The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 88: Cold Wide Eyes

Meredith.

~Three Days Later~

I was so tensed today.

I had no reason not to be restless.

The moon was nearing full again. I could feel it like a pressure in my bones—an anxious itch under my skin that worsened with every hour.

Only three days left.

Three days before my body did the one thing I hated most: turn on me.

I stood by the window in my sitting room, the drapes half-pulled aside, staring out into the back garden that was supposed to lift my mood.

But the thought of me going wild in three days, my pheromones taking over me, wild and uncontrollable had me questioning my existence once again. And the reason the moon goddess was so cruel to me.

Back in Moonstone, I had... routine. Containment. Even if I had no wolf to temper the heat or the madness, my family at least knew how to manage me.

But out here, in Duskmoor, no one would know what to do with me. And I sure as hell didn’t know what to do with myself either.

What if I lost control? What if I embarrassed myself?

My chest tightened at the thought.

I remembered the last time I was on heat, and my pheromones went wild at the Lunar Ball. No one had come to save me or stop it from hypnotizing and seducing the men surrounding me that night.

But suddenly, it had stopped at the peak of my humiliation. And till date, I couldn’t tell what and how it happened.

Was it possible that it was the moon goddess’s doing?

If it was, then why didn’t it save me in the past?

I highly doubted that. I just needed answers on how to save myself in three days time.

Azul noticed my pacing and came to my side with a soft smile. "My lady, would you like to take a walk to ease your mind?"

I hesitated... then nodded. "Yes. Just for a while."

I was glad she didn’t ask what was bothering me. It would have been very embarrassing to talk about it.

---

The pool was quiet. The air was cooler now, evening settling into the estate with gold-tipped shadows.

Azul and I walked in silence until I sat at the poolside bench. I crossed my legs and stared at the water.

It glistened, reflecting the pale amber sky above. Ripples moved gently across the surface thanks to the gentle breeze.

Azul lingered at my side. "Do you want to swim?"

I shook my head. "Not today."

I didn’t say I can’t swim. That wasn’t information I wanted broadcasted. It wasn’t necessary.

Azul smiled and sat beside me anyway.

A few minutes later, I heard footsteps and looked to my side only to see Wanda.

I tensed instinctively. She strolled into view, dressed impeccably in a black sleeveless blouse and trousers. At her side was Xamira—wearing a light-blue swimsuit with tiny ruffles at the shoulder.

I turned my gaze forward, refusing to give Wanda the satisfaction of a reaction.

She ignored me too. Thank goodness.

We hadn’t spoken a word to each other since that day she took my maidservants to punish them.

Without waiting for anyone’s permission, Xamira squealed and jumped right into the water. freeweɓnovel.cøm

I sat up sharply, alarmed. "Wait—!"

Azul grabbed my arm, but Wanda didn’t even flinch.

She turned lazily and glanced over her shoulder at the splash. Then smirked. "She does this often. Get used to it."

Still, my heart pounded until I saw the girl resurface easily, stroking her arms through the water with practiced ease. She swam like she was born in it.

I exhaled slowly, relaxing back into the seat.

Xamira reached the edge of the pool, climbed out gracefully, and dove in again—another lap, clean and confident.

Wanda’s phone rang. She crouched by the edge where Xamira was about to swim past and stroked her wet hair once. "I will be back. Stay close to the edge."

Xamira nodded, and Wanda disappeared toward the house, voice already murmuring into the phone.

I watched quietly, feeling the oddness of the moment.

The little girl swam back to the end again. Then again.

She reminded me of something wild and weightless, something I was supposed to be.

My stomach suddenly growled softly.

Azul heard it and stood up. "My lady, I will get something for you to snack on. I will be back soon."

I nodded, eyes still on the water. "Alright. Go ahead. I will keep an eye on Xamira. Since it seems Wanda decided to leave her in my hands."

Azul gave me a hesitant glance, but eventually turned and walked off.

And then, it was just me and Xamira.

She did two more laps before climbing out again. This time, she walked to the far end of the pool and pulled her towel over her shoulders.

I approached her slowly. "You are a good swimmer," I said, trying to smile. "Who taught you?"

She blinked at me, chest rising and falling slightly from the exertion. "My Daddy," she said after a moment.

I nodded. "He seems to be good at a lot of things."

Xamira’s expression shifted. Her jaw clenched the tiniest bit.

I tilted my head, suddenly unsure. "Xamira?"

But I never got an answer.

The next thing I knew, she shoved me. Hard.

My foot slipped on the damp tile, and the world tilted sideways. I didn’t even get to scream before the water swallowed me whole.

The pool was deeper than I expected.

Cold.

It rushed into my nose, my ears, my mouth—

I flailed, panic exploding inside me. My limbs scrambled for surface, but I had no sense of direction.

The weight of my soaked dress pulled me down.

I was drowning.

I didn’t know how to swim.

Why didn’t I scream?

Why didn’t I tell someone—

My lungs burned. I kicked up—at least, I thought it was up—my hand breaking the surface for a second before slipping back under.

My chest felt like it was being crushed. My eyes stung. I couldn’t breathe

Shortly before I passed out, strong arms yanked me from the water..

Everything blurred.

Voices echoed.

And the last thing I saw before darkness took me was Xamira standing at the pool’s edge.

She stood still, staring at me with cold, wide eyes.