the wording.” The smile on my face felt sharp enough to cut.

“Swear that if you ever deliberately interfere in my life again, your wolf will become dormant for the rest of your existence and your Alpha power will disappear with it.”

For the first time since entering the office, neither of them seemed capable of speaking.

The silence was glorious.

I felt lighter than I had in weeks. “Yes,” I said. “I’m a vicious she-wolf.” I folded my arms. “I’m asking both of you to swear to stay away from me. Is that really such an unreasonable request?”

The silence stretched, then stretched a little longer.

Finally, Harold recovered. His expression was somewhere between shock and outrage. “When were female wolves allowed to take oaths on behalf of others?”

I laughed. “When did you start forgetting who you’re talking to?”

His jaw tightened.

I took another step forward. “I am not merely a she-wolf.” My gaze remained locked on his.

“I am one of the most influential wolves in Stonehedge.”

Neither of them spoke.