Ch. I Refuse to Be Your Luna 54 I Refuse to Be Your Luna 54

Chapter 54 After We’re Mates

Lady Flourish’s POV

Finden

The question sat at the back of my throat the entire drive to the restaurant. How much did you hear.

It kept surfacing whenever traffic slowed, then vanishing whenever Damian glanced my way. My wolf was no help.

Every time I gathered the nerve to speak, she pulled back beneath my skin like silence was the only safe option left.

Did he hear the part about Kael? About Ethan mentioning Lena? About Cheryl announcing my business problems while I stood there looking like I’d lost my mind?

The longer I sat with it, the warmer my face got.

Damian drove like nothing had happened, one hand loose on the wheel, calm and unbothered. My wolf, meanwhile, had been pacing since we left the office.

Neither of us spoke the whole way there.

The hostess recognized him instantly and led us to the same private room as before.

The second the door shut, the absurdity of my life hit me fresh. A few days ago I never would have imagined dinner with Damian Virel, and now here I was again, pretending he hadn’t listened to me humiliate myself through an open mind link.

The scent of grilled scallops filled the room. I barely noticed the food. My attention kept drifting back to him.

He looked too relaxed. That was the problem.

His wolf was quiet but not asleep, alert underneath his control, and the awareness of it kept my own wolf restless, reacting every time his gaze drifted toward me.

Eventually I made myself talk.

“Did they tell Alpha Magnus the Luna Rite is off?”

Damian poured water into my glass before answering, unhurried. “I don’t know. I haven’t been home much lately.” Then he looked up. “Do you want me to tell him?”

“No.” It came out immediate.

I looked down. “If anyone tells him, it should be Harold.”

He studied me, then nodded. “Then we’ll leave it.” His wolf settled at that, though his eyes stayed on me. “Has your father agreed to the separation?”

A bitter laugh nearly slipped out. “Whether he agrees or not doesn’t matter. I told him. I told everyone.” Both families knew, or should have. If they kept pretending the Luna Rite was still happening, the humiliation that followed would be theirs, not mine.

19:56 Wed, Sep 30

Chapter 54 After We’re Mates

His mouth curved slightly. “Understood.”

Finta

The conversation faded after that. Neither of us brought up the mind link. Neither of us mentioned what he’d overheard. I kept pretending nothing had happened, and he let me. I couldn’t decide if that made me relieved or more nervous.

The rest of the meal passed easily, small talk about things that needed.no explanation. By the time we finished, the tightness that had sat in my shoulders all day had finally let go.

Outside the restaurant I thanked him and called Walter for a ride. Damian waited with me until the car pulled up, opened the door, and watched until I was safely inside before heading to his own car. My wolf noticed, of course. She spent the entire drive home unbearably pleased about it, and I spent the same drive trying to convince her that basic manners didn’t mean anything. She wasn’t buying it.

was late by the time I reached my building. The city was still awake, headlights sweeping the street, voices

ting from somewhere nearby. I was tired, and despite dinner, still hungry. I’d grabbed takeout on the

the bag hanging from my wrist.

en I stepped out of the car and lost my appetite completely.

old was standing outside my building. Waiting.

wolf growled low, not loud enough for anyone else to catch, but I felt it move through me. My shoulders ocked.

What are you doing here?”

He just stared. Neither of us moved for a few seconds.

Then I sighed. “You know, standing around like this might earn you moonlight scars. Actually, make that hundreds.”

His jaw tightened. Lately every conversation between us went south, and tonight his wolf sat closer to the surface than usual, his scent thick with agitation.

“Flourish. Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”

I blinked, then laughed, not because anything was funny, but because it wasn’t. “Unblock me,” he pushed. “Take me off your blacklist.”

I honestly couldn’t figure out how he’d convinced himself I was the problem here. I shifted the takeout bag in my hand. “I’m tired, Harold. I’m hungry. Move.”

“Flourish.”

“Well trained wolves don’t block doorways.”

His face darkened. Mine didn’t soften either. Then he grabbed my wrist.

My wolf snapped forward before I could stop her, a growl tearing out low and sharp enough to make his eyes flash.

“Take your hand off me.”

19:56 Wed, Sep 30

Chapter 54 After We’re Mates

His grip held for one second, then let go. A vein pulsed at his temple as he wrestled his wolf back down.

“Fe.” His voice softened. “Here.” He pulled a velvet box from his pocket. “I bought this at last night’s auction.”

Inside sat a necklace, the center stone catching the streetlight.

“It cost eight and a half million. That should calm you down, right?”

I stared at it. My wolf went still.

“That’s rather valuable,” I said finally. “Shouldn’t you be giving it to your precious Beta’s widow instead?”

atience snapped. “Why do you always drag Phina into this? I’ve told you, she’s my dead Beta’s mate. No

e treats her right. Can’t you understand that?”

ed once, short and humorless. “No. I can’t.”

er forced you into anything, Hare ready told you we’re done. No Luna Rite, no Luna. What more ou want from me?”

eal confusion crossed his face. Luna?”

Something inside me settled disagreement, something th

I looked at the face I used wanted too. Now all I sa

“Harold. Do you eve

Silence.

He finally loo

There it w

A faint

want me to do? To calm down, stop being angry, and be my

and he still didn’t get it. To him this was just anger, a

en I’d seen kindness, dependability, a future I actually believed he restlessness, obligation. Nothing else.

mate? Do you love me? Do you actually want me as your Luna?”

dy betrothed. Of course we should become mates.”

Just should.

efore I asked the only question that mattered.

you promise me you’ll never contact Phina again?”

68