Ch. I Refuse to Be Your Luna 40 I Refuse to Be Your Luna 40

Chapter 40 Tomorrow’s Dinner

Alpha Harold’s POV

The silence after Grandfather’s command remained long after his voice faded. Nobody touched their food, and I could still feel the pressure of his Alpha command against my wolf.

‘Invite Flourish. Apologize. Make Phina apologize.

The last order bothered me most. Phina had done nothing wrong, yet she was being treated as though she had caused the entire situation.

My wolf shifted restlessly as I looked down at my untouched plate. A warm hand settled on my shoulder, and I looked up to find my mother watching me.

“Listen to your father, Harold,” she said softly. “And listen to your grandfather.”

I inhaled slowly before nodding. “I understand.”

Whether I agreed was another matter. I picked up my fork as everyone slowly returned to their meals.

The sound of forks against plates returned, and quiet conversations resumed. The tension at the table began to ease until Grandfather suddenly snorted.

Every head turned toward him.

“You should be thanking Damian.”

My jaw tightened. He pointed his fork at me.

“What would you have done if he hadn’t shown that recording?” he asked. “Continued arguing with everyone while remaining completely ignorant about your own betrothed?”

My chest tightened as I turned toward Damian.

“Thank you.”

The words felt awkward, but Damian did not look impressed. He took another drink before setting his glass down.

“There is no need for an insincere thank you.”

My wolf bristled, but I kept my face calm. Damian leaned back in his chair.

“I’ve been gone for six and a half years,” he continued. “It is obvious that a great deal has

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Chapter 40 Tomorrow’s Dinner

changed while I was away.”

Nobody answered.

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Damian pushed his chair back and stood. Even without deliberately using his power, his Alpha presence became noticeable.

He walked around the table, bent down, and kissed our mother’s cheek.

“I’ll see you all later.”

Daciana smiled. “Don’t work too hard.”

“I’ll try.”

He left the dining room, and my eyes followed him until he disappeared down the hallway.

Seven years ago, Damian had been a reckless young Alpha who left this family angry and determined to prove himself, but he was different now.

His control was better, his wolf was stronger, and other wolves noticed him even when he remained silent. I hated admitting it, but Grandfather was right.

Damian had changed.

A few moments later, Grandfather stood up.

“Ragnar.”

My father immediately rose. “I’ll speak with you upstairs.”

Grandfather nodded and followed him. Once they disappeared, my mother turned her attention back to me.

“Harold.”

I already knew that tone.

“Where did you learn this?”

I frowned. “Learn what?”

She gestured toward me. “This attitude. The stubbornness. The inability to admit when you’re wrong.

My jaw tightened.

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Chapter 40 Tomorrow’s Dinner

“You challenged your older brother at the table.”

“That isn’t what happened.”

“It looked exactly like what happened.”

Her voice remained calm, which made it harder to argue.

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“You don’t have to agree with Damian,” she continued. “But you should recognize when he is trying to help you.”

I looked away. My father had said nearly the same thing.

My mother sighed and stood. “Think about what we’ve said.”

She walked toward the staircase, then paused.

“Tomorrow, Harold. Do not make this worse.”

Then she left.

I sat there for several seconds before Phina’s quiet voice caught my attention. She was staring down at her hands.

“I’m sorry.”

I frowned. “For what?”

“For all of this.”

I shook my head. “This isn’t your fault.”

I reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

“You didn’t ask for any of this.”

Her fingers tightened around mine. “Still, everyone is angry because of me.”

“No.”

The word came out firmly. I had spent years watching Phina blame herself for Rowan’s death, the loneliness that followed, and every uncomfortable situation involving her.

I wasn’t going to let her do it again.

“I don’t care about Grandfather’s scolding,” I told her. “What matters is that you’re alright.”

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Chapter 40 Tomorrow’s Dinner

:

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A small smile appeared on her face. “You won’t have to deal with this tomorrow,” I added.

She looked confused. “Why?”

“I’ll be there.”

Her eyes widened.

“No one is going to push you around.”

She smiled again, and I reached over to ruffle her hair. She immediately wrinkled her nose, making me laugh.

“There she is.”

Then I remembered something.

“I have something for you.”

“What?”

“I’ve assembled a production team.”

She stared at me. “For what?”

“Your album.”

Her mouth opened slightly. “Harold…”

“I’ve already spoken with the producers.”

“You’re serious?”

“Of course.”

I smiled. “Consider it an apology gift.”

“For what?”

“For everything.”

Her eyes became bright. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll actually release the album.”

She laughed softly. “I’ll try.”

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Chapter 40 Tomorrow’s Dinner

“You’ll do it.”

She suddenly wrapped her arms around me.

“Thank you.”

I smiled and kissed the top of her head. “You deserve the opportunity.”

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Afterward, I walked her outside and watched until her vehicle disappeared through the estate gates. When I returned inside, I heard my mother’s voice from one of the sitting rooms.

She was on her telecom.

“…yes, I understand.”

I slowed when I heard the name.

Flourish.

“I know you’re busy,” Daciana said. “No. That excuse won’t work.”

She paused before her expression changed.

“Good. Then we’ll see you that evening.”

The call ended, and my mother turned. Our eyes met, and she knew I had heard everything.

I simply nodded and headed upstairs.

The dinner was tomorrow, and I still wasn’t sure how it would go.

As I passed Grandfather’s study, voices stopped me. My father’s voice came through the partially open door.

“Don’t get worked up over Harold.”

A pause followed.

Then Damian answered.

“I’ve never lost my temper with any of my juniors.”

His voice remained calm.

“Not in six years.”

I frowned.

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My father sighed. “I know.”

Damian continued, “Which is why it should concern you that I’m losing patience with my own brother.”

My wolf went still.

“I don’t want outsiders criticizing the royal family.”

“Leave Harold to me,” my father replied.

Then he added, “You’re thirteen years older than him. Sometimes you behave more like his father than his brother.”

A low chuckle followed.

Footsteps approached from behind me, and I stepped farther into the shadows. My mother entered the study carrying a tray of fruit.

“I arranged the dinner.”

My father sounded pleased. “Good.”

She told them Flourish had agreed to the date.

“The date works,” Grandfather replied.

A chair scraped against the floor.

Then Damian spoke.

“I probably won’t be attending.”

My mother sounded surprised. “More meetings?”

“Unfortunately.”

He mentioned when he would return, and Grandfather accepted the answer. Then the study door opened.

Darnian stepped into the hallway, and his eyes found mine immediately. My wolf reacted before I could control it.

His green eyes narrowed slightly, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

He knew.

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He walked past me without saying a word. I remained in the hallway, watching him disappear.

Then my telecom vibrated.

A message appeared on the screen from Flourish and my stomach tightened before I even opened it.

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