Ch. I Refuse to Be Your Luna 57 I Refuse to Be Your Luna 57

Chapter 57 Pretend Reality Away

Lady Flourish’s POV

Even after years of teaching myself how to sit through negotiations without showing exactly what I was thinking, I struggled to keep the excitement off my face.

The additional clause Damian had added changed everything.

Kael’s side could no longer push their way into the project, replace members of our team, or find some convenient excuse to take control after the contract had already been secured. The project belonged to F- Tech, and I would be leading the core team.

My wolf was practically pacing beneath my skin with satisfaction.

I forced myself to remain composed and gave Damian a professional nod. “That won’t be a problem.”

“Good.”

His answer was brief, but his eyes rested on me for a second before returning to the documents.

“Then proceed.”

The room moved again.

Papers shifted across the table, pens were uncapped, and the lawyers began checking the final clauses.

Around me, wolves with powerful positions and expensive suits quietly reviewed figures that would determine the direction of the project for months.

Damian signed first.

I watched his hand move across the page before I could stop myself.

His signature was quick and controlled, exactly like everything else about him.

Inside that conference room, Alpha Damian Virel was almost impossible to connect with the man who had stood in the corridor teasing me about having a boyfriend.

His wolf remained carefully restrained beneath his skin, but I could still sense his Alpha presence.

It wasn’t overwhelming.

‘It didn’t need to be.

Every wolf in the room knew who he was.

When Damian spoke, nobody interrupted him. When he looked at a document, people waited. Even Rhys. who had spent the morning looking as though he had personally defeated every enemy in the seven territories, sat straighter whenever Damian’s attention moved in our direction.

I suddenly found myself wondering what Damian was like when nobody was watching.

Chapter 57 Pretend Reality Away

What he was like with someone he genuinely cared about.

he thought slipped into my mind so naturally that I almost missed it.

Then I froze.

My wolf immediately went quiet.

I lowered my gaze to the contract.

That was none of my business.

Whatever kind of mate Damian would eventually choose had absolutely nothing to do with me.

As though he had sensed the sudden change in my scent, Damian lifted his eyes.

Our gazes m

For one br

It wasn’t

ment, something shifted in his expression.

for anyone else to notice, but I did.

A fair

eared.

This pen down.

ely looked back at my documents.

sounded far too amused with herself.

him

Finmec

e the final paperwork had been completed, Peter Vaughn checked his watch and smiled.

almost noon,” he said. “I reserved a private room at Moonville Society. Shall we have lunch together?”

veral executives immediately agreed.

amian glanced at his phone. “I’m available after twelve.”

Then his attention shifted toward Rhys and me.

That depends on Beta Rhys and Lady Flourish.”

I’m free,” Rhys answered immediately.

Wed

Chapter 57 Pretend Reality Away

Then he pointed at me.

But Lady Flourish has a meeting at two-thirty.”

Peter sighed.

“What unfortunate timing.”

His disappointment looked genuine.

“Then Beta Rhys can’t join us either.”

Rhys looked personally betrayed.

almost smiled.

fore Peter could continue trying to negotiate our schedules, Damian pushed his chair back.

hat reminds me.”

He stood and gathered his docu

“I have another matter to a

bon.”

Peter blinked.

“So suddenly?”

Damian didn’t look

ogetic.

“Host Beta Rhys

Then his gaze

room.

It landed

Only

closed behind him, Rhys released a breath.

telling me to relax earlier.”

ou were getting agitated.”

y calm.”

Finishen

Chapter 57 Pretend Reality Away

Rhys gave me a look.

wolf bristled.

“I was.”

“Of course, My Lady.”

I narrowed my eyes.

After several more discussions regarding implementation and schedules, Rhys gathered the signed documents.

“You should return to F-Tech and prepare for your afternoon meeting,” he said. “I’ll handle everything else here.”

“Alright.”

I said goodbye to the executives and finally left Stormbridge headquarters.

The moment the glass doors closed behind me, my shoulders loosened.

The pressure of the meeting had left me more tired than I expected.

My wolf stretched inside me, restless after spending hours surrounded by unfamiliar wolves while carefully keeping herself controlled.

Almost immediately, my phone rang.

I looked down.

A smile appeared before I could stop it.

“Hello?”

“Flourish!”

Davina’s voice burst through the speaker.

“My flight lands at six tonight. Be a darling and come get me.”

I stopped walking.

“You’re serious?”

“Completely.”

I laughed.

