The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Disappointing Draven

Meredith.

The water was colder than yesterday.

It nipped at my skin as I stepped in, rising over my knees, then my waist. A hiss escaped between my teeth. I didn’t complain out loud. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

Draven stood on the side of the pool, his shadow long across the surface, arms crossed over his bare chest. He didn’t speak immediately. Just stared.

I dipped under quickly and came back up with a gasp, pushing my wet hair back. His eyes didn’t follow my movement so much as track it—silent, calculating.

"What are you waiting for?" I asked, wiping water from my face.

"Silence," he replied flatly.

I blinked at him.

"Ten minutes," he added. "Float. Still. Don’t speak. Don’t sink."

"That’s all?"

He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching like he almost wanted to smile—but didn’t.

"Unless you plan to drown," he said. "Yes. That’s all."

I moved to the centre, arms out, spine straightening.

I tilted backwards slowly until my ears sank beneath the surface and the sounds of the world dulled to a low murmur.

My eyes stayed open, watching the overcast sky stretch endlessly above me. The water cradled my body like it was deciding whether or not to trust me.

One breath in. One breath out. Hold.

Somewhere nearby, I heard a drop of water hit the tile. His foot shifting, maybe. Or him adjusting his stance.

I didn’t dare look. He was watching me though.

I could feel it like heat against my skin, even with the water stealing most of my warmth. He was looking for a twitch. A jerk. Any indication that I hadn’t mastered control.

But I didn’t give it to him.

The only thing I gave him was stillness.

By the seventh minute, my arms began to burn. By the eighth, my thighs twitched under the surface. My back protested, my breath quickened. I forced everything still again. No twitching. No panic. Only breath.

The ninth minute stretched long and slow like it wanted to punish me for trying.

Then—

"Time."

His voice was low, firm. Absolute.

I sat up in the water, shivering as it rolled off my body. My legs felt like lead beneath me.

Draven’s expression didn’t change. No nod. No smirk. No faint tilt of approval.

Just that same impassive face. Eyes like stone.

"You will do it again. Same time tomorrow," he said. "With weights."

I swallowed, but nodded. "Fine."

"And your breathing still stutters on the third count. Fix that."

I climbed out without another word, the towel already slung where I left it. I grabbed it and wrapped it over my shoulders.

He followed me with his eyes, but said nothing else. Not even a single word of praise or a hint of acknowledgement.

Which meant one thing.

He’d been hoping I’d fail.

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