Ch. I Refuse to Be Your Luna 49 I Refuse to Be Your Luna 49

Chapter 49 Brought Home

dy Flourish’s POV

The moment the words left my mouth. Selene’s hand flew to her neck. She even stepped back, her wolt reacting before she could hide the fear behind it.

Good. Let her remember what happened last time she decided to provoke me.

My wolf stirred, pleased. I had spent too much of my life letting people mistake my patience for weakness. and Selene was learning fast that I wasn’t one of the submissive wolves she could rattle with a few sharp words.

Color rushed into her checks, but she lifted her chin anyway. “Don’t be too smug. Your position as Harol’s future Luna isn’t secure. It’s still uncertain whether you’ll actually end up with him.”

My wolf gave a low, irritated growl that never made it to my throat, though Selene’s eyes flickered. She’d felt it anyway.

Then she smiled. “Also, do you know where Dad went yesterday?”

“If you have something to say, say it.”

Her satisfaction only deepened. “Dad went to the nursing home yesterday. He brought Grandma home.”

Everything inside me stopped. “What?”

“You heard me.”

My heartbeat turned uneven with anger. Garret had gone to the nursing home and brought Grandma bac without telling me, without consulting me, without caring what I thought at all.

“So,” Selene went on, watching me closely, “you should think before you decide to do anything from now on. Grandma is home now. You should show us a little more respect.”

I clenched my jaw. “Did Grandma come willingly?”

That was the only thing that mattered.

Selene laughed. “Of course she did. Elderly people always want to come home. Especially wolves.

The implication landed hard. Grandma was old, her wolf weaker than it had once been, but that never made her incapable of deciding things for herself. Garret knew exactly how hard it would be for her to resist the ‘authority of the Alpha who had ruled her household for years,

My stomach turned.

“So, Flourish.” Selene said, “do you really think you’re the only one capable of taking care of her? My mother and I will take very good care of her.”

The words sounded pleasant. The intent behind them didn’t. My wolf surged, claws pressing against the inside of my skin, and for one dangerous second I imagined closing the distance between us and making her understand exactly how little patience I had left.

19:55 Wed, Sep 30 d

Chapter 49 Brought Home

Instead I turned and walked out before my wolf could make that decision for me.

The emergency contact at the nursing home had been changed to me months ago. I handled Grandma’s appointments, her payments, and every document about her care.

Yet Garret had still found a way to interfere, dragging her back into that house because controlling me had always mattered more to him than respecting anyone’s wishes, including hers.

By the time I returned to the private room, I was struggling to hold my expression together.

Damian looked up immediately, his posture sharpening as though his wolf had sensed mine before I’d even crossed the threshold. “What happened?”

For one second I almost told him. Then I stopped myself. This was my family, my mess, and I was tired of letting other people witness the parts of my life I could barely hold together myself.

I forced a smile. “Alpha Damian, I’m sorry, I can’t keep you company anymore. Something came up at home. I need to leave.”

He studied me for a few seconds, clearly aware I was hiding something, but he didn’t push. “Do you want me to take you home?”

“It’s fine, I drove here.”

His jaw tightened slightly. “Enjoy your meal, Alpha Damian.”

I turned toward the door.

“Flourish.”

I stopped.

“Drive safely.”

Something in his voice made me glance back. His expression stayed calm, but his eyes followed me way out.

By the time I got home it was past ten. The lights in the main hall were still on, and Mira was awake, standing the moment she saw me walk in.

“Lady Flourish.”

I dropped my bag on the nearest table. “Is Grandma back?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “She came back this evening.”

My stomach sank. “Where is she?”

“Asleep.”

I closed my eyes, Grandma was seventy eight, and Garret had brought her home at night without telling me. Anger crawled under my skin. This wasn’t about family, or concern, or what Grandma actually wanted. Garret was using her to control me, the way he always had.

19:55 Wed, Sep 30

Chapter 49 Brought Home

“Where is Garret?”

looked nervous. “He returned not long ago. Probably upstairs.”

The title made my wolf bristle. Part of me wanted to march up there immediately and demand answers, buy I was angry, and my wolf was angrier, and that combination had never once produced a good decision.

Mira seemed to sense it too. “Lady Flourish, why don’t you discuss it tomorrow?”

My hands curled into fists. Then I exhaled. “Fine. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.” Old scores, new/scores, all of it. Tomorrow.

I barely slept that night. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Grandma being brought back into that house saw Garret standing over her, deciding things for her that were never his to decide.

By six I gave up, sent Rhys a message that I wouldn’t be coming into the office, and went downstairs. The house was still quiet, most of the household not yet awake. I went straight to the kitchen.

Mira was walking through when she saw me filling a large bucket with cold water.

She stopped. “Lady Flourish?”

I lifted the bucket, and her eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

“Is Grandma awake?”

She stared at me, then at the bucket, understanding crossing her face slowly. “I don’t think that’s a good

idea.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

My wolf rose, and the bucket felt heavier as I started toward the staircase, Mira hurrying after my

“Lady Flourish, please.”

I didn’t stop. The house stayed silent as I climbed, one step, then another, my heart pounding ha

each one.

Garret had brought Grandma home. Fine.

But he’d made one mistake. He’d forgotten that I still lived here, and this time I had no intention of quietly accepting whatever he decided.

I reached the upper floor and tightened my grip on the bucket. Then, from behind one of the closed doors, a low, furious growl rolled through the hallway.

1 froze.

It was Garret. And judging by the anger already spreading beneath the door, he was awake

He had apparently been waiting for me.

19:55 Wed,

Wed, Sep

Chapter 49 Brought Home