I Refuse To Be Your Luna (Flourish and Harold) novel Chapter 193

Chapter 193 The Man Behind Lydia

Alpha Damian’s POV

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The voice came from behind the archive doors, and my wolf immediately recognized the authority in it, forcing my body into a defensive stance before I even saw the speaker.

Flourish stood beside me, her wolf alert beneath her skin, while Caelan turned sharply toward the darkness.

“Who are you?” I demanded.

The man stepped into the red emergency light. He was older, dressed in a dark coat, with silver hair and gold eyes that seemed to take in the entire room at once.

Lydia lowered her head. “Alpha.”

My wolf reacted, not because I recognized him, but because every guardian around us did. Every single wolf lowered its head at the sight of him, and even Caelan’s expression changed completely.

“Magnus.”

The old Alpha smiled. “Caelan.”

Flourish stepped closer to me. “Who is he?”

Caelan looked at her, his voice quiet. “Your grandfather.”

My wolf went still, and I stared at the man as he turned his attention fully on Flourish.

“Elara’s daughter,” Magnus said.

Flourish’s voice came out cold. “You ordered my mother’s death.”

“No,” he anwered, shaking his head. “I ordered her removal.”

Her claws extended. “That’s the same thing.”

“Not quite.”

I stepped forward. “Explain.”

Magnus looked at me. “You are protective.”

“She’s my mate.”

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Chapter 193 The Man Behind Lydia

“I know,” he replied, his gaze shifting back to Flourish. “That bond makes you dangerous.”

My wolf growled low, and Magnus only smiled at the sound. “Good.”

Flourish stared at him. “Why did you want my ability?”

“Because the Voss bloodline is dying.”

“Then why steal from me?”

“Because your blood is the strongest remaining branch.”

Caelan stepped forward. “You wanted to use her.”

“I wanted to preserve our people.”

“By killing her?”

Magnus shook his head. “By controlling her.”

Flourish’s face hardened. “What’s the difference?”

“Control prevents war.”

“You created the war,” I fired.

Magnus looked at me evenly. “Karl.”

My wolf reacted at the name. “What about him?”

“Karl was useful.”

Flourish’s breathing changed. “You funded him.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To weaken F-Tech.”

“Why?”

“Because F-Tech was accessing information that belonged to the Voss archive.”

Flourish looked at me. “The merger.”

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Chapter 193 The Man Behind Lydia

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I nodded slowly as it all came together. “The merger gave us access to the same systems.”

“Exactly,” Magnus said, smiling.

Everything fell into place at once. The business sabotage, Ethan, the board pressure, the poisoned flower, the Stonehedge vehicle, Nerissa, Karl.

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All of it had been designed from the start to destabilize Flourish and isolate her from anyone who could protect her.

“Phina,” I called out.

Magnus looked toward her. “She was supposed to bring you here.”

Phina’s face tightened. “I refused.”

“You delayed.”

“I resisted.”

“You failed.”

Her eyes flashed gold. “I saved her.”

Magnus raised one hand, and a guardian lunged at Phina. I moved, and Flourish moved with me, our wolves striking together in the same breath. The guardian crashed hard into the floor.

For one second, Flourish and I stood side by side, her wolf pressing against mine, and the bond between us seemed to grow stronger just from that contact.

Magnus watched us closely. “Interesting.”

I glared at him. “Don’t look at her like that.”

His lips curved. “You’re already changing.”

“What does that mean?”

“Your mate’s ability is affecting you.”

Flourish looked at me. “How?”

“Your wolf is becoming resistant to external control,” Magnus said.

My wolf reacted to that, and it suddenly explained why Lydia’s earlier command had never taken hold of me. Flourish’s blood was strengthening our bond from the inside.

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Chapter 193 The Man Behind Lydia

Magnus turned toward the archive. “The ritual will amplify it.”

“No,” Flourish said, stepping forward. “I won’t do it.”

“You will.”

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He raised his hand, and every guardian turned toward her at once. I stepped in front of her without thinking twice. “Try.”

Magnus’s eyes hardened, and the guardians attacked again. The fight turned chaotic fast. Caelan fought beside us, Phina stayed close to protect Mira, and Flourish moved faster than she had before, her wolf almost impossible to predict now.

She struck one guardian, then another, her eyes staying gold and her movements growing steadier with every second. She was learning as she fought.

Magnus watched her carefully through it all. Then he spoke again. “You’re stronger than Elara.”

Flourish stopped mid motion. “Don’t mention my mother.”

“She died protecting you.”

“I know.”

“Then you should understand what she sacrificed.”

Her claws stayed extended. “She sacrificed herself because of you.”

“No,” Magnus said, looking toward Lydia instead. “She sacrificed herself because of him.” He pointed toward Caelan.

Flourish turned, and Caelan went pale.

“What?”

“Caelan didn’t disappear because he was hunted,” Magnus continued.

Caelan’s jaw tightened. “Stop.”

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