The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 172

Chapter 172: The Full Story

Meredith.

When I woke, the other side of the bed was empty and cold.

I pressed my palm against the sheets, hoping maybe he had just stepped out moments ago, but the chill told me it had been a while. Too long.

I pushed back the covers, slipped into my nightrobe, and tied the sash at my waist. For a moment, I stood there, staring at the door, thinking of all the places Draven could be. But just as I reached for the handle, it opened from the other side.

Draven stepped in, and my breath caught.

His black shirt clung to his chest, damp with sweat, strands of his dark hair stuck to his forehead. He was panting lightly, and there was something else—something distant in his gaze like he couldn’t quite look at me properly.

"Where did you go?" I asked softly, my voice slipping out before I could stop it.

"Morning run," he said, his tone flat, clipped. "I couldn’t sleep."

My brows drew together. "But... your side of the bed was already cold when I woke up. You must’ve been gone for a long time. Is everything okay?"

His gaze shifted away. "I’m just exhausted," he murmured.

I didn’t believe that.

I could feel it in my chest. But the words stayed on the tip of my tongue, unspoken. Instead, I swallowed and tried to steady my voice. "Are you sure you’re okay?"

Draven didn’t answer immediately. For a moment, the mask slipped—and his eyes looked so tired, so worn, that it made something tighten in my chest. But then it was gone, replaced by that unreadable calm he always wore.

"I’m fine."

I let it drop—for now. But then I remembered.

"Last night, you told me you’d explain where you went," I said, stepping closer. "What happened? Where were you?"

He hesitated, jaw tightening. Then he lifted his gaze properly to mine. "Sit," he told me gently.

I crossed to the bed and perched at the edge, fingers curled around the robe’s belt.

Draven remained standing for a heartbeat longer, his chest rising and falling as though steadying himself. Then he spoke.

"It’s time you knew what’s been happening here, Meredith," he began, voice low. "Not just rumours. The truth."

My pulse quickened.

"Some of our people—werewolves—were found dead. Their hearts ripped out, necks snapped." His eyes darkened. "And others have gone missing entirely."

My throat went dry. I knew about our people who had their hearts ripped out, but the missing ones caught my full attention for now.

"Missing? Who would do something like that?"

Draven’s stare was steady, unflinching. "The humans. At least, that’s my suspicion. They’ve been taking some of us—and hiding what they do next."

My heart lurched. "Why? What would they possibly want?"

He released a slow breath. "The Humans are obsessed with power and influence. I believe they are running experiments. Trying to unlock something that belongs only to our kind."

The words settled in my chest like a stone.

"But there’s more," Draven continued, his voice even lower. "The killings—the ones where hearts were taken? That wasn’t the humans."

My brows furrowed. "Then who—"

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