The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 620: Going in His Place

[Third Person].

A few days after the Hunt, the Fellowes’ residence had regained some movement.

Servants walked with a little more confidence. Visitors had begun to return—carefully, cautiously, but they came.

Reginald sat in his study with folded hands and sharp eyes as Wanda stood before him. "Recognition," he said calmly, "is a seed. It must be cultivated."

Wanda listened without interrupting.

"The Hunt restored a fragment of our name," he continued. "Now you must win the common people. Volunteer. Be visible. Be useful."

His gaze hardened slightly. "Prove to the King that you are valuable. That you contribute. That you strengthen Stormveil."

Wanda immediately understood that public support and influence from below were very important. Power did not flow only from titles; it also rose from the masses.

"The people," Reginald said, leaning forward slightly, "can push agendas if guided correctly."

Wanda nodded once. "I understand."

"And now that Levi has returned to his wife’s pack," Reginald added, "you must work twice as hard."

"I will," she said, and turned to leave. But her father called her back.

"Wanda."

She paused and turned slightly just as his expression shifted sternly. "This mission is vital. If you fail—"

She stopped him, her voice steady. "I am devoting my life to this."

Her eyes did not waver. She refused to be threatened by her father this time. If she rose, it would be on her own terms.

Then, she bowed briefly and left the study.

***

Three Weeks Later...

The palace gardens were calm in the fading light of evening. Meredith and Draven sat across from one another at a small wrought-iron table, a pot of tea between them.

The air was cool, the sky brushed with gold and violet, and for a brief moment, peace stilled.

Meredith had just lifted her cup when Oscar approached at a brisk pace. The urgency in his stride made Draven set his cup down before the man even spoke.

Oscar bowed deeply. "Your Majesties."

Draven nodded. "Go ahead."

"A warrior leader has brought some troubling news from smaller packs. Five people have been reported missing."

Draven’s brows drew together. "How long?"

"Some have been missing for nearly three weeks," Oscar replied. "The others for slightly less. There are four males and one female. All young."

Meredith’s fingers tightened subtly around her cup. She and Draven exchanged a quiet glance.

"What of their families?" she asked.

Oscar shook his head. "None with close kin. They lived alone or had distant relations. They held menial jobs—stable hands, hunters, labourers. That is why it took time for anyone to realize a pattern."

Draven leaned back slightly, processing the situation. "And this is only being reported now?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The villages did not suspect anything at first. They assumed the individuals had travelled for work. But when more than one failed to return..." He paused. "It raised concern."

Meredith spoke carefully. "Is there anything else?"

Oscar hesitated for only a second. "There have also been minor reports from traders. Small goods are missing from stores. Nothing large enough to cause alarm individually. But the frequency is increasing."

The silence that followed was heavy. The pattern of the missing people was painfully familiar.

Back in Duskmoor, disappearances had begun quietly, isolated, easily dismissed before revealing something far darker beneath.

Draven’s expression hardened. "I want them found. Dead or alive."

Oscar bowed.

"Send word to all pack Alphas," Draven continued. "Any unusual movement, any disappearance, no matter how insignificant, must be reported immediately. Increase patrols. Tighten internal security, but do so quietly. I will not have panic spreading through Stormveil."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

When Oscar left, Meredith spoke softly. "It feels like Duskmoor."

Draven nodded once. "It does."

She looked toward the distant tree line beyond the palace walls. "Then the chaos may already be upon us."

Draven exhaled slowly. "As soon as Oscar brings further updates, I will personally visit the Stormveil borders in two days. If this is coming from outside, I want to see it myself."

Meredith turned back to him. "You have an important council meeting in two days."

"I will reschedule it," he replied without hesitation.

She shook her head gently. "No need. You can have your meeting, while I go in your place."

Draven looked at her immediately. "Meredith."

"If the borders are vulnerable, someone must inspect them. I can handle it. I won’t go alone. I will take a group of trusted warriors."

His expression darkened slightly. "And if something happens there? If you are forced into a situation that reveals what you are, how would you handle that?"

She held his gaze steadily. "If that moment comes, it will come whether you stand beside me or not. And I am not fragile."

The firmness in her tone left little room for argument.

Draven studied her for a long moment, torn between instinct and reason. Finally, he nodded.

"I will arrange your departure. You leave at dawn in two days. I want the strongest warriors escorting you."

Meredith inclined her head. "Agreed."

The tea between them had gone untouched and cold. The peace of the evening no longer felt secure.

Something had begun moving beneath the surface of Stormveil, and this time, it felt too familiar to ignore.

---

The next morning, the palace no longer carried the softness of leisure. It moved with quiet urgency.

In his private council chamber, Draven stood beside the long oak table while Oscar finished drafting sealed letters.

"Send word to every Alpha," Draven instructed, his tone firm and controlled. "Tighten internal patrols. Increase night watches. No unusual movement goes unreported."

Oscar nodded as he rolled the parchment carefully.

"And remind them," Draven continued, "that tomorrow’s meeting is not optional or for the Elders alone. I want them present in the palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Draven’s gaze darkened slightly. "Make it clear this is a precaution. We do not instil fear in our people."

Oscar bowed and left immediately to dispatch trusted messengers.

Draven remained where he was for a moment, staring at the map of Stormveil stretched across the table. The border lines seemed thinner today.