“Davina, you disappeared for ages.”

“Heartbreak vacations require commitment.”

Her voice became shamelessly dramatic.

Chapter 57 Pretend Reality Away

F

“Besides, I’m back now.”

Then she paused.

“Oh, by the way.”

My smile faded slightly.

I knew that tone.

“Why didn’t you ever show me your mate mark with my brother?”

I closed my eyes.

Of course.

Davina Virel.

Harold’s younger sister.

Unlike her brother, Davina had inherited far more of Lady Daciana’s warmth and very little of Harold’s ability to frustrate me.

Three months earlier, after an ugly breakup, she had announced that she was leaving the territory to recover from heartbreak.

We had remained in contact.

I simply hadn’t told her what happened.

“Flourish?”

“Yes?”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

She suddenly gasped.

“Don’t tell me your feelings cooled off.”

Despite everything, I smiled.

“Relax.”

My voice softened.

“You’re special.”

I looked across the street.

I could drift away from anyone.”

A small laugh escaped me.

Chapter 57 Pretend Reality Away

“But not you.”

Daina immediately sounded pleased.

“Good answer.”

I took a breath.

“Davina.”

“Hm?”

“I’m not getting mated anymore.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

“I broke up with your brother.”

“What?”

Her voice rose so sharply that I pulled the phone away from my ear.

“Are you alright?”

Another pause.

Then her wolf clearly found its voice through her.

“That idiot.”

I laughed.

“He wouldn’t dare.”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“I ended it.”

My smile disappeared.

“I’m tired.”

The admission came easier than I expected.

“I don’t want to keep chasing him anymore.”

Davina fell silent.

When she finally spoke, her voice had softened.

Chapter 57 Pretend Reality Away

“But you’re so close to the Luna Rite.”

“Exactly.”

I watched a group of wolves cross the street.

“Better to stop now than regret it later.”

Davina inhaled sharply.

Then her tone changed.

“Fine.”

I blinked.

plenty of wolves in the world.”

ded completely serious.

re not settling for that one.”

escaped me before I could stop it.

he first time that day, it felt effortless.

ck me up tonight,” she continued. “I’m dragging you out to celebrate your freedom.”

Deal

I smiled.

But I have a meeting this afternoon.”

“Then survive your meeting.”

She paused.

“And wear something pretty.”

The call ended shortly afterward.

After grabbing something quick to eat, I returned to F-Tech.

The moment I stepped through the entrance, Rhys practically appeared out of nowhere.

“Lady Flourish!”

I stared at him.

He was still in an excellent mood.

Chapter 57 Pretend Reality Away

“Is everything alright?”

I gave him an okay sign.

“Everything is fine.”

Several employees nearby quietly cheered.

I pointed at them.

“Keep it down.”

The cheering stopped.

Mostly.

A few wolves still grinned at me.

I shook my head.

“We’ll celebrate when I’m back.”

They nodded obediently.

Their wolves, judging by their expressions, had already started planning something.

I gathered my files and left shortly after one o’clock.

The afternoon disappeared beneath reports, presentations, negotiations, and enough paperwork to exhaust even the most disciplined wolf.

By the time the meeting finally ended, the clock had passed four.

My wolf was restless.

My shoulders hurt.

I was walking toward the elevator when my phone buzzed.

I looked down.

The caller ID immediately ruined my mood.

Garret.

Without hesitation, I declined.

If Alpha Garret was calling, it was rarely because he had something pleasant to say.

Almost immediately, a message appeared.

I opened it.

Chapter 57 Pretend Reality Away

The Luna Rite is in a few days. Do not forget to try on your ceremonial sashes tomorrow.

topped walking.

For several seconds, I simply stared at the screen.

Then I laughed.

A short, disbelieving sound.

Honestly.

How many times did people need to hear it?

Harold and I were over.

The betrothal was over.

The future everyone had spent years arranging no longer existed.

Yet somehow, they all continued behaving as though my decision had been nothing more than an inconvenient mood.

My wolf began pacing.

They think they can force it.

I locked my phone.

Shaking my head, I slipped it into my pocket and stepped toward the elevator.

Then it buzzed again.

I almost ignored it.

Almost.

The second message was from an unknown number.

You should try on the sash, Lady Flourish.

My steps stopped.

A second message appeared before I could react.

The Luna Rite is still happening.

My wolf went completely still.

And for the first time that day, I understood that someone else knew exactly what I had been trying to

prevent.