The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Misleading News

Meredith.

A ray of sunlight crept across the carpeted floor like fingers, warm and lazy.

Azul and Kira moved softly around the room, parting the thick curtains until the full glow of morning spilled into my chamber. I stirred beneath the blanket, blinking against the light.

"My lady," Azul said with a gentle smile, "the sun is almost up."

Kira giggled beside her. "That means it’s time to rise. You can’t miss breakfast."

I groaned softly, but allowed Azul to pull the sheets down. The morning chill nipped at my arms, and Arya was already walking in with a fresh robe, her timing impeccable as always.

They helped me out of bed and into the warm robe before escorting me to the bathing area.

A few minutes later, I sat patiently in front of my dresser as Kira brushed my hair and Azul patted a skincare product on my face.

I was enjoying the slow morning when Deidra entered, her expression unusually serious.

"My lady," she said, "you don’t need to go down for breakfast."

I withdrew my gaze from the mirror and turned directly to her. "Why?" She was already carrying the breakfast; toast, hot porridge, and boiled eggs. Steam still floated up in lazy swirls.

Cora walked up to her and lifted the tray off her hands before stepping out of the room, to set it down in the sitting area.

"Alpha Draven said no one will be eating together in the dining hall for the next three days," Deidra added.

I was startled. "What do you mean? Why?"

She shrugged. "I don’t know. That was the instruction."

"That’s strange..." I murmured, walking over and pulling out the chair. "Is this for everyone or just me?"

"It’s for everyone, my lady," Kira answered, smoothing my skirt. "I think, it’s because he is going to be busy."

My brows furrowed. Azul and Deidra were finished now, so I stood up from the stool and moved to the sitting area.

I sat and picked up a spoon. The porridge was warm, laced with cinnamon and honey. Still, the change bothered me.

"Has something happened?" I asked after a moment, chewing slowly.

"Well," Cora said, biting her lip, "we saw the alpha’s brother walking into the house this morning, and he looked like he had a bruise on his neck."

I stopped mid-bite.

Arya nodded. "Yes. I noticed it too."

"What happened to him?" I asked, already standing.

"We don’t know," Deidra admitted. "It didn’t look too bad, though."

Kira, ever the voice of calm, smiled at me reassuringly. "Don’t worry, my lady. I’m sure, he has already healed. He is very strong."

"I hope so..." I was still unsettled no matter how calm I tried to sound.

I took another bite of the egg, but my mind was no longer on food. Something had shifted overnight.

New rules. Bruises. Closed doors.

My eyes narrowed faintly. It wasn’t a coincidence.

And with breakfast now private and Dennis hurt, I couldn’t help but wonder if my driving lesson would still hold this evening.

---

~**Draven**~

The inner house was quiet. For once, I liked it that way.

From my office window, I watched as Jeffery moved like a shadow along the eastern corridor, issuing orders quietly to the guards on duty.

The rest of the estate was under strict routine, just the way I wanted it.

The vampire’s face still lingered in my mind—those red eyes, amused and fearless, like he had been toying with us the entire time. And maybe he had.

I moved to the middle of the room where the map of Duskmoor was spread out on the table. Fresh pins marked new routes—guard rotations, blind spots, escape paths.

I had already assigned the elite hunters. They were briefed before dawn.

"We strike if one of them returns," I had told them. "Capture if you can. Kill if you must."

I wasn’t taking chances anymore.

"Alpha," Jeffery’s voice came through the door after two knocks. "The first hunter pair has left."

Then: "Breaking news just in—"

"Authorities are investigating what they’ve described as a disturbing homicide just outside Duskmoor’s northeastern district. A man’s body was found this morning in a wooded area near Ridgeway, discovered by early hikers."

"Reports suggest the victim’s neck was snapped, and—though unconfirmed—a source at the scene mentioned the heart may have been removed."

"While officials haven’t named any suspects, speculation has risen online regarding unusual forest activity in recent months, particularly around areas known to border werewolf territory. We are not saying this is connected—"

"—but this follows a concerning trend, as several local men and women have been reported missing over the last six months."

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