The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 679

Chapter 679: War Plans & Strategies

[Third Person].

The Grand Hall was filled once again the following morning, but this time the atmosphere bore no resemblance to that of the previous gathering. Only tension.

The council of elders, Royal Alphas, Betas, and high-ranking officials stood assembled, their expressions serious as Draven took his place. Meredith sat beside him, her presence calm, though her gaze remained sharp and attentive.

When the hall fell silent, Draven spoke. He informed them of Estella’s letter, her demand, and the two-week deadline.

The reaction was immediate.

Shock spread first, then murmurs, then overlapping voices as the weight of it settled over them. A war—so soon and with such boldness—was not something any of them had expected to face at this moment.

Draven allowed the noise for only a moment before raising his hand, and the silence returned. Then, the strategies began.

Maps were brought forward. Positions were discussed. Defensive lines were drawn and redrawn as the elders and Alphas contributed their experience.

Soon, the focus shifted—subtly at first, then entirely on Meredith.

Layers of protection were proposed around her position. Elite guards assigned solely to her. Formations built not just to win the war, but to ensure nothing reached her.

One Alpha stepped forward. "If Her Majesty is the target, then we fortify around her. Multiple defensive rings. No one gets close."

Another added, "We can position her at the rear, surrounded at all times—"

"And double the guard unit assigned to her—"

"And assign our strongest warriors—"

Meredith listened to them for a while before stepping in.

"This war may be one of the bloodiest Stormveil has ever faced," she said, her voice cutting cleanly through the discussion.

The room quieted as her gaze moved across them. "If most of your strategy revolves around protecting me, then we will lose."

No one spoke.

"And when we lose," she continued, "it will not just be me that falls. It will be our soldiers. Our people."

Her words settled heavily. Then, in a firm tone, she said, "There is no need to centre everything around me. Fight the war as it should be fought."

A brief silence followed. Then one of the elders frowned slightly. "Your Majesty, with all due respect—you are the primary target."

"And that is exactly why I cannot be treated as a weakness," Meredith replied.

Another Alpha stepped forward. "Then perhaps... you should not go to the battlefield at all."

That suggestion shifted the air. Several nodded in agreement.

"It would be safer—"

"We can protect you within the palace—"

"There is no need for you to expose yourself—"

Meredith’s expression hardened slightly. "I will not sit here while others fight for me," she said. "I am part of this war. I will fight for my people."

The firmness in her voice left no room for negotiation.

The hall fell silent again. This time, no one argued at once. Then another concern arose.

"If both His Majesty and Her Majesty go to war," one of the elders said carefully, "who will remain to oversee Stormveil?"

That question lingered. It was valid. The weight of it settled across the room as several others voiced their agreement.

"The kingdom cannot be left without leadership, especially in uncertain times," another added.

Draven spoke before the discussion could spiral. "Dennis."

All eyes turned to Dennis as he stepped forward slightly. "Your Majesty."

"You will remain in Stormveil," Draven said. "You will oversee the kingdom in our absence."

Dennis did not hesitate. "Understood."

There was no reluctance in him, only acceptance.

With that decision made, the tension eased slightly, and the focus returned to strategy, this time, balanced and revised.

Meredith was no longer the centre of every formation, but neither was she ignored. The plans adjusted, spreading strength across the battlefield instead of concentrating it in one place.

And slowly, a war plan began to take shape.

—

Later that night, the palace had quieted again.

Meredith stood by the window in Draven’s chamber, her gaze resting on the distant lights of Stormveil. The city looked peaceful, unaware of what was coming.

Draven stepped up behind her, letting the quiet envelope them before breaking it. "You pushed them hard today."

Meredith let out a small breath. "They were planning to waste the soldiers on me."

He didn’t deny it. "They were trying to protect you."

"And that would have cost us the war."

Draven stepped closer, his hand resting lightly at her waist. "I don’t like the idea of you being their target," he said quietly.

Meredith turned slightly, meeting his gaze. "And I don’t like the idea of hiding while you fight."

A brief pause passed between them. Then she added, more softly, "If Estella and her minions are coming for me, then I will face them."

Draven studied her for a moment, then nodded once. "Then we face her together."

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