I Refuse To Be Your Luna (Flourish and Harold) novel Chapter 26

Alpha Harold’s POV

:

Dinner at Stonehedge villa was rarely uncomfortable.

AGE9

39

Finished

For as long as I could remember, Alpha Magnus had maintained strict standards regarding family gatherings.

Personal grievances were expected to remain outside the dining hall, and anyone not capable of behaving appropriately during dinner usually found themselves receiving a very unpleasant lecture afterward.

Tonight, however, discomfort seemed unavoidable.

I sat halfway down the enormous dining table, watching servants move between guests with trays of wine and elaborate dishes while trying my best to ignore the growing pressure in my

chest.

Across from me sat my older brother, Damian.

The Green Devil himself looked entirely too relaxed for someone who had spent the last several weeks making my life significantly more difficult.

My grandfather occupied the head of the table as always, while my parents sat to his right. Phina occupied the seat beside me.

The conversation had begun pleasantly enough.

Alpha Ragnar was discussing Stormbridge’s recent expansion.

Lady Daciana was practically glowing with pride every time Damian’s accomplishments were mentioned.

Even Alpha Magnus seemed considerably more cheerful than usual.

“I still find it difficult to believe you built all of that from scratch,” my mother remarked while shaking her head. “When you left, you barely had enough wolves to fill a small compound.”

Damian chuckled as he swirled the wine in his glass.

“Mother, if you continue telling the story that way, people will start believing I was homeless.”

“You practically were.”

“I was not.”

1/6

15:42 Tue, Sep 29

Chapter 26 Shattered Image

“You absolutely were.”

នគ 39

Finistied

A ripple of laughter traveled around the table, and even Alpha Magnus smiled faintly.

I remained silent, because I had noticed the entire evening felt strangely centered around Damian.

His return, his achievements, his territory, his plans, you name it. And somehow, part of me understood why.

The man had built one of the strongest packs in the region after being cast out by his own family, and even I had to admit it was impressive.

Unfortunately, Damian seemed to enjoy making everyone uncomfortable.

Especially me.

As though sensing my thoughts, his gaze shifted toward mine. That lazy smirk immediately appeared. I hated that smirk.

“So, Harold,” he said casually while setting down his glass. “How did the Luna Rite preparations go?”

The entire table became quiet, and I immediately knew what he was doing.

My jaw tightened. “They’re still ongoing.”

“Interesting.” His tone was far too innocent.“I could have sworn there was already an agreed date.”

I stared at him, he stared back, and Alpha Magnus looked between us. “There was,” my grandfather said. “The Rite was supposed to take place two days ago.”

My stomach sank.

Damian leaned back comfortably in his chair. “That’s what I thought.”

I resisted the urge to growl. “It was postponed.”

“Wouldn’t that make it the second time now?“The correction came from Damian, again.

Alpha Magnus frowned, and his attention shifted fully toward me. “Harold.”

I straightened instinctively. “Yes, Grandpa.”

The old Alpha’s expression hardened. “I have allowed this matter to continue because I trusted

2/6

15:42 Tue, Sep 29

Chapter 26 Shattered Image

Finished

your judgment. Flourish has waited years for this mating, and I expect you to stop delaying it.”

A wave of irritation swept through me.

If only everyone understood the situation.

If only they understood what Phina had been dealing with.

If only they knew how difficult it had been balancing everything.

“I understand, Grandpa.”

“No,” Alpha Magnus replied firmly. “I do not think you do.”

The room became tense instantly, because my grandfather rarely spoke that way.

years. Whatever

His blue eyes remained fixed on mine. “I will not approve another woman as Stonehedge’s Luna. Flourish is your betrothed, and she has been recognized as such for disagreement exists between the two of you needs to end immediately.”

Beside me, Phina shifted uncomfortably. The movement was subtle, barely noticeable, but I felt it.

I glanced toward her briefly. Her shoulders had stiffened, her fingers tightening around her napkin.

For a moment, guilt tugged at me, but I forced myself to look

This conversation wasn’t about Phina, it was about Flourish.

away.

Flourish, who had suddenly decided to behave irrationally after years of understanding my responsibilities.

Flourish, who seemed determined to turn every conversation into an argument.

Flourish, who apparently believed ending our relationship was somehow a reasonable solution.

The thought irritated me all over again, but fortunately, there was one problem Alpha Magnus still knew nothing about.

The withdrawal. Flourish’s company pulling every partnership agreement from Virel Group had caused absolute chaos over the last several days. Several executives had already demanded emergency meetings, investors were asking questions, and the board was becoming restless.

If Grandpa discovered the extent of the damage before I managed to resolve things with Flourish, the situation would become considerably worse.

3/6

15:42 Tue, Sep 29

Chapter 26 Shattered Image

I needed time. Just a little more time and everything would be fixed.

“Where is Flourish tonight?” Alpha Magnus asked suddenly. My heart skipped.

For a split second, I hesitated, then I smiled. “She had an emergency business meeting in another territory.”

Damian immediately coughed into his wine. The bastard wasn’t even trying to hide his amusement. “That’s strange.”

Finished

Every muscle in my body tensed, and Alpha Magnus turned toward him. Damian tilted his head thoughtfully. “Because I saw her earlier today.”

I stared at him. “What?”

His expression remained infuriatingly calm. “I said I saw her earlier today.”

The room went silent. “I thought she was in another territory,” he continued.

My grandfather’s gaze shifted back toward me, and I suddenly felt like a teenager being interrogated.

“Where did you see her?” Alpha Magnus asked.

Damian shrugged. “Glassfang Forge district.”

My stomach dropped, and I clenched my jaw. “Perhaps she went after the meeting.”

“Perhaps.” The amusement in Damian’s voice made me want to punch him.

Thankfully, Alpha Magnus eventually waved the matter away. “I don’t particularly care where she spent her afternoon. What I care about is seeing this mating completed.”

I nodded immediately. “You have my word, Grandpa.”

His expression softened slightly. “Good.”

The conversation gradually moved on, but unfortunately my appetite never returned. By the time dinner ended, my head was pounding.

I said my goodbyes and returned to my own villa within the Stonehedge estate, hoping that a quiet evening would help me think.

Instead, the moment I entered Flourish’s room, a terrible feeling settled in my chest. The room felt a lot emptier than I remembered.

I looked around for a bit, then I moved toward the wardrobe.

4/6

15:42 Tue, Sep 29

Chapter 26 Shattered Image

39

Finished

I opened it, and half the clothes were gone. The drawers were nearly empty, and several personal items had disappeared. A cold sensation crept through me.

Surely she wasn’t serious, this was another one of her dramatic attempts to prove a point. Right?

I left her room and walked directly into mine, and the moment I stepped inside, my stomach

twisted.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify