The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven - Chapter 436

Chapter 436: How Dare She?
[Third Person].

Dinner continued for several minutes, accompanied by quiet clinks of cutlery and light conversation between Reginald and Vivian.

Wanda barely tasted the food; she was watching her brother, how gently he leaned toward Vivian when she said something.

She watched how attentively he listened, and how naturally he smiled at her—the same kind of smile he used to give her.

She forced her eyes down to her plate so she wouldn’t glare outright.

Just then, Levi dabbed his mouth with a napkin and turned casually toward their father.

“Father,” he said, “I intend to visit Draven.”

Wanda’s grip tightened around her fork.

Reginald hummed approvingly. “Good. It is only proper. His return is important for all of Stormveil.”

Levi nodded. “I should show my respect. It has been too long since we last saw each other.”

Meanwhile, Wanda could barely contain the sudden spark of excitement rushing through her chest. She forced her face to remain controlled, but her fingers trembled slightly beneath the table.

Before she could open her mouth to slip in the suggestion casually, a small sound pulled her attention sharply to the right.

Vivian coughed, choking as she brought a hand to her chest.

Levi reacted instantly. He dropped his cutlery, leaned forward, and slid a steadying hand behind her back.

“Vivian?” he asked, his voice tight with worry.

She coughed again, harder this time.

Then, Levi reached for her glass of water, lifted it to her lips, and held it while she took a few sips. He even wiped the corner of her mouth gently with his thumb afterwards.

Wanda stared, her jaw locked and her stomach twisting, as the room suddenly felt too warm.

Reginald watched the exchange with approval, even offering a small nod.

Vivian finally caught her breath and leaned into Levi’s shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispered softly.

Levi smiled back, brushing her hair behind her ear with a tenderness that made Wanda’s fingers curl into fists under the table.

She swallowed the rising bitterness and forced her expression to remain polite, perfectly composed and elegantly indifferent.

But inside? She was seething.

The next second, she lifted her wine glass and took a slow sip to keep herself from scowling.

Just then, Vivian turned toward Reginald. “I heard from some of the guests that Luna Meredith attended the welcome banquet yesterday. It must have been an important night for Stormveil, having the future King finally return.”

Wanda froze just as the wine glass paused halfway to her lips. She had just heard Meredith’s name coming out of Vivian’s mouth—calm, pleasant, almost reverent.

Instantly, heat shot up through her spine.

Vivian, oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, continued lightly, “They said she looked very calm beside Alpha Draven. It seems she has adjusted quite well.”

Wanda nearly crushed the stem of her goblet. ‘Adjusted? Calm? Meredith?’

Her voice slipped out before she could temper it. “It’s too early to say what she has or hasn’t adjusted to.”

Vivian blinked, her brows lifting slightly at Wanda’s sharp tone.

Levi glanced at Wanda knowingly, but he didn’t comment. He had seen this behaviour often enough before—his sister snapping when she was jealous.

On the other hand, Reginald gave Wanda a mild look but returned to his meal, uninterested in petty female rivalry.

Meanwhile, Wanda inhaled slowly and forced her expression to soften, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Levi cleared his throat lightly. “I will go see Draven tomorrow.”

Wanda didn’t miss her cue. But she didn’t need to pounce for it because with Levi, subtlety always worked.

She placed her fork down gently and leaned toward the table just a fraction, her voice softening and warming the way it always did when she sought his favour.

“Since you’re going to see him…” she said carefully, “I will come with you.”

Levi didn’t even hesitate. “Of course,” he replied. “I was going to ask you anyway.”

Wanda’s heart flipped with quiet triumph. Though she didn’t even need to ask, this was just a small play for her father.

Even Vivian smiled pleasantly. “It will be good for you both to visit him. After all, he hasn’t seen you in months.”

Wanda’s eyes glinted. “I wouldn’t miss the chance,” she said, her tone smooth and sweet.

Dinner ended in a soft rustle of chairs as Reginald rose first. Everyone stood immediately, offering the customary bow of respect before he exited the dining hall with steady, authoritative steps.

As soon as he disappeared around the corner, Wanda turned sharply toward Levi, ready and eager to begin another conversation, to salvage at least a bit of time with him before he inevitably drifted back to Vivian, but Vivian spoke first.

“Levi,” she said gently, touching his arm, “I want to freshen up, but I will need your help with my dress. The zipper in the back is stuck.”

Levi blinked and then nodded almost instantly. “Of course. Come on.”

He barely spared Wanda a glance before turning toward the hallway with his wife.

Wanda’s smile twitched. Her brother turned back at the last second, sincerity softening his eyes.

“Good night, Wanda. Rest well.”

She forced her lips into a pleasant curve. “Good night, Levi.”

Vivian offered a polite, bright smile. “Good night, Wanda.”

Wanda didn’t respond, or even nod. She just pivoted sharply on her heel and walked away before anyone could see the anger tightening her jaw.

—

Back in her bedroom…

The moment the door slammed shut behind her, Wanda’s composure cracked like thin ice.

Her face twisted with pure, unfiltered fury. She marched across her room, pacing, fists clenched, breath sharp.

“How dare that woman steal my brother away from me?” she hissed into the empty air, her voice low and venomous. “How dare she parade herself like she owns him?”

She stopped in front of her vanity mirror and glared at her reflection—the flush in her cheeks, the burning in her eyes.

“How dare she show off in front of me?” she snarled. “How dare she gloat—smiling as if she has won something!”

Her hand slammed onto the vanity table.

“And how dare she mention Meredith?” Her voice shook with outrage.

She hated the sound of that name, hated how lightly Vivian had spoken it. She hated the faint admiration in her tone.

Meredith Carter. That cursed, wolfless girl who somehow wedged her way into Draven’s throne-bound life. That same girl who stood beside Draven with undeserved confidence.

Wanda’s teeth clenched as her thoughts spiralled darker.

“Vivian is not worthy of Levi,” she spat. “Not worthy of his care, his attention, not worthy of the Fellowes family.”

Her voice dropped into a cold whisper. “I will not let her ruin him. I can no longer tolerate her presence in his life.”

Her chest rose and fell sharply as she tried to calm her breathing—but the bitterness wouldn’t leave.