The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 493

Chapter 493: A Wreck of Nerves

[Meredith].

On the other hand, Deidra tilted her head, smiling. "Your eyes always stand out," she said, as she often did. "Purple like that... they’re unforgettable."

I smiled faintly. "Are my things packed?"

"Yes, Luna," Deidra replied at once.

Arya nodded in confirmation. "Everything is ready."

Once they were finished, we returned to the bedroom together. Sunlight filtered in through the windows, catching on the pale fabric of my dress.

I turned to Azul and Deidra. "You both will come with me on this trip."

Deidra’s eyes widened, excitement lighting her expression. "Yes, Luna."

Then I looked at Kira. "You will be in charge here. Take care of everything while I’m away."

She straightened immediately. "I will, Luna."

With that settled, a strange but brief, fragile calm washed over me.

Since it was just me in the room, I let my maidservants sit and chat with me for a bit. And quite a while later, Draven walked in.

His hair still damp from his run, sleeves rolled up, that familiar calm strength filled the room before he even spoke. His gaze found me instantly and stayed there.

The maidservants noticed at once and immediately stood to acknowledge his presence.

He gave them a quick nod before returning his gaze to me.

Azul bowed lightly. "Luna."

Then one by one, they excused themselves, quiet and efficient, leaving the room to us. The door closed softly behind them.

Draven didn’t say anything at first. He crossed the room slowly, his eyes moving over me with a kind of focus that made my chest tighten.

His look felt more like concern than hunger or possession.

"You look ready," he said finally.

"I am," I replied.

He stopped in front of me. Up close, I could see the faint crease between his brows. "You’re... steady," he said, as if testing the word. "But different."

I forced a small smile. "Different how?"

He studied me for another heartbeat, then shook his head. "I don’t know. Just—" He exhaled. "Never mind."

Just as relief and guilt tangled inside me, he reached out, giving me a grounding touch by brushing his thumb briefly over my knuckles.

"We will have breakfast first. Then we leave."

I nodded. "The others will be there?"

"Yes. Everyone." A pause. "Father included."

That earned a quiet breath from me, but I said nothing.

Draven straightened, already shifting into readiness mode. "If you feel unwell at any point, you tell me."

"I will."

He searched my face as if weighing whether to press further, then seemed to decide against it.

---

The dining hall was already active when we arrived.

Dennis, Jeffery, and Oscar were seated. Servants moved in practised silence. Conversation paused briefly as Draven and I took our places.

Breakfast passed calmly, almost deceptively so.

I ate, though my appetite lagged behind my thoughts. Draven noticed, of course, but didn’t comment.

I straightened slightly, schooling my expression. "I am not."

His brow lifted. "You are. And that surprises me." He studied my face, not accusing, just observant. "You’re going to see your grandmother. I thought you would be relieved or excited."

I swallowed a saliva. ’Think now, Meredith. You should say something. But not anything stupid. Please.’

"I just... haven’t seen her in a long time," I said smoothly. "I don’t know what she will think of you. Or of us."

My response wasn’t entirely false. Just carefully incomplete.

Draven leaned back, accepting the answer more easily than I deserved. "If she raised you," he said, "she won’t be difficult."

I nodded, turning my gaze toward the window before he could read anything else from my face.

Inside my mind, the unease pulsed louder.

"Calm yourself," Valmora’s voice slid in, firm and unmistakable. "Your fear will draw attention."

I inhaled slowly, forcing my shoulders to relax.

"You are walking toward truth," she continued. "Not execution."

That didn’t help nearly as much as she thought it would.

I pressed my palm lightly against my thigh, grounding myself as the road stretched ahead, long and inevitable.

In the end, I couldn’t take my wreck of a nerve anymore. I turned to Draven.

"Xamira might be upset," I said quietly. "She didn’t even know we were leaving today. I keep thinking she will wake up and realize we are both gone."

Draven turned his head toward me, his expression softening in a way that always caught me off guard.

"She will sulk," he said plainly. "Then she might knit something crooked and insist it’s for you."

Despite myself, a small smile tugged at my lips.