The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 222

Chapter 222: Without Wanda

(Third Person).

The dining hall was calm, the morning sun filtering through the wide windows, casting soft golden rays across the polished floors and long dining table.

Everyone was seated, breakfast underway, clinking of cutlery blending with light conversation—until Wanda spoke.

"No one woke me when vampires attacked last night," she said, slicing into her pancake and not bothering to look up.

The words hung in the air like an ill-placed cough.

Draven slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers. Though it wasn’t harsh or sharp, it was enough.

Wanda’s fork paused mid-air, then she glanced up and met his eyes. A short silence passed.

Her lips parted slightly, as if she might justify her words, but instead, she lowered her gaze and muttered, "My apologies, Alpha."

Dennis snorted softly from where he sat next to Xamira. "Next time, you should learn to read the room," he said, stabbing a slice of sausage with casual ease.

Wanda’s head turned just enough to glance at him from the corner of her eyes. "Must you always talk?" she muttered, more to herself than to him.

"Must you always whine?" Dennis countered with a shrug.

She rolled her eyes and returned to her plate, saying nothing else.

Meanwhile, Meredith sat composedly, ignoring the tension. She smiled at Xamira, who was carefully cutting her roasted carrots into neat, triangular pieces.

"Would you like more chicken, dear?"

Xamira glanced up and nodded with a small, eager smile. "Yes, please."

Meredith picked up the serving spoon and placed a well-roasted chicken breast on the girl’s plate. "Here you go."

"Thank you, my lady," Xamira replied, still using the new formal title she had grown used to.

A small warmth bloomed in Meredith’s chest. She reached out to gently smooth back a lock of hair from Xamira’s face.

Across the table, Wanda chewed slowly, her gaze flicking between the two. There it was again—that bond—that impossible, sudden closeness between Meredith and the child.

Wanda’s brow furrowed.

After breakfast, Draven rose from his seat, pushing the chair back with a soft scrape. "Dennis. Jeffery."

The two men stood immediately, almost in sync.

Seeing this, Wanda stood as well. "Are we heading into a meeting now?"

Dennis paused, then turned with a smirk. "Yes, but without you."

The words were like a slap.

Wanda’s eyes widened just slightly, then narrowed. She clenched her fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms as she watched the trio walk out together, not sparing her another glance.

Her thoughts raced. Was Draven shutting her out? Had he discovered something? Was her influence slipping?

She bit the inside of her cheek as uncertainty gnawed at her.

Meanwhile, Meredith rose with Xamira, taking the little girl’s hand in hers and guiding her out of the hall. Their pace was unhurried, their steps in rhythm.

Wanda’s eyes followed them.

The child—Xamira—her eyes... they had never looked at Wanda like that. Not anymore. Not since—

Wanda’s thoughts broke off sharply. Her breath caught in her throat.

Did she... Did she tell them?

Wanda’s heart began to pound. Had Xamira said something to Meredith? Or worse, to Draven?

She sat back down slowly, feeling a twinge of dread creep into her spine.

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