All Chapters of Refusing To Be His Luna: Chapter 31 - Chapter 39

Ryan POV:The wooden door gave a sharp creak. Instinct took over, and I stumbled back two paces.I wanted to turn and bolt, but my boots were hammered into the dirt.I lowered my eyes, my breath coming in ragged, broken gasps.The creaking stopped.Nothing filled the stillness except our fractured breathing.A faint, familiar scent drifted through the night air. I knew it was her, standing right in front of me—barely half a step away.Good.At least I didn't scare her into screaming.My head felt like a thousand pounds of lead.Gritting my teeth, I dragged my gaze upward, inch by agonizing inch.Corie stood bathed in the cold, silver moonlight, wearing a pure white dress.She was so breathtaking my eyes burned just looking at her.Starfire flickered in her beautiful eyes—no, those were tears.I summoned the absolute last thread of my strength to force a weak smile."Corie..." Her name finally rasped past my lips."I came... because I owe you an apology." I tried to keep my voice light

Ryan POV:In the middle of the night, a blinding spike of agony in my shoulder dragged me back to consciousness.I started to sit up, only to realize Corie was asleep in my arms.She was nestled against my chest, her head resting softly on my uninjured shoulder.The faint, warm puffs of her breath fluttered against my bare skin, sending a sweet, tingling sensation straight to my heart.I lay motionless in the gloom, staring down at her.She was so peaceful, so breathtakingly soft.Yet underneath that delicate, slender frame hid a terrifying depth of steel and composure.I knew my body was teetering on the absolute edge of collapse.But from the moment I stumbled onto her doorstep, she hadn't panicked for a single second.She had diagnosed the toxins, brewed the remedies, and carved away the festering flesh with steady, unflinching hands.The hesitant, nervous girl I met months ago was gone.In the brief time we’d been apart, she had grown into a force of nature.I raised a hand, gentl

Corie POV:His kiss deepened, devouring my breath until I collapsed into a soft mess against his chest.His hand slid up my thigh, tracing the curve of my hip before settling at my waist. The heat and sheer power radiating from his palm made every nerve in my body snap taut."Can I, baby?"His raspy, magnetic voice vibrated straight against my ear."Mmm..." I nodded, lost in the fever.He cupped my face, searching my eyes with a gaze so fierce, so intensely focused, it made me feel like the most precious treasure in the world.Golden wolf-fire burned in his eyes.He leaned down for a tender kiss as his hand cupped my breast, squeezing gently before his fingers stroked across the hardened peak.A choked moan broke from my throat."Ryan..." I whimpered his name, but he swallowed the rest of the sound into another deep kiss.Then, reality hit me like a splash of cold water.Panting heavily, I trapped his hand against my chest, arresting his movement."No, wait... your wounds aren't heale

Ryan POV:I signed the lease that very day. The cottage sat just down the path from Corie’s—far bigger than her tiny space.It was perfect. I could crash at her place, or she could stay at mine.Since she wasn't ready to explain my presence to the rest of the world yet, I wasn't about to push her.We’d take it slow.The village itself was a strange, fascinating place, wedged right at the border where three separate packs met.For as long as anyone could remember, all three packs had neglected this dead zone.There were no joint patrols, no clear ruling authorities, yet the crime rate never spiked.Over the years, rogues had drifted in for various reasons, quietly forming a self-sustaining settlement.The village didn't even have a name.Everyone had their own secrets, their own reasons for moving here, and nobody asked questions.It felt like a forgotten corner of the world.Fortunately, the locals were surprisingly warm.As a newcomer—just another rogue on paper—I got a ton of help f

Corie POV:The moon was just beginning to rise, casting a soft glow over the lawn.The charcoal in the grill crackled to life, sending a smoky aroma curling into the cool evening air.At the makeshift barbecue site we had set up, everyone was busy, laughter drifting through the dusk.I arranged the freshly washed vegetables neatly onto plates while Jace hauled a heavy wooden keg of ale.Evelyn stepped up, handing a massive platter of seasoned meat to Ryan."You're amazing! I can't believe you got the fire going so fast," she gushed, her voice practically dripping with exaggeration. "Every time I try, my eyes burn from the smoke and the charcoal won't even catch."Ryan gave a subtle smile, taking the platter and laying the thick cuts of meat across the rack one by one."Well, naturally," Jace chimed in cheerfully. "We—uh, I mean, I do barbecues all the time."Ryan shot him a swift look.Jace just offered a knowing wink in return.They had truly become good friends, much like Evelyn and