The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Because I Didn't Want It To

Meredith.

I couldn't feel my body.

Not when I walked out of the ballroom, flanked by my family like a prisoner.

Not when the murmurs of wolves trailed behind me, thick with shock, disgust, and morbid curiosity.

And certainly not when my father's grip tightened around my arm—hard enough to bruise, tight enough to snap it in half if he wanted. But he didn't.

He hadn't stepped in when I was bullied, humiliated, and mocked. But the moment Draven Oatrun claimed me as his, then—only then—did he finally cross the room and take my hand.

Not as a joke. Not as a mistake. But as his future wife.

And now, as we left the Lunar Ball before the party was even over, his silence was deafening because, for the first time tonight, I hadn't just embarrassed myself. I had embarrassed him and my entire pack.

Not only had I become the centre of attention, but I had drawn the eyes of important pack leaders, elders, and even the future Alpha King. And my father had had enough of me.

I was numb, trapped somewhere between humiliation and anger, then fear and regret because this wasn't over. At least not until I've gotten a beating.

---

The drive back to our family estate was suffocating and almost impossible to bear.

No one spoke because they didn't have to. My father's anger was a living, breathing force in the Mercedes van, thick and unforgiving.

My mother sat beside him, lips pressed into a thin line. She has never defended me since that nightmare of a cursed day, and she wouldn't start now.

My older sisters, Monique and Mabel, exchanged looks behind our parents, amusement flickering in their eyes once in a while. They did not mind that I was sitting right next to them. I was their fun, after all.

And my older brother, Gary sat behind the wheel with one of our family's bodyguard in the front passenger seat.

Gary's gaze kept flickering to the rearview mirror, where our eyes accidentally met a few times. A sneer practically carved into his face. I quickly stopped looking and cradled my torn veil in my arms before he burned me with his gaze.

My stomach churned as bile rose to my throat. My breathing hitched.

This was going to be a long night.

---

MOONSTONE PACK.

The Carter's Estate.

The second the car stopped in the driveway, my father yanked the door open and fixed his death stare on me.

"Get out!" he ordered, voice cutting like a blade.

I hesitated—just for a second—glancing at my sisters, who should have stepped out first. Big mistake

His hand shot out, iron-tight around my arm.

Pain exploded up my shoulder as he dragged me out, his grip so tight my bones protested. My veil slipped from my fingers, landing in the dirt as I stumbled to keep up.

My father pulled me inside, hauling me through the front doors amidst the wandering stares from the guards stationed around the estate.

It was normal for me to be disgraced around here, so no one was surprised or thought I was in a dangerous situation that required saving. They would actually rather watch and enjoy me get punished.

My mother and siblings followed behind us at a much more leisurely pace. Their job wasn't to interfere; they were going to watch, much to their pleasure.

The moment the doors slammed shut behind us, my father's voice thundered through the hall.

"What in the Goddess's name have you done?!"

I barely had time to react before his palm struck my face.

CRACK!

Pain exploded across my cheek almost immediately, whipping my head to the side as a buzzing sound filled my right ear. I think it's going to take a while for my hearing to be fully restored.

My hand instinctively reached out to cradle my cheek as I tasted blood. I didn't dare to lift my head for fear of being hit again.

"Gabriel!" My mother's voice cut through the air calmly. And for a second, I stopped breathing.

My father turned, his expression darkening. "What?" he snapped, impatient.

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