The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven - Chapter 418

Chapter 418: Trustworthy and Valuable to Him
[Meredith].

Breakfast began quietly, with only the clink of silver and the soft hum of conversation breaking the stillness.

Draven leaned slightly toward Oscar, his tone even. “Do you have an idea where my father is?”

Oscar nodded, dabbing the edge of his mouth with a napkin. “Busy entertaining the Council of Elders who came to welcome you this morning.”

Draven’s brow lifted. “You know, you could have warned me about my father’s plans for that—along with this evening’s banquet.”

Oscar gave a mild shrug. “Neither of those plans is harmful.”

Draven narrowed his eyes at him playfully. “It sounds like you’ve already decamped to my father’s side.”

Oscar’s lips curved faintly. “Well,” he said with mock solemnity, “your father is my next favourite person after you.”

Dennis looked up from his plate, feigning offence. “Thank you for exposing this. I wouldn’t have known that I don’t even make the top two in your heart.”

Jeffery smiled, restraining a chuckle while Draven chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.

I said nothing, quietly cutting into the slice of roasted lamb on my plate. The meat was soft, perfectly spiced, and the taste was rich on my tongue.

The warmth of the food contrasted sharply with the faint chill of the room and the careful way everyone measured their words around the table.

A few seconds later, Oscar turned back to Draven after a sip of his wine. “You should be prepared for those Alphas and Elders tonight. They will be throwing endless questions at you—most of which they already think they know the answers to.”

Dennis grinned. “Have you forgotten who my brother is? He is the perfect fit for those old wolves.”

Oscar’s gaze softened, amusement tugging at his mouth. “I suppose I will be reminded of that side of him tonight.”

Then, he lifted his glass slightly. “To our next King, finally home.”

Draven raised his wineglass in acknowledgement, and Dennis and Jeffery followed suit.

Their glasses met with a quiet chime of crystal.

I lifted my teacup instead, content to sip in silence. The lamb was too good to waste on conversation, especially one I wasn’t invited to.

From the corner of my eye, I caught movement—Draven, turning toward me. Next, he tilted his wineglass and lightly tapped the rim of it against my teacup, his lips curving into that private smile meant only for me.

I couldn’t help it. My own smile answered his before I returned my focus to my plate.

“Meredith,” Dennis said suddenly, his tone teasing. “You look like you’re enjoying being by yourself.”

I lifted my gaze, unbothered. “I am,” I admitted.

The table erupted in quiet laughter, but Draven’s tone was calm when he spoke again—firm, carrying that edge of authority even through amusement.

“I know my wife is your friend,” he said, glancing toward Dennis, “but you must be conscious of how you address her publicly. This isn’t Duskmoor.”

Dennis blinked, then gave a half-shrug. “I’m aware, brother.”

Jeffery smothered a grin.

I said nothing, but the quiet satisfaction of hearing Draven say ‘my wife’ in front of them all settled warmly in my chest.

—

When the meal finally wound down, the servants began clearing the table with practised quiet. The scent of roasted herbs still lingered faintly in the air, blending with the richer notes of wine and tea.

Oscar leaned back slightly, wiping his fingers with a napkin before glancing at Draven. “I heard you returned with your human daughter,” he said evenly. “But I don’t see her around.”

Draven didn’t flinch. “She is resting,” he replied simply.

Oscar nodded once. “Then, you should also be prepared to witness the Elders’ reaction. They won’t take kindly to you bringing a human child into Stormveil.”

The air thickened slightly, though Draven’s tone remained calm and plain.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinions,” he said. “But where I will have a problem is if they try to impose them on me. That, I won’t tolerate.”

Dennis smirked faintly, eyes flicking toward Oscar as if waiting for the next retort.

Oscar, however, only sighed and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Then, you will need to make yourself clear—but careful,” he said quietly.

“Be more accommodating with your responses tonight. Now isn’t the time to be at odds with the Elders. Not with the Alpha King’s health still uncertain, and the others watching.”

Draven gave no verbal reply, but the slight tilt of his chin said enough. He had heard the warning, even if he didn’t fully accept it.

Oscar looked like he wanted to continue, but then his gaze shifted—to me. It was subtle, just a glance, but the intent was unmistakable. He had more to say—something he didn’t want to say in my presence.

I felt it as clearly as if the words had already been spoken.

For a heartbeat, I considered excusing myself, sparing them the awkwardness of deciding how to proceed—but before I could move, Draven spoke.

“You’re free to say whatever information you have,” he said evenly, his tone low but firm. “My mate is here, and she is both trustworthy and valuable.”

The room went utterly still.

Oscar’s brows lifted slightly. Dennis exchanged a quiet glance with Jeffery, both of them trying not to smile.

Heat crept up the back of my neck, though I kept my expression calm, my hands folded neatly on my lap—the sound of his statement, so steady and absolute, felt like a silent shield wrapping around me.

Oscar regarded him for a moment longer, unreadable. Then, slowly, he inclined his head.

“Understood,” he said, just as his expression turned more serious, his eyes flicking briefly toward me before returning to Draven.

“Remember,” he said quietly, his tone edged with warning, “those people are still not happy or satisfied with your mate.”

The words fell like a weight into the room. Even Dennis and Jeffery grew still, their attention subtly drawn to Draven.

The silence stretched, thick and heavy, and yet Draven didn’t seem moved by it. His composure didn’t falter; not a muscle on his face shifted.

I, on the other hand, felt the press of a hundred invisible eyes on me—even if there were only four men in the room.