The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 574: Searching His Thoughts

[Meredith].

Dennis reacted instantly, placing himself half a step in front of me, guiding me back just enough to keep space around us.

I was overwhelmed. I hadn’t expected this. The affection was genuine, but it was sudden, and I worried someone might get pushed or stumble in the excitement.

So, I raised my hand. And slowly, the voices quieted.

"Thank you," I said calmly. "Truly. I’m grateful for your kindness."

Their faces softened at once. Then one of them asked, "How is our Alpha?"

"He is well," I replied. "And he wishes you all good health."

Their smiles spread again.

"Please," I added gently, "return to your stalls. I don’t want anyone getting hurt."

To my relief, they listened. Then one by one, they stepped back, waving, smiling, and returning to their places. I waved back, my heart still pounding.

Dennis leaned down slightly as he guided me away. "You have loyal fans now. I seriously underestimated this. I should have brought guards," he muttered.

"There is no need," I said softly. "They meant no harm."

"It doesn’t hurt to be careful," he replied more seriously now. "People with bad intentions always look for opportunities like this."

I didn’t argue as I silently agreed with him.

We went straight in search of fresh mangoes.

Dennis was particular—annoyingly so. He asked questions, inspected the fruits, even argued briefly with one vendor before moving on to the next. He wanted mangoes harvested that very morning, nothing else.

Eventually, he found a vendor that met his standards and bought half a basket.

"Deliver it to where the black G-Wagon is parked," he instructed.

Once that was settled, he gestured ahead. "Come on. If you see anything you like, just say so."

"I didn’t bring money," I replied casually.

He stopped mid-step. Slowly, he turned to stare at me as though I had just told him I didn’t know how to read.

"You came to the market... without money?" he asked incredulously.

I shrugged. "I didn’t plan on buying anything."

His gaze dropped to my shoulder bag. "Then what’s in that big bag?"

I almost laughed. It wasn’t even large, but I understood why it looked that way to him. Regardless, I answered honestly, "My phone. And the car key."

For a moment, Dennis looked completely lost. Then he sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.

"Point at whatever you want," he said. "I will buy it."

I smiled. "Thank you."

We continued walking through the busy market, the air thick with voices, scents, and movement. My attention drifted from stall to stall until something green caught my eye.

"Moringa leaves," I said, pausing.

Dennis followed my gaze, then nodded and paid without question.

A little farther down, I spotted fresh lemongrass. "That too."

He paid again, then glanced at me sidelong. "You can’t choose anything that isn’t a herb, can you?"

"Unfortunately, no," I replied lightly. "I’m very passionate about making different teas now."

He shook his head but didn’t stop me. Instead, he took the small bundles from my hands and carried them himself as we walked on.

That was when I noticed it. Dennis kept glancing around, not casually or idly.

His eyes scanned faces, stalls, corners—sharp and alert, as though he were looking for something. Or someone.

And the more I paid attention, the more I realized this hadn’t just started now. He had been doing it since we entered the market.

I slowed my steps slightly, watching him from the corner of my eye.

He had said he came for mangoes. But something told me that wasn’t the only reason he was here. I couldn’t help it anymore.

"Are you looking for something," I asked calmly, "or someone?"

Dennis didn’t even hesitate. "No."

That was too fast.

Then he added, poorly, "Just being alert. Market habit."

I glanced at him sideways. "You know I can find out, right? What it is that you are looking for."

That finally earned me a smirk. He tilted his head slightly, amused. "Go ahead," he said. "Try reading my thoughts."

’Oh. So he wanted this.’

I reached out, and immediately felt the wall he put up—strong and clean. The kind of mental block only a high-ranking wolf could maintain with confidence.

He was proud of it. But what Dennis didn’t know was that walls had never stopped me. Not if I chose to push.

I slipped past it anyway.

At first, there was nothing clear—just fragments, impressions, flashes of movement. Faces blurring together. Stalls. Voices. And beneath it all, a single, recurring intent.

’Find her.’

I withdrew just as smoothly, keeping my expression neutral.

"Well?" he asked, clearly entertained. "Find anything?"

I smiled faintly. "Not yet. Lead the way."

He chuckled, satisfied—far too satisfied.

We stopped at another stall for fresh mint leaves, and while he negotiated with the vendor, I watched him again. The way his gaze lifted. The way his shoulders tensed just slightly before relaxing again.

That was when I slipped back in. This time, I followed the current. And there it was.

A clear, sharp, recent memory. A young woman with harp eyes. It was a fleeting encounter. Then, a name he hadn’t dared to say aloud.

I smiled.

Minutes later, we were back at the car park. The half basket of mangoes had already been delivered, waiting neatly beside the jeep.

I unlocked the car and opened the trunk while Dennis placed the nylon bags inside, then carefully lifted the mango basket and set it in.

He shut the trunk and turned to me. "I will drive now." Then he opened the passenger door for me.

"Thank you," I said, climbing in.

He smiled, shut the door, and got into the driver’s seat. The engine came alive, and we pulled away from the market.

A short while into the drive, he spoke again. "Want to help me make the mango sorbet when we get back?"

"I would like that," I replied easily.

The moment felt right to talk about his thoughts and what I found, so I said, "I know who you were looking for back there."

He blinked. "No, you don’t. I blocked you off," he added confidently. "There’s no way you found out."

I turned my head slightly toward him, smiling. "Helena."