The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75: She Made Them Bleed

Meredith.

I pushed the door open faster than I meant to, but I couldn’t help it.

They were all here.

Azul was kneeling beside Arya, carefully wiping her arms with a damp cloth. Cora stood rigid near the wall, eyes wide.

Kira and Deidra hovered close, trying to look calm—but failing. And Arya... Arya stood stiffly with one arm resting lightly at her waist.

Her smile was weak, but she tried. "My lady."

I walked over quickly, eyes scanning her, taking in her posture. The tension in her shoulders. The slight wince when she shifted her weight.

"Arya," I said, my voice already trembling, "are you alright?"

She nodded, but it was the kind of nod you give to stop someone from worrying, not because it was true.

"My lady, only Arya received two beatings," Kira informed me.

"Let me see," I said, reaching out to Arya.

Arya shook her head softly. "It’s nothing. I promise."

I paused, hand suspended mid-air. My throat tightened. I understood.

She didn’t want me to see the marks. Didn’t want me to carry that image.

I slowly withdrew my hand and nodded once. "Okay."

Deidra looked up from the floor. "Miss Fellowes was furious when the Beta came with orders from the Alpha to halt the punishment," she murmured. "She tried to argue, but the Beta didn’t listen to her."

Wanda was really determined to punish my maidservants.

If I hadn’t gone to Draven immediately, and if he hadn’t given the order when he did, the others would have been hurt as well.

But he was the reason Wanda even thought she could do as she pleased. He gave her space. Power. And Arya paid for it.

Before today, I hadn’t truly hated Wanda. I just saw her as another possessive, jealous woman vying for Draven’s attention.

But now?

Now I hated her.

"I will stay here," I said. "Arya needs to be treated properly. I can’t leave right now."

"My lady," Kira said, stepping forward. "You can’t miss breakfast."

"I’m not hungry."

"But the Alpha listened to you," she said gently. "He ordered our release. Please, don’t upset him again."

Her words made something twist inside me.

She was right.

No matter how I felt—no matter how much I hated him for so many things—he had listened. I wasn’t ungrateful.

"Fine," I muttered, already standing. "I will go. But you are all staying here. No going back to the servants’ quarters. Treat Arya here."

They nodded at once.

I stepped out with one last glance at Arya. She smiled again. This one softer.

But it still broke my heart.

---

By the time I reached the dining hall, I was already late.

Draven sat at the head of the table, tall and still, hands resting lightly near his cutlery.

Wanda sat, too, prim and polished like she hadn’t done anything vile just an hour ago.

That was what shocked me most—how easily she still sat there after being scolded.

If it were me, I would have starved before sitting across from the man who had humiliated me.

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