The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven - Chapter 321

Chapter 321: I Heard Her Wolf
Draven.

The bond thrummed louder, flooding me with Meredith’s emotions: her desire, her love, and her need.

And she felt mine too, because she whispered against my lips, trembling, “I can feel you, Draven. All of you, inside me.”

I kissed her harder, my hand tracing down her side, memorizing every curve as if she would vanish if I didn’t.

She arched into me, her body answering every touch with equal fervour.

Passion spilt over, fierce and unrelenting, until there was no more hesitation, no more restraint. Only us—tangled, burning, surrendering completely to the night.

When I finally pulled back enough to see her face, she was breathless, her lips swollen, and her eyes were shimmering.

Then she smiled faintly, whispering, “I love you.”

I pressed my forehead to hers, the bond pulsing warm and steady between us. “I love you forever,” I swore back, before claiming her lips again.

And as the night carried us into wave after wave of passion, I knew one truth above all—there would never be another night like this.

It was just this one time, marking each other and sealing the matebond.

—

Several moments later, Meredith’s breath was still warm against my skin, her body curled into mine beneath the sheets.

The scent of us together lingered in the room, now richer and deeper—undeniable proof of our sealed bond.

I tightened my arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “How do you feel?” I asked quietly, brushing my lips across her temple. “Tired?”

She shook her head, her silver hair sliding against my shoulder. Her eyes met mine, bright and steady.

“I’m not tired,” she whispered. “I feel stronger… Lighter. Like I could actually take you on in a fight now.”

I couldn’t help the laugh that rumbled out of me. The sound made her narrow her eyes and swat my chest, though her touch was far too gentle to be convincing.

“You are laughing at me?” she accused, her tone mock-offended.

I shook my head, still chuckling. “No. I just find it funny that the first thing you want after our matebond is to duel me.”

Her lips curved stubbornly. “So? What do you think?”

I let my gaze roam over her—the stubborn set of her jaw, the fire glowing brighter than ever in her eyes. I traced a finger along her cheekbone, then down to her lips.

“I will give you that chance,” I murmured, “but only after you beat Dennis and Jeffery first in a fair fight.”

She groaned dramatically, burying her face against my chest, her hand trailing lazily over the muscles there. “Are you saying I will never get to duel you?”

I tipped her chin up, brushing my nose against hers. “Stop underestimating yourself. You don’t think you can beat them? Then how were you planning to beat me?”

Her lips parted, caught between a smile and a protest, her violet eyes glittering with defiance and affection all at once.

“Then let me fight Jeffery next. I have already tested Dennis a few times,” she said, tilting her head as her lips brushed against my skin.

I narrowed my eyes slightly. “Jeffery might not agree. But…” I smoothed my thumb over the curve of her cheek, “…at my command, he will. But just know that he isn’t like your friend, Dennis.”

Her answering smile was sharp and determined. “I don’t even want to fight anyone who will go easy on me.”

I chuckled at her fire. ‘Look at her being so confident.’

Then I caught the sudden glint in her eyes. She blinked once, as if she were focusing on something invisible.

The next moment, she gasped softly, then grinned widely. “I heard you! You were thinking about how confident I am.”

I smirked. “So you can spy on my thoughts now?”

“Yes.” Her laugh rang warm against me. “I can’t wait until morning. I want to try wolfing out.”

And just then, another voice—feminine and calm, threaded into the same link.

“You won’t be able to wolf out now.”

Meredith stilled, clearly hearing it too. Her expression flickered in surprise. “Valmora?” she whispered inwardly.

My pulse quickened. I could hear her wolf, the voice of Valmora, resonant and steady, echoing between us.

I was too stunned by the bond’s depth, by the fact that through Meredith, I was now hearing the very soul tethered to her.

Her voice wavered as she asked her wolf, “What do you mean?”

Then, without waiting for an answer, she pressed on, desperation spilling out. “Draven and I have marked each other. Shouldn’t I be able to wolf out now?”

The silence stretched, then Valmora’s voice came, calm but unyielding. “No. You won’t be able to shift just yet.”

I felt the change in Meredith immediately. Her aura dipped with disappointment, shock, and a thread of hurt that curled like a cold wind between us.

I stroked her back gently, pulling her tighter into me until she finally lifted her eyes to mine.

“Why?” I asked, but not to her. My words cut into the shared link. “Why can’t she shift?”

Meredith blinked at me, completely startled. “You can hear my wolf?”

I gave a single nod.

Her lips parted. “How? How is that possible?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my thumb brushing the curve of her jaw. “But maybe it’s because we both carry wolves unlike any others. Special wolves.”

She still looked dazed, caught between surprise and uncertainty until Valmora’s voice wove in again. “Look at her left shoulder.”

I shifted slightly to look, and my eyes narrowed immediately. There, faint but undeniable, a half-faded red crescent moon was etched into her pale skin.

Meredith also turned her head, following my gaze, and I sensed the tremor in her breath.

Valmora confirmed it. “It means Meredith’s most powerful form is still locked.”

My chest tightened at the remembrance of the lunar curse, an invisible yet heavy chain—one I knew well enough to worry about.

“How will it be removed? How will her true form be unlocked?” I demanded.

Valmora’s answer came steady. “When you all return to Stormveil.”

Questions still pressed at me, but Meredith suddenly broke in with a tight voice. “I think that’s enough. I don’t want to hear anymore. I won’t let my night be ruined.”

She shut the door on the conversation before I could probe further.

I exhaled slowly and closed off the mind-link, shielding my thoughts from her. ‘She is hiding something from me,’ I realized.

Still, I didn’t push for the secret. Instead, I kissed the top of her silver hair and murmured, “I will teach you something new tomorrow morning.”

She only muttered a soft “Okay,” her breath warm against my chest as she pressed her soft breasts to my bare skin.

“Good night, my Queen,” I whispered.

Her quiet ‘Good night’ followed, and I held her until her breath evened, my own eyes lingering on that cursed mark.