The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 550: Lie After Lie

[Third Person].

Draven’s jaw tightened, the muscles along his neck drawing taut as his eyes swept the room once more, already knowing what he would and wouldn’t find.

"She disobeyed me," he said quietly, almost not believing it.

Dennis swore under his breath, the word vicious and unrestrained. "That manipulative witch. I knew it. I knew she wouldn’t sit still the second we turned our backs."

His fists clenched at his sides. "She went straight for Meredith."

Draven was already moving. His strides were long and purposeful as he crossed the room, fury simmering beneath his controlled exterior.

"She will not ruin this for my mate."

Dennis followed without hesitation, anger rolling off him openly now. "If you forgive her again after this, I swear—"

"I won’t," Draven said flatly, cutting him off.

The doors opened, and the brothers headed straight for the back gardens.

---

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the tree-lined clearing had already shifted.

What had once been calm, attentive, and grounded now buzzed with sharp excitement.

Wanda stood near the edge of the seating area, perfectly placed where everyone could see her. She didn’t need to shout; her presence alone was enough.

"Oh, don’t look so startled," she was saying pleasantly to a cluster of women who had gathered closer, curiosity and recognition lighting their faces. "I only wished to see how things were going. It warms my heart to see the pack together like this."

At the same time, whispers rippled outward.

"That’s Miss Fellowes..."

"She used to visit often..."

"She was close to the Alpha once, wasn’t she?"

"I remember secretly rooting for them to be together."

A few women edged closer. Others straightened, excitement creeping into their expressions, the weight of Wanda’s name pressing down on the space Meredith had carefully shaped.

Wanda smiled. After all, this was the moment she had envisioned, even without her coins. Just recognition, influence, and the quiet thrill of disruption.

She watched Meredith, noting the instant the Luna understood.

Meredith felt it like a cold blade sliding beneath her ribs. ’So this was Wanda’s play.’

Her hands curled briefly at her sides before she forced them to relax. Fury surged hot and sharp, Valmora snarling in her mind, hackles raised.

’She wants you to break,’ Valmora warned, low and keen. ’She wants spectacle.’

Meredith inhaled slowly. Once. Twice.

If she reacted—if she snapped, raised her voice, confronted Wanda openly, then this gathering would fracture beyond repair. Wanda would feed on it. The women would remember chaos, not care.

No! She wouldn’t let that happen.

Having made that decision, Meredith stepped forward. "Please," she said calmly, her voice carrying just enough to cut through the growing noise. "Let’s sit again."

A few heads turned, completely startled.

"We will continue shortly," Meredith added, her tone gentle but firm. "There is food waiting, and we should enjoy it together."

Some hesitation lingered, but her authority—earned, not claimed, began to settle them.

Servants moved at her subtle signal, guiding women back to the benches, offering cups of juice, lifting lids from trays. The scent of warm bread and stew spread, grounding the space again.

Meredith walked among them, hand resting briefly on a shoulder, murmuring reassurance, and completely redirecting attention.

Slowly, but reluctantly, the frenzy ebbed. Wanda watched, her smile tightening by a fraction.

’Impressive,’ she admitted silently. But she felt that her actions were not enough if Meredith could actually bring back the calm atmosphere so easily.

Once the women were seated again and the servants resumed their tasks, Meredith straightened and lifted her gaze.

Then she walked toward Wanda. Up close, the tension was razor-thin.

"Enjoying yourself?" Meredith asked softly, her voice low enough that only Wanda could hear.

Wanda’s eyes glittered. "Immensely. You’ve done something quite admirable here."

"Then you should have requested an invitation," Meredith replied evenly.

Wanda leaned in slightly, feigning warmth. "I didn’t think you would deny an old friend of this pack a chance to reconnect."

"And old friend?" Meredith met her gaze, unflinching. "You came to disrupt to my event."

There was a small pause, then Wanda smiled widely. "I came to remind people of history."

Valmora couldn’t bear it anymore. She surged, asking to take over. ’Now, let me speak,’ she murmured with dangerous delight.

Meredith allowed it, but in the subtle shift of presence that followed, her aura pressed outward absolutely. The wards hummed faintly, responding to Luna and wolf in perfect harmony.

Wanda’s smile faltered just for a heartbeat, but it was enough.

"You miscalculated," Meredith said quietly. "These women aren’t impressed by names anymore. They are hungry for respect."

Then she stepped past Wanda, deliberately turning her back on her. "And today," Meredith added calmly, "you are just a guest who arrived late."

Behind her, Wanda stood frozen, embarrassment burning beneath her flawless composure as murmurs about the food, the warmth, and the care rose.

Valmora purred. ’Lesson one,’ she thought coolly. ’Influence earned lasts longer than influence stolen.’

Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough for Wanda to retreat. If anything, Meredith’s restraint emboldened her.

With a soft laugh, Wanda turned away from Meredith entirely and walked uninvitedly toward the space where Meredith had been standing moments ago, the very heart of the gathering.

Meredith felt it like a violation. But Wanda paused there, turning slowly, letting her gaze drift over the women, the children sitting cross-legged beside their mothers, the trays of food, the cups of juice already being lifted to grateful lips.

Her perfectly practised smile softened. "My goodness," Wanda said warmly, spreading her hands. "Seeing all of you like this brings back so many memories."

Several women looked up, intrigued.

"I am truly delighted," Wanda continued, "to see such a beautiful gathering. And I must say—this would never have been possible without my new friend."

Then, she turned her head slightly, gesturing toward Meredith. "Luna Meredith," she said with polished admiration, "has been so kind as to allow me this opportunity to speak with you all today."

Meredith’s fingers curled. Around her, the servants stiffened. One maid’s jaw tightened so hard it trembled. Another took a step forward instinctively—only to freeze when Meredith lifted her hand, just slightly.

The servants obeyed, though fury burned in their eyes, but in the end, they hid it.

Wanda stepped fully into the role of host now, her voice smooth and confident.

"I know many of you," she said fondly. "I have walked these grounds before. I’ve watched your children grow. I’ve always believed that the strength of Mystic Furs lies not only in its Alpha. but in its women."

That earned her smiles. Some nodded eagerly, the food momentarily forgotten. This made Meredith feel sick.

Wanda was careful, so careful as to keep weaving Meredith’s name into every sentiment.

"Thanks to Luna Meredith’s generosity..."

"Luna Meredith’s thoughtful planning..."

"I was so happy when Meredith invited me to share this moment with you..."

Lie after lie, delivered sweetly. The women listened. They ate, they drank. And when Wanda finally concluded, her hands were pressed to her chest, her eyes shining—

"I am truly grateful," she said, "that Luna Meredith thought of you so deeply. Please enjoy this day. You deserve it."

Genuine applause broke out. A few women even cheered.

Meredith felt something crack inside her chest. She stood perfectly still, her posture calm and composed, while her heart hardened with lethal clarity.

’I will remember this,’ she promised herself coldly. ’And I will return the favour.’