The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 528

Chapter 528: Fuelling My Audacity

[Meredith].

"Our private training ground," Draven replied. "The one I told you about a few days ago. It’s ready."

"Really?" The joy in my heart knew no bounds. I had already forgotten that he made mention of the project to me just before we left to visit my grandmother.

Though I had been stunned by his intentionality and thoughtfulness toward me, I was low-key anticipating the private space. And now, it was ready.

Draven nodded once. "Do you want to see it?"

Immediately, I slapped his arm lightly with joy in my heart. "Do you even need to ask?"

"Come." He took my hand.

We walked farther away from the estate, deeper into land that felt untouched, guarded by distance and intention.

The trees grew thicker, the paths narrower. Even the air sensed cleaner and quieter, as though the world itself was holding its breath.

"This far?" I asked softly.

Draven nodded. "Far enough that no one hears or sees you fall or rise."

That sent a small shiver down my spine. Draven really knew how to word a sentence to make a sound ominous.

When the trees finally parted, I stopped walking altogether.

The training ground stretched before us. At the centre lay a wide, open expanse of reinforced earth and stone, flattened and smoothed for combat and movement.

Training markers were etched into the ground in carefully patterned functional lines. Old, weathered posts stood at measured distances, scarred from repeated strikes.

To one side, under a timber canopy, weapons were arranged with almost ceremonial care—swords of varying weights, bows strung and unstrung, and quivers stacked neatly beside them.

Behind it all stood a low structure built of stone and wood, blending into the land rather than dominating it. A living space. I could already tell.

"There is a changing room," Draven said, following my gaze. "Shower. Sitting area. Storage. You won’t need to run back to the estate every time."

I nodded. "This was well planned out."

"Who is your husband again?" Draven probed, a smirk appearing at the corner of his lips. And instantly, I knew he was just showing off.

I shook my head, refusing to utter a word to that question.

"There is a pool also," he suddenly informed.

"A pool?" I asked quietly. Just then, I sensed it... actually pictured it.

His eyes flicked to me, sharp, but gentle. "Yes. Over there."

The pool sat just beyond the training field—clear, still, and deceptively calm.

Of course, there was a pool. I exhaled slowly, my emotions tangling—pride, awe, gratitude, and something heavier.

"You built all this," I said, thinking of the stressful work that went in here within a few days. "For us."

"For you," he corrected. Then, after a beat, "For whatever you choose to become."

I turned to face him, then I stepped forward, my fingers brushing the carved edge of a training marker, feeling the intent pressed into the stone.

A few minutes later, Draven tilted his head slightly, his eyes sweeping over the open ground, and said, "Let’s see how much you remember."

I snorted softly. "You make it sound like I’ve forgotten how to breathe."

"You’ve been comfortable," he corrected. "That’s different."

I rolled my shoulders, feeling the familiar tightness there—the kind that came from weeks of leisure, lots of walking, and emotional weight, instead of blades and movement.

’There you are!’

The look he gave me then—half surprise, and half appreciation, sent a warm thrill through me.

My muscles burned pleasantly now, stretching and remembering. Reflex layered over reflex. When he swept my leg, I jumped instead of stumbling. When he tried to pin my arms, I ducked low and escaped with a laugh.

"Careful," he warned lightly. "You’re getting overly confident."

"I fought in a war, remember?" I reminded him. "So, you don’t scare me now."

"Oh, I know," he said, his eyes darkening as he stepped closer. "That’s what scares me."

I lunged, more out of impulse than strategy, and he caught me. So much for having a big mouth.

But instead of throwing me aside, he pulled me in, my momentum crashing us chest to chest. Then, his hands locked around my waist, steadying us both. For a breathless second, neither of us moved.

I was suddenly very aware of his warmth, his grip. And the way my heart was pounding.

"You’re not rusty anymore," he said quietly.

I tilted my head up, meeting his gaze. "Told you my body remembers."

His thumb brushed my side, absent, grounding. "So does mine."

The moment stretched—charged, but controlled. And for a moment, I considered what he had just said with a different part of my brain.

But unfortunately, he released me and stepped back with a visible effort before I could act naughtily.

"Enough for now," he said. "Before this turns into something else."

I laughed breathlessly. "Scared I will beat you?"

"Whatever fuels your audacity." He smiled slowly.