Chapter 50 Breaking Point
Lady Flourish’s POV
Mira hesitated. “She is. Taking her medication right now.”
“I’ll go see her.”
The walk upstairs felt longer than it should have. Maybe because I’d spent the whole night imagining this moment, or because my wolf hadn’t settled since Selene told me Grandma was back. Anger sat under my skin, hot and restless.
Grandma’s door swung open onto the scent of herbs, old books, wolfbane medicine. Lady Josephine satby the window while a servant arranged her morning dose, and the moment she saw me, her face softened.
“My little Firefly.”
Something in me nearly broke. Nobody called me that but her. Not Harold, not my father, just Grandma.
“Grandma.”
She frowned, her aged wolf reaching instinctively toward mine. “What’s wrong?”
I dropped into the chair beside her. “Did he force you to come back?”
Sympathy filled her eyes as she took my hand. “He didn’t force me into anything. Your father may be arrogant, but he isn’t completely without grace.” Her gaze lowered. “I’ve been feeling better these past few years. Coming home isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Besides, those facilities are expensive. I don’t want you exhausting yourself over me.”
“Grandma-”
“Didn’t you tell me you no longer want to become Harold’s Luna?”
I froze. She smiled gently. “I support your decision.” The words caught me off guard. “I refuse to become another burden you carry.”
My chest tightened, because I understood exactly what she was doing. She would never openly criticize her son in front of me, not even now. But this was never about her comfort here. Nobody would openly mistreat Lady Josephine. This was about control. Garret had brought her back because he knew what she meant to me, and Grandma knew it too.
My eyes burned, and I lowered my head before she could see too much.
“Grandma, no matter what happens later, promise me you won’t come upstairs.”
Her brows drew together. “Flourish—”
“I’ve
grown up. I’m not the obedient daughter he can manipulate anymore.”
She studied me for a long moment, then sighed, tired and long. Her wolf was old now, weaker than it had once been, but the quiet strength beneath her scent hadn’t faded. She knew she couldn’t stop me.
19:55 Wed, Sep 30
Chapter 50 Breaking Point
Eventually she brushed the hair from my face. “Just don’t let anyone bully you.”
Taugh escaped me. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to prevent.”
I kissed her cheek and stood, the bucket still waiting outside.
“Firefly?”
I paused. Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t get arrested”
I laughed. “I’ll try my best.”
A few minutes later I stood outside my father’s bedroom, the bucket sloshing softly. Cold water mixed with moonberry nectar. Sticky, staining, impossible to ignore. Perfect.
I knocked three times.
“Who is it?” Low, irritated, and I felt Garret’s wolf go alert, suspicious. Good.
The door swung open, and Lydia appeared first, hair messy, already annoyed., “What is so important this early in the ”
She never finished. I lifted the bucket and emptied it over her head.
Her scream tore through the hallway as water and moonberry nectar poured down her face, soaking her nightclothes. She stumbled back. “FLOURISH!”
“Good morning.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
My wolf prowled closer beneath my skin. “No. I’m beginning to think you people have.”
I dropped the empty bucket. Garret sat up sharply, his expression changing the second he understood.
Before he could move, I threw what remained of the bucket directly over him. Ice cold liquid drenched him, and for one glorious second, silence.
Then his wolf exploded forward, Alpha dominance slamming into the room. “FLOURISH!” His roar rattled the windows.
Once, that force would have made me lower my head. Not today. My wolf surged forward, and I held my ground.
“I know exactly what I’m doing.”
“You’ve lost all respect.”
“No.” A cold laugh. “You lost it first.”
His jaw tightened, and I saw the exact moment he decided to move, to discipline me, to remind me who held authority in this house.
Unfortunately for him, I’d prepared. I reached behind me for the vase already in my hand, the Ice Rose
19:55 Wed, Sep 30
Chapter 50 Breaking Point
relic, his favorite. His wolf faltered the instant he saw it.
fted it. “Try hitting me. And this disappears.”
Even Lydia stopped screaming. Garret stared at the vase like his life depended on it. “What exactly do you want?” Through clenched teeth. “If you smash that vase, I swear I’ll kick you out of this family.”
A slow smile. “Really? Then hurry up and sever the family bonds. Otherwise I’ll start despising you for taking so long.”
I let go. The vase shattered at his feet, and he physically flinched. For one second I genuinely thought h wolf might abandon him out of embarrassment.
“You spoiled brat!”
“Am I?” I reached for another antique. His eyes widened. The Moon Ink sculpture.
“Don’t-”
Too late. It exploded against the floor. Lydia screamed and jumped back, shards scattering across the carpe while Garret clutched his chest. I was starting to enjoy myself.
“Listen carefully. I’m taking Grandma away today. If either of you tries stopping me, I will personally destroy every valuable thing you own.”
My wolf pressed against my skin, and the threat hung heavy between us, because all three of us knew I meant every word. Then I smiled. “Don’t call me ungrateful. You were the ones who taught me how this game works.”
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