Ch. I Refuse to Be Your Luna 9 I Refuse to Be Your Luna 9

dy Flourish’s POV

I was exhausted.

The city lights passed in a blur as I stared out the window, replaying everything that had happened tonight.

My head hurt. No, everything hurt.

Harold’s expression when he defended Phina.

Phina’s fake tears.

The useless whispers around the banquet hall.

And Damian.

Goddess.

Why did he have to come back now of all times?

Finished

I pressed two fingers against my temple and exhaled slowly. The moon outside glowed silver against the dark road, casting pale streaks across the glass.

“Lady Flourish?” my driver suddenly called nervously from the front seat.

I opened my eyes. “What?”

“The car is acting strange.”

Immediately, the vehicle jerked violently.

I grabbed the door handle on instinct as the engine made a horrible grinding sound.

“What the hell was that?”

“I–I don’t know.”

Another jerk.

Then the car slowed abruptly before rolling to a stop at the side of the empty road.

Silence.

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Chapter A Little Trouble

I stared ahead blankly for a second.

“You’re joking. That did not just happen.”

The driver quickly stepped out. “Let me check, Lady Flourish.”

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Finished

I pinched the bridge of my nose and muttered a curse under my breath before pushing the door open.

Cold air hit my skin instantly,

The road was nearly deserted, lined with thick forest on both sides. Only a few distant street lamps lit the area.

Perfect.

Just perfect. My wolf whined uncasily, and I tried to calm her down. We both needed rest.

I folded my arms tightly over my chest while the driver lifted the hood.

“Well?” I asked impatiently.

He looked close to sweating. “I think the engine overheated.”

“How?”

“I’m not sure-

A pair of headlights suddenly appeared down the road.

Bright, approaching fast, and I narrowed my eyes as a black SUV slowed beside us.

The back window rolled down.

And there he was.

Damian.

My stomach dropped so quickly it annoyed me.

He blinked slowly after noticing me standing there. “Flourish?”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You have got to be kidding me.”

A low chuckle left him as he pushed the door open and stepped out of the car. Dark clothes. Broad shoulders. That same irritatingly calm expression.

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15:35 Tue, Sep 29 

Chapter 9 A Little Trouble

“What happened?”

“Our car broke down, that seems obvious enough,” I said flatly.

He glanced toward the smoking hood before looking at my driver.

“You kept driving after the engine started knocking?”

The driver stiffened immediately. “I…only for a little while, Alpha.”

Damian sighed like he was deeply disappointed in humanity.

Then his green eyes shifted back to me.

“You shouldn’t be stranded out here this late.”

“I’m aware.”

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Finished

One side of his mouth lifted faintly. “Still sharp–tongued. Good. I was worried being mated had softened you.”

I scoffed quietly.

“Why are you even here?”

He shrugged easily. “I’m passing through. This is the route to neighboring packs, isn’t it?”

Liar.

I didn’t know why I thought that instantly, but something about his expression felt too smooth. Too prepared.

Still…there was no way he could have known we would stop here.

My wolf stirred uneasily.

Damian glanced at the dark stretch of road ahead before speaking again. “There’s a mechanic station about fifteen minutes from here, but no one will come this late unless they know the request came from an Alpha.”

“I can handle it myself.”

“Obviously,” he said dryly. “That’s why you’re currently stranded in the middle of nowhere.”

I glared at him.

He looked entirely too pleased with himself.

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15:35 Tue, Sep 29 

Chapter 9 A Little Trouble

Then his expression softened just slightly.

:

“Flourish,” he said quietly, “just let me help you.”

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard.

For one dangerous second, my walls slipped.

And my wolf noticed.

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Finished

She pushed forward instantly, drawn toward him in a way that made panic crawl down my spine.

I looked away sharply.

“Fine,” I muttered. “But only because I want to get home.”

“Of course,” Damian replied smoothly, though amusement flickered in his eyes.

He pulled out his phone and stepped aside to make a call.

A few minutes later, another vehicle arrived with two mechanics.

My brows furrowed immediately.

“That was fast.”

Damian slid his hands into his pockets casually. “Benefits of being rich. And being an Alpha.”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, but he only smiled.

Infuriating man.

While the mechanics inspected the car, silence settled between us again.

Not awkward.

Not comfortable either.

Just…heavy.

I became painfully aware of how close he stood beside me.

Close enough that I could smell cedarwood and rain on him.

Close enough that my wolf had gone strangely quiet.

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Chapter 9 A Little Trouble

Finished

Damian suddenly spoke without looking at me.

“You used to hate silence.”

I stiffened.

“You talked constantly when you were nervous.”

I frowned slowly. “People change. I’ve told you before that what you currently think is irrelevant. It’s been six and a half years, Damian.”

His

gaze

shifted to me then, and he leaned forward slightly.

“Do they?”

That damned deep voice. The question wrapped around my chest tightly as my scrambled for answers.

Before I could answer, one of the mechanics cleared his throat.

“Lady Flourish, the engine needs major repairs. It won’t make the trip tonight.”

I closed my eyes briefly.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Damian looked entirely unsurprised, like he already expected it would happen.

“You can take my car,” he offered immediately.

“No.”

“I’ll have your driver stay with the mechanics.”

“I said no.”

He studied me carefully before lowering his voice.

brain

“Flourish, it’s almost midnight. The full moon was yesterday. I’m not implying anything, but it is definitely better safe than sorry, don’t you think?”

I was taken aback a little. The Damian I knew was never this persistent. He was ruthless, scary, a little annoying, but he never cared.

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Chapter 9 A Little Trouble

Like at all.

I bit the inside of my mouth, holding his gaze.

“No, Damian.”

His brows dropped with what looked like disappointment, but I couldn’t exactly tell.

“You really hate accepting help from me that much?” 

The worst part?

I didn’t. That was the problem.

And judging by the faint look in his eyes….

Damian was starting to realize it too.

Finished

But I had spent so long trying to rely on someone while still being my own self, and look at how that turned out.

I couldn’t afford it again.

Wait a second, what am I thinking?

Why would I want to rely on Damian?

“Flourish?”

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