[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave":3,"chapter-the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-258":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},923934,1212,"Chapter 258: Dropping Thoughts of Wanda","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-258",258,"\u003Cp>Meredith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your chef? Don’t make me laugh, Meredith. This estate solely belongs to Draven. Nothing here belongs to you. Or have you been dreaming of stealing something of his’?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a slow step forward, locking eyes with her. \"I am Draven Oatrun’s wife. Which makes this my household as much as his. I don’t need to steal anything, unlike some people with dangerous covetous desires.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wonder who those people are,\" she said to me, meeting my gaze head-on without even as much flinching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was confident. But I was more confident than she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, those people know themselves and would never ever admit to the truth publicly, even if they are injected with a wolfsbane. The only way to expose them is to publicly disgrace them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanda’s face darkened, her jaw clenching. I had struck a nerve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, good luck with finding the pieces of evidence. Because, you are nothing but a pathetic little shadow—hiding behind others, waiting to be pitied.\" She stepped closer, lowering her voice until it was like venom against my skin. \"Enjoy your moment. For now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let her venom wash over me, standing tall, my heartbeat steady as I ignored her statement and changed the topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Regarding your rash actions earlier, you have to refrain from pouring your external aggression on others. From my knowledge, Draven pays you very well, but, I don’t think part of your job description includes hitting the staff. I hope there wouldn’t be a repeat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes narrowed, burning with silent fury, but she didn’t reply. Instead, she turned on her heel, her skirt swishing as she stormed past me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess she was mad because I reminded her that she was Draven’s employee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I exhaled slowly, the tension draining from my shoulders as the kitchen staff quietly resumed their work. My gaze lingered on the doorway Wanda had stormed through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kitchen was still heavy with silence, the staff keeping their heads down, as though hoping they could disappear altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze shifted to the young chef, her cheek still flushed red where Wanda’s hand had struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I softened my voice. \"I’m sorry,\" I said, stepping closer to her. \"You didn’t deserve that from her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened slightly, as though no one had ever apologized to her before. \"My Lady—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head and reached out, lightly brushing her arm. \"Go put some ice on it. Take a few minutes to rest before returning to your station.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a heartbeat, she just stared at me, lips trembling, then she gave a deep bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, my Lady,\" she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, before excusing herself and slipping out of the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others, though they tried to remain invisible, stole quick glances at me. I caught one or two small, grateful smiles, and I offered a nod in return before rolling up my sleeves a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Wanda thought she could leave chaos in her wake, she’d be disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved toward the long counters, where the aroma of roasted meats, buttered vegetables, and baked bread filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chefs straightened, their movements becoming brisker now that the tension had lifted. \"Show me what we have prepared so far,\" I asked gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, the dishes were uncovered—rich stews, glazed fish, spiced wine sauces, and delicate pastries dusted with sugar. It was a true full-course meal worthy of welcoming Draven home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took up a small tasting spoon and sampled each dish as if I knew much about cooking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of my experience level, the seasoning was flawless, the presentation elegant. I could already picture Draven’s quiet nod of approval, the way his dark eyes always caught every detail even when he said little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perfect,\" I said, setting the spoon down with satisfaction. \"Keep it warm and ready. The Alpha will be home very soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The staff bowed, their relief almost palpable, and I left them to their work, my steps light as I turned back toward the stairs, totally dropping Wanda out of my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lady,\" Azul said softly, a knowing smile curling on her lips as soon as I stepped back into my bedroom. \"Your bath is ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded without protest, allowing them to lead me toward the bathroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam curled warmly as Deidra poured fragrant oils into the water—jasmine, sandalwood, and a hint of vanilla. My favourite. Draven’s favourite too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stepped into the bath, I closed my eyes, sinking into the perfumed warmth. My silver hair floated around me like silk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kira gently massaged my scalp with herbal rinse, her touch soothing, while Azul scrubbed and polished my skin until it glowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew Draven would likely be weary from travel, his mind full of strategy and responsibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might only wish to hold me tonight, to rest in quiet. And yet... I wanted to look my best for him. Even if all he did was wrap me in his arms, I wanted his first sight of me to steal away a fraction of his fatigue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the bath was done, they wrapped me in soft linens and began the work of dressing me. I chose a gown of lavender silk to match my purple eyes, and light enough to move gracefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hair was dried and twisted into a soft updo, tendrils falling artfully at the sides of my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azul dabbed scented oil onto my pulse points—the same warm, lingering scent from the bath, subtle but impossible to ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I caught my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed with anticipation, my eyes brighter than usual. I didn’t see the timid girl who used to shrink beneath her siblings’ words. I saw his Luna—his wife—waiting for her Alpha to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, a whisper of nervousness lingered.What if Gary or Mabel tried to ruin tonight? What if their presence reminded him of politics instead of... me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook the thought away and pressed a hand to my chest. Draven had promised me last night—his words still echoed in my mind—that no one could put me beneath them. And I believed he would never break his word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perfect,\" Azul murmured, fastening the last pin in my hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled faintly at her through the mirror, though inside, I was a storm of emotions—joy, longing, and a little fear, all tangled together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was almost home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when he walked through the doors of this estate, I wanted the first thing he saw to be me—his wife, his Luna, ready to welcome him back.\u003C\u002Fp>",1092,"2026-06-03T06:41:07.525Z","2026-06-03T06:41:13.870Z",1,"novelbin.me","50e9d7d7a415f76c71a4813b76995545034fca1abbc7510ec58261332f54497d","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-55","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-257",685,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-cover.jpg"]