The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven - Chapter 322

Chapter 322: A New Lesson
Meredith.

The first rays of morning light slipped through the curtains, nudging me awake.

My body still hummed with the warmth of Draven’s embrace from last night, and for a brief second, I didn’t want to move. I just wanted to sink deeper into him.

But then my thoughts suddenly returned to Valmora’s words, the mark on my shoulder—the truth I didn’t want to face.

I turned on my side, watching Draven sleep. His face looked so calm, nothing like the man who carried the weight of his people on his shoulders.

Last night, he had held me through my disappointment, his steady touch telling me he wouldn’t let the curse define me. Still, deep inside, fear lingered.

What if the shift takes longer than expected to happen? What if I fail him?

As soon as I had such thoughts, Valmora stirred. “You won’t fail. Stop planting poison in your own mind. Last night was proof that your bond with him is stronger than fear.”

I swallowed, my fingers absently tracing the mark on my shoulder. I still didn’t want Draven to know everything yet—about me being a half-fae, because then, my grandma would be exposed, and I needed to speak to her first before that.

Pushing the thoughts aside, I got off the bed and slipped into my thin nightdress. Today was supposed to be different.

Today, Draven had promised to teach me something new, and I wasn’t going to let my doubts cloud that.

When I glanced back at the bed, Draven’s eyes were already open, watching me with that calm intensity that always made me feel both safe and restless at once.

“Good morning,” I whispered.

“Good morning, wife,” he replied, voice low and rough from sleep. Then, with the faintest smile, he added, “Are you ready for your lesson?”

My heart skipped for a moment, but then I slowly nodded, giving him a big smile.

“Come here,” Draven said, patting the side of the bed.

‘Was the training supposed to take place here?’ I blinked, utterly confused. “Here? I thought—”

“Sit,” he interrupted gently with the faintest curve tugging his lips.

I obeyed and perched beside him. My mind raced, wondering what kind of lesson could possibly start on his bed instead of the training grounds.

He shifted to face me, his knee brushing mine. “Last night you spoke to your wolf, and I was able to hear her through our matebond,” he began, his tone calm but firm.

“But there’s something I can teach you now. Something more important than swinging fists or throwing sand in an opponent’s eyes.”

I tilted my head, curious. “And what is that?”

His gaze locked on mine, so sharp it made my breath falter. “How to shield your thoughts from me, and from anyone else. Even from a wolf or any being more powerful than you.”

I froze, my lips parting. “I… I thought you could hear me now because of the matebond.”

“You let me,” he corrected softly. “You open the door, I walk through. But you can close it. You need to close it. Because even a matebond can be used against you if you are careless.”

I swallowed hard, my heartbeat quickening. He was right. Last night, he had heard Valmora. He had listened to our conversation, and I had been almost exposed.

“Show me,” I whispered.

Draven leaned closer, his hand brushing a strand of silver hair behind my ear.

“First, steady yourself. Breathe, then picture a wall, solid and unbreakable, between your thoughts and mine. Hold it. Don’t let me in.”

I did as he said, shutting my eyes, forcing every fear and doubt into the image of a thick stone wall. But seconds later, I felt him.

His presence slipped in like water through cracks, reaching the place I thought I had hidden.

My eyes snapped open, and he was smiling faintly. “That was too soft,” he murmured. “Again.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Draven was in my head again.

This time, I clenched my fists in my nightgown and forced the wall higher, thicker, harder.

I layered it with steel and fire in my imagination, desperate to keep him out. His probing touch pressed against it, firm and insistent, but I held on.

Then, I felt silence sweep through the moon. I gasped, my eyes flying open to see his satisfied expression.

“You did it,” he said simply.

My chest swelled with pride. “So… you couldn’t hear me?”

“Not a sound,” he confirmed. Then he leaned in close enough for his breath to fan my lips.

“Remember this, Meredith. The strongest weapon isn’t what others can hear. It’s what you keep to yourself.”

—

Draven tested me twice more, slipping at my thoughts with little tricks.

Once, he whispered my name through the bond, coaxing me to answer. Another time, he sent a fleeting image of our passion last night.

Both times, I nearly faltered, but I held on. The satisfaction in his eyes when I blocked him out completely made my chest flutter with pride.

“You learn fast,” he said, voice low.

I smiled at that as warmth spread through me.

A few seconds later, I adjusted my position on the bed, gathering my hair up into a quick updo.

As I twisted the strands, I felt Draven’s gaze heavy on me. My eyes flicked to him almost immediately. And sure enough, his stare wasn’t on my face.

I let out a soft laugh. “Stop staring.”

His lips curled into that infuriating smirk. “They are mine.”

Heat rushed up my neck the exact second. “Shameless Alpha,” I muttered.

When his hand shot forward, fingers aiming to claim my perky boobs with their nipples protruding through my thin dress, I swatted his arm with a sharp slap and hopped off the bed.

“See you at breakfast,” I said, finishing my hair and stepping toward the door.

He leaned back lazily, that smug smile still plastered on his face. “Trying to escape your morning training?”

I turned just long enough to stick my tongue out at him. “I can’t let you beat me up so soon.”

His chuckle followed me all the way into the hallway, warm and deep, and I knew he was still watching me leave.

But the moment my own door closed behind me, the smile faded off my lips. The giddy warmth Draven left in my chest gave way to a gnawing unease.

I sat down on the edge of my bed, the silk sheets cool against my thighs, and whispered into the silence, “Valmora.”

Her presence stirred immediately. “I’m here.”