Ch. I Refuse to Be Your Luna 70 I Refuse to Be Your Luna 70

Chapter 70 Collision Course

Lady Flourish’s POV

Damian kept an arm around my waist as he guided me away from the villa. “Come on. Let’s get to my car.”

I glanced back. The villa was already behind us, but shouting carried over the wall.

“The window’s open!”

“Lady Flourish is gone!”

My heart pounded. The two guards from my room rushed into the garden, too late, we’d already reached the road. His black Bentley sat under a streetlamp with the engine running.

He opened the passenger door, waited until I was in, then came around and slid behind the wheel.

The moment we pulled away, I let out the breath I’d been holding, pressing a hand to my chest. “Alpha Damian, thank you so much for saving me today.”

He glanced over, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Is that all?”

“What do you mean?”

“Back in the old days,” he said, one hand on the wheel, “the wolf in distress usually married the Alpha in shining armor after a daring rescue.”

My breath caught, my mind going completely blank for a second. My wolf lifted her head, more alert than she’d been all night.

I pushed the reaction down. He was joking. Had to be. Damian said the strangest things in the same flat tone he used for business.

I looked away, and before I could think of a reply, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and answered. “Hello?”

His assistant, sounding nervous. “Alpha Damian, your flight to Stormbridge leaves in an hour and a half. Are you on your way?”

I froze. A flight?

He didn’t hesitate. “I know.” He hung up shortly after.

‘Guilt settled in my chest. He had a flight to catch and he’d still come for me, stood under my window, caught me, hauled me over a wall, driven me out of that place, when he could’ve just kept to his own schedule.

I studied his profile, the steady hands, the focus in his eyes, his scent filling the car. “Alpha Damian, I didn’t know you were busy.”

“I’m fine.” He kept his eyes on the road.

I hesitated. “You can just drop me at that grocery store ahead. I’ll grab a cab home.”

Chapter 70 Collision Course

His jaw tightened. “What if someone drags you back?”

“It fine. I’m not stupid enough to get caught twice.”

He didn’t answer, though I felt his eyes flick toward me and back.

“I’m going to Stonehedge Villa,” I said.

That got him to actually look at me. “Why?”

“To see Alpha Magnus. I’m telling him I want to call off the Luna Rite.” My voice firmed as said it.

If I told him myself, nobody could pretend they didn’t know. The ceremony couldn’t keep moving forward just because everyone else had decided to ignore what Harold and I had already ended

He raised an eyebrow. “You escaped being locked in a room just to go back to Stonehedge?”

“Yes.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

He studied me for a few seconds, something passing behind his eyes I couldn’t read, then nodded. “Fine.”

A few minutes later the Bentley pulled up outside a grocery store. I reached for the handle. “Thank you again.” The words felt too small for what he’d done.

“Text me when you arrive,” he said, before I could get out. Then, like he heard how it sounded, “You can message Davina too.”

A smile tugged at my mouth. “Okay.”

I got out and watched the Bentley disappear down the street, waiting until the taillights vanished into traffic before raising a hand for a cab.

It was already nine thirty. Stonehedge Villa sat at least forty minutes out, and showing up that late was rude, but I had no choice.

Three days left before the Luna Rite. Every hour I wasted gave our families more room to arrange everything without me.

I climbed into the cab. The driver glanced at my shoulder. “You okay, miss?”

“I’m fine.” A lie. My shoulder still ached and the moonleaf had left me weak, my wolf slow to answer whenever I

I leane

Neith

unning through what I’d say to Alpha Magnus. Harold and I were done.

ded to be cancelled. I’d said versions of this to Garrett, to Daciana, to meone dismissed me, talked over me, or tried to decide for me instead.

Chapter 70 Collision Course

Finger

Magnus was different. The oldest Alpha in the family, the one person they couldn’t easily manage. If I told him myself, he’d have to listen.

If could just reach him, this would finally be over.

I opened my eyes to city lights sliding past the window. Then the cab swerved. Headlights appeared dead ahead, wrong lane, too close. The driver slanimed the brakes, tires screeching, my wolf lunging forward in alarm.

Then the impact hit.

My body flung sideways, shoulder slamming into the door, pain tearing through me as my head struck the frame. Everyg dissolved into ringing for a few seconds. My wolf howled inside me. I tried to move and pain shot do

The cab

“Oh m

by arm.

ed at an angle, paper p

ver’s

A forehead bleeding where he’d hit the wheel.

cel”

Heeding

ath. “Hey. Are you okay?”

pressing a shaking hand to his head. “I’m fine. Just dizzy.”

e damaged door open and climbed out into the cold, legs unsteady. People rushed toward us idewalk.

bout you, miss? Are you okay?”

int answer. I held my shoulder and looked at the other car. A tall figure stood beside it with a woman arms, one hand at her back, the other cradling her head, his whole body curved protectively around

w that posture. I knew that scent.

stomach dropped.

harold.

And the woman in his arms was Phina.

They’d hit our cab.

His head came up, and our eyes met across the road. My wolf went completely silent, the pain in my houlder suddenly beside the

p standing in front of the

nd Harold was holdi

er everything I’d done to escape that villa tonight, I’d ended

o see.

the world worth protecting.