The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven

Chapter 184: Valmora Holds The Reins

Meredith.

I woke up feeling like I hadn’t truly slept at all.

A slow, stubborn yawn pulled from my chest as I pushed myself up from the mattress, my joints cracking faintly from stiffness.

My limbs felt heavy, as if sleep had left behind a fog that refused to lift.

The truth was, I hadn’t fallen asleep easily.

Last night, after we returned, I had changed into my nightdress, sat at the edge of my bed and just... waited. Waiting for Draven to come. To step in, maybe to explain more, because there was no need for him to apologize — I knew he had done nothing wrong to me directly.

But still... I had expected something—a few words, a look that might clear the distance.

But he never came.

And so, at some hour between awake and asleep, my eyelids had finally won, dropping closed under the weight of my disappointment.

Now, as I stretched again, I felt the ache of it settle deeper than my muscles — something like quiet resentment, curling at the edge of my thoughts.

Then, just as my breathing steadied, Valmora’s voice spilled into my mind, as cold and certain as winter wind.

"The Great War won’t happen in Duskmoor."

I froze mid-stretch, and my hands dropped to my lap. That was so out of the blue... so Valmora.

Regardless, a war outside Duskmoor wasn’t what I had thought at all. All this while, I had assumed we would fight here, in this foreign city, then return home when it was over.

"Where, then?" I whispered aloud, my voice sounding small against the morning quiet. "If not here... where?"

"At Stormveil’s borders."

My heart stumbled in my chest.

Stormveil... Our Home?

That realization struck deeper than I had expected—this war wouldn’t just end here. It would follow us to our own doorstep.

I sensed something off in Valmora’s tone, something tight, almost pained. "What aren’t you saying?" I pushed. My voice cracked a little. "There’s more, isn’t there?"

A long pause followed. Then, finally:

"Before the tide turns, we will suffer casualties."

My pulse thudded painfully in my ears. Casualties. That meant death. Blood. People I’d come to know, to see every morning, might not be there after.

But there was something else I was curious about.

"Who?" I whispered. "Who will win the war?"

"Leave the things for the future in the future, Meredith."

My breath caught. How could she drop something so heavy on me, then just close the door?

"How do you even know all this?" I demanded, my voice rising in disbelief. "How can you see what will happen?"

"I am not like the others. I am ancient, Meredith. I have lived before. Seen before. When we regain our full strength, even you will see glimpses of what is yet to come."

Regain our strength. My strength.

It felt so far away from who I was now—a girl who bruised at the smallest fall, who lost every spar to Draven.

"I have fought wars greater than this. Stood against creatures you cannot yet name, Meredith."

The words hung heavy, cold, and vague. Are there other creatures?.

I wondered if she was still talking about the vampires or something else.

But before I could ask more, Valmora deflected, as if her own power had run up against a wall.

"You need to double your training."

I groaned, dropping my face into my palms. "Valmora, I already train every day for two hours straight. My whole body hurts. I look like I rolled down a mountain every night!"

"What use is a pretty body when you were made to fight for your people?"

I flinched. Her tone wasn’t cruel — just painfully direct.

"But I’m tired," I whispered, my chest tightening. "These days, I wake up dreading the yard, the bruises, the failure. Some days I just want to... stop."

"You were created for a reason. To stand beside warriors, to protect what must be protected. Your people."

My breathing caught. My heart fluttered too fast, and suddenly my hands felt cold and my head spun.

I pressed my palm to my forehead, fighting for air that seemed too thin.

My thoughts tangled with war, death, responsibility, and power. My throat burned with the urge to cry, but nothing came.

"Breathe, Meredith," Valmora urged quietly. "In... and out."

It took a minute or what felt like an eternity before the shaking in my chest eased, and my breath began to come evenly again.

When my eyes refocused on the pattern of the floorboards, I muttered hoarsely, "You really don’t know how to comfort someone."

"At least I am trying."

"That’s not enough," I shot back, a dry laugh half-choking in my throat. noveldrama

"I won’t let you turn me into a cat, purring under your sadness."

I couldn’t help it, so I let out a small, ragged laugh.

"Fine. Point taken."

Still, the question rose again, quiet but stubborn: Who really holds the reins between us?

Because it certainly didn’t feel like me. Valmora was the iron in my spine, the voice in my skull. It was she who decided what I should do, how hard I should push. And I... obeyed.

Another sigh slipped out, heavier than before.

But there was no time to keep sitting and mulling over what I couldn’t change.

As I rose to stretch again, feeling my shoulders unlock with little pops, a soft knock sounded on the door—and before I could even give permission, it opened.

Azul, Kira, Deidra, Cora, and Arya stepped inside, moving almost as one, heads bowed slightly in greeting.

"Good morning, my lady," they chorused gently.

Their presence grounded me, pulling me from thoughts of my ancient wolf and looming wars, back into the soft, lived world of morning rituals.

I straightened my nightrobe and managed a tired smile. "Morning."

They bustled quietly around me, laying out clothes, freshening the water basin, drawing back the curtains to let in the pale Duskmoor light.

By the time they were done, I almost felt... normal. Or as normal as a girl could feel, carrying the whisper of bloodshed and destiny inside her head.

Just then, my stomach let out a growl.

"It’s time for breakfast, my lady," Azul announced, already heading for the door.

Wonderful. Just wonderful.