The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven

Chapter 186: Her Face Into My Plate

Meredith.

Draven was the first to finish eating.

The soft clatter of his cutlery hitting the empty plate seemed to draw all eyes in the room, though he didn’t rush.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin, folded it, and turned slightly, his gaze settling on me.

"Your training has been postponed till evening," he said, his voice calm and composed. fre.ew(e)bnov el.com

I blinked. I was completely surprised by the change of schedule, but I simply nodded. "Alright."

Without another word, he rose from the table and left the hall, boots quiet against the stone floor.

Jeffery stood too and followed him, ever the silent shadow.

Dennis leaned in a little toward me, his eyes darting briefly to the far side of the table, towards Wanda. I caught the small furrow between his brows before he looked back at me.

It was as if he was afraid to leave me alone with Wanda, but I wasn’t even bothered.

"I’ve got a few errands this morning," he said, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "But I will come to watch your training later."

Then, with a slow grin, he added, "Impress me."

I rolled my eyes with a smile as he walked away.

And then, there was just two of us left.

Wanda and I sat alone at the long table, save for the quiet servants lining the walls like statues, waiting to serve if needed.

The silence didn’t bother me.

I reached for the roasted chicken on my plate, grabbed it by the bone, and tore off a juicy piece with my teeth.

If Wanda thought I would shrink under her stare, then she clearly hadn’t been paying attention.

I felt Wanda’s eyes burning into my skull, but I didn’t return the look. Instead, I kept chewing, savouring the food and my growing dominance.

She cracked first, obviously unable to hold back whatever emotions were driving her crazy.

"Is your head swelling already?" she scoffed. Her voice was bitter, sharp. "Because Draven introduced you as his wife last night? You really think a little respect from strangers makes you important?"

I didn’t answer.

I dragged another piece of meat off the bone and licked the corner of my lips, watching her rage rise.

"You are delusional," she spat. "This seating arrangement—his little public performance? It changes nothing."

I kept chewing—more slowly this time around.

"You are still cursed. Still wolfless. And Draven? He’s just wasting his time training you. You will always be nothing, never amounting to anything."

I swallowed, calmly, and offered a sweet, sarcastic smile. "Thanks for the reminder, Wanda." \(n)ovel(.)co(m)

Wanda’s mind-provoking statements didn’t move me. Instead, I wondered how crazy she would go when she realizes that I’m no longer wolfless.

Her reaction would definitely be satisfying to watch.

Wanda slammed her hands on the table and leaned towards it in anger from being unable to get a reaction out of me.

A few of the servants flinched. I didn’t.

"You think I’m wrong?" she growled, voice rising. "Without Draven, you’re nothing. The only reason anyone bows in your direction is because of him. You didn’t earn it."

I raised an eyebrow. Still quiet.

"You will never be Queen when he takes the throne," she sneered. "Our people will never accept you."

I tilted my head to the side. "And I suppose you are the one they would accept? The one fit to be their Queen?"

Her eyes twitched. Just a flicker—but I saw it. Then she glanced over my shoulder, her gaze darting to the servants by the wall.

That was all the confirmation I needed.

She was still terrified of anyone discovering the truth. Of them, seeing her little secret: that she was hopelessly in love with her childhood friend—my husband—and had been for who knew how long.

I smiled inwardly.

"Pathetic," I muttered under my breath.

Wanda slammed her palms again and shot up from her chair. The room fell into a sudden, tense silence.

She marched over to my side, standing close—too close—and leaned down so her voice could carry over to the servants.

"At worst," she hissed, "you will be upgraded to Draven’s royal bed warmer. You are nothing but a lowly, worthless whore."

The chicken bone slipped from my hand and dropped onto my plate with a soft clink.

Rage flared in my chest—bright, blinding as my pulse throbbed in my throat.

Then, Valmora’s voice whispered at the edge of my mind.

"Now is the perfect time to practice what you’ve been taught for the past few weeks."

That was all the permission I needed.

Without warning, I shot to my feet, grabbed a fistful of Wanda’s hair, and slammed her face straight into her plate.

Food and cutlery scattered. A loud gasp escaped the servants.

Wanda shrieked and tried to wrench herself free, managing to lift her head halfway, but I didn’t let her gain full ground.

My fist came up—crack—a clean punch landed right on the bridge of her nose.

She stumbled back, hand flying to her face. Blood pooled beneath her fingers. "You bitch—!"

She looked shocked, furious.

But I stood tall, chest rising and falling. My breathing was fast and fierce.

Wanda didn’t lunge at me. She just glared, nostrils flaring, lips trembling from both pain and humiliation.

And I knew she wouldn’t dare retaliate. Not now. Not with servants watching. Not after I had reminded her who had the guts to fight back. noveldrama

Then I smoothed down my sleeves and turned to the servants.

"None of this," I said quietly, "reaches the Alpha’s ears."

The servants nodded quickly, wide-eyed.

I turned back to Wanda and met her bloodshot eyes. "Unless, of course... You want him to hear the degrading things you just said to me."

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

Good.

Without another glance, I turned on my heel and walked away.

My hands trembled slightly—from the high of power. Of finally standing my ground and delivering what had long been overdue.

Wanda’s venom had gone unchecked for months.

And today?

I had served her the first course. Though it had been unexpected, it was satisfying.

Now, I realized what it felt like to have a powerful wolf radiating with so much confidence and power.