The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 59: The Meeting of Wolves

Draven.

The woods were darker than usual tonight.

Not because of the absence of the moon—it was full and heavy, watching from above—but because of the air. Thick. Suffocating. Charged.

The moment I stepped into the forest clearing at the east end of Duskmoor, all eyes turned. Warriors, workers, scouts, elders—they were all here.

A crowd of about sixty, some standing shoulder to shoulder, others perched on stones or leaning against tree trunks. Cloaks, jackets, battle-worn leather. A silence that weighed more than words.

Jeffery stood at my right. Dennis was on my left. Wanda lingered on the outer edge, her arms folded, lips pressed into a grim line.

"Ten o’clock sharp," I muttered, checking the silver watch on my wrist. "Good. They listen."

I took a step forward into the centre of the circle, the firelight crackling at my back.

"The last body was found Eight mornings ago," I began. "Same as the others. Heart removed. No scent left behind. Whoever did it was skilled—and deliberate."

A quiet growl rippled through the crowd.

"They were one of us," Jeffery added. "All three. Two from South Hollow pack. One from Winterroot. All residing in Duskmoor."

"I don’t care what pack they belonged to," I said. "They were part of this city. Part of our people."

The crowd murmured in agreement. But beneath that murmur lay a bit of fear.

I saw it. In the eyes of the older wolves. In the tightened fists of the younger ones. Even Wanda, for all her cold beauty, wore a trace of unease in her gaze.

"The new rules I set four nights ago remain in place," I continued. "No one walks alone. Not even within the city. Two, minimum. Warriors will now discreetly patrol the outer ring—east, west, and northern sectors—between 7 PM and 3 AM. Jeffery will assign the rotation."

Heads nodded.

I scanned the group. "If anyone knows anything—anything at all—now is the time to speak."

A few beats of silence. Then a hand lifted. A tall man with copper skin and tightly braided hair stepped forward. His voice cracked slightly when he spoke. He introduced himself first before going straight to the point.

"My friend... his name is Ronan Wex. Winterroot bloodline. He has been missing for two days now."

The clearing stilled.

I narrowed my gaze. "When was the last time you saw him?"

"Two nights ago. We were at the Taproot Bar—off Garnel Street. We left together. I took a cab because I needed to get to my night shift at the port on time. He said he would walk to clear his head. Said his place wasn’t far."

"And it’s been two days?" I asked.

"Yes, Alpha. He hasn’t been home. Didn’t show up to work yesterday or today. I have called and texted. No reply."

Jeffery pulled out a notepad from his coat. "Full name, age, and where he lives?"

"Ronan Wex. Twenty-six. Lives in the city’s southeast block—unit 4B. Works at the distribution dock near the port. Day shift."

"Did he mention if he was meeting anyone after he left?" I asked.

The man shook his head. "No, Alpha."

I nodded once, turning to Jeffery. "Get his description and notify our scouts. I want every warehouse, alley, and sector between Garnel and southeast searched before dawn."

"Yes, Alpha," Jeffery said immediately.

"Send a team to the Taproot as well," I added. "Interrogate the bartender. Review the security logs. But make sure to do that discreetly. We can’t have the Duskmoor government on our tails yet."

Then I turned back to the man. "Thank you. We will find him."

He nodded, jaw tight. "Please do, Alpha."

Wanda stepped forward next, her voice laced with confidence. "There is a possibility the humans are watching us. Especially now. They might be baiting us into panic."

"They aren’t just watching," I said coldly. "They are testing boundaries. Pushing slowly. This isn’t random. It’s deliberate."

A few murmurs rose again, louder this time.

Dennis leaned closer. "If they think we won’t retaliate, they’re wrong."

"Don’t worry, they won’t see us coming," I replied. "They are too relaxed for people who claimed to have missing citizens."

We spoke for another half hour, discussing rotating patrols, message relays, and off-grid communication. There were no digital traces and no city records.

The Duskmoor Council cannot sanction this meeting. We won’t give them the chance because this wasn’t politics.

It was war preparation.

---

When the meeting began to wind down, the fire at the center burned lower. Wolves began to peel off in pairs, some heading west, others toward the vehicles hidden in the brush. Still, the tension clung to the night.

I stayed behind a little longer. Watching. Listening.

Jeffery finished giving the warriors the final instructions. Dennis moved through the crowd like smoke, checking on a few familiar faces and making light-hearted comments that masked his seriousness.

Wanda approached me.

"That man who spoke earlier... Ronan Wex’s friend—he seemed nervous," she said softly.

"He should be," I replied. "His friend may already be dead."

"You didn’t tell him that."

"I didn’t have to."

Wanda was quiet for a moment. Then she asked, "Do you think it’s really the humans?"

"Maybe." I looked out into the trees. "But if it were only them... we would have found more. Traces. Scent trails. Broken ground."

Wanda tilted her head. "Then who?"

"I don’t know yet." I looked at her. "And that’s what worries me."

She didn’t answer.

Jeffery reappeared at my side. "I will take care of the teams, Alpha. They will begin the Ronan search within the hour."

"Good," I said.

"I will update you if they find anything."

I gave him a nod and turned toward the path that would lead back to the main road. Dennis joined me as I walked.

"You were quieter than usual," he said.

I didn’t respond immediately. "They were scared. And scared wolves make mistakes."

Dennis nodded. "You are not wrong," he said, agreeing with me.

We reached the parked vehicles near the roadside. I opened the door to the black SUV and turned to him before stepping in.

"We keep this quiet. No outsiders. No leaks."

"I know," Dennis said. Then he smirked. "I still think you should tell your wife what’s happening."

I levelled a look at him. "This isn’t her concern."

"She’s already in it. Whether you admit it or not."

I didn’t reply.

Instead, I got into the SUV and shut the door. But he quickly got into the front passenger seat and secured his seatbelt with a big smile.

I gave him a side glance before bringing the engines to life.

The forest was behind us now. But the war it warned of was coming fast. And I had a bad feeling... we hadn’t seen the worst of it yet.