The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 87: Jealousy?

Draven. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

I sat behind the polished desk in my study, the weight of the day pressing across my shoulders like armor.

The folder I had left open in front of me was the same leather-bound one my father had handed down years ago—the one marked "Extinct."

It reminded me of an urgent need to pass a message across to my father. I had to decide on something important. And I did it fast.

I picked up the landline and dialled a syringe of numbers. After two rings, the call connected.

"Father."

His deep voice answered almost instantly. "Draven."

We exchanged formalities briefly. I didn’t have the time for little talks before getting into the big matters. Today was different.

"I’m calling to report something," I said with my voice levelled. "Yesterday, Dennis and I tracked a blood scent in the woods near Ridgeway. It led us to a vampire. It attacked Dennis, grabbed him by the neck and plastered his back to a tree trunk."

There was a pause on the other end. A sharp pause.

"Dennis? Is he alright?" His voice had stiffened.

"He’s fine now," I assured him. "He had minor fractures, but he is already back to his usual self."

"And you are certain it was a vampire?" he asked slowly. "Vampires haven’t appeared in a few centuries."

"I know what I saw," I replied. "Red eyes. Pale skin. Beautiful in a way that didn’t make sense. Fast. Strong. It tried to take Dennis’ heart but stopped after smelling something. Then it released Dennis and ran when I arrived."

"You’re sure?" he asked again, quieter this time.

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. "I’m sure. I have the Extinct journal with me—the one you gave me. The signs match."

There was another long pause. I could almost hear him flipping through memories.

"Vampires don’t usually leave prey alive."

"I know."

"Then why let Dennis go?"

"I’ve been asking myself that," I muttered.

I considered telling him what the vampire said—You were with one of us—but something stopped me.

Not yet.

"I also wanted to inform you about this morning’s news broadcast from Duskmoor," I added.

"I saw the report," my father grunted. "And I wasn’t pleased."

"They made it sound like the werewolves could’ve been behind the human’s death," I said. "They didn’t even mention our people that have died in the same way. But I got them to make a rebroadcast"

"You called the mayor?"

"I did. I made him promise to correct the narrative for this evening news. To include the deaths of the three wolves. And he did."

"Good," my father said darkly. "That city’s truce with us is cracking. It’s time the council knew about it, and the vampire."

"Not yet," I said sharply.

He was silent for a second. "Why not?"

"We don’t want a war breaking out, especially now that the vampires have resurfaced."

"There is no need stalking because a war will eventually break out. It is very clear to both of us. And we need to start preparing for it."

Father was right. But not now.

"Father, give me some time and I will speak to the council about everything we have learned so far."

"How much time do you need?" he asked.

"Until I get a vampire’s body," I told him. I needed something to show Mayor Brackham and redirect his attention to it.

"And what if you never get one?"

"I will."

He grunted. "And how do you plan to get it?"

"I will kill one."

A brief silence followed. Then finally, my father’s voice softened slightly.

"Then do it. But be discreet because the vampires can’t know we are into them. Vampires only have two strengths—speed and thirst. Use your mind. Be calculative and you will beat them."

And I planned to do that exactly. After the encounter in the woods, I have learnt that I could easily kill one of them if I kept an alert about my speed and attacks.

He paused again. "But be careful. And protect your brother. That creature has his scent now. That’s all it needs."

"I will," I said. "I will try to make sure none of our people gets hurt during the hunt."

"You know what this means, right? War is coming. Whether the council knows or not."

I didn’t answer.

"And until the truce is re-evaluated," he continued, "we will have to rely on Stormveil’s defenses. King Alderic is already preparing."

"Good," I said. "And the Great Wall?"

"Halfway through. Slow progress, but steady."

"It won’t keep the vampires out," I muttered. "But it might buy us time."

"Exactly."

We spoke a bit longer before ending the call. After I set the receiver down, I sat back in the chair and exhaled slowly. My thoughts raced, already trying to plan out the next step.

Then, I stood and left my office.

The hallway stretched before me, quiet and clean, the late afternoon sun pouring through the glass panels along the right.

But I stopped.

Just before I reached the stairs, I caught sight of something through the tall window.

Outside, near the walkway, Meredith was trailing behind Dennis, catching up with him like a determined little bird.

I watched, unmoving.

She reached him. Her hand grabbed his arm—firm, insistent. I couldn’t hear what she said, but Dennis turned to her and gave some reply.

She didn’t stop. It seemed like she was begging him for something.

She pouted and playfully swung his arm, like they were childhood friends who shared every corner of their lives.

And he didn’t stop her.

Rhovan growled in the back of my head.

"Looks like your brother is going to steal our mate."

I hadn’t realized my hands were clenched until I forced them open, all thanks to Rhovan’s annoying voice.

The way Meredith begged Dennis—so easily, so unguarded—felt like a punch I didn’t see coming.

She had never tried to act this way with me. And the only time she begged me for something, she had been very polite.

Rhovan’s voice sharpened. "Did you hear me, Draven?"

I shoved my hands into my pockets and began climbing the stairs.

"Then go after her yourself," I muttered back to him. "If you like her so much."

"I would. But you are in the way."

I didn’t answer because that part was the truth.