[{"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-465":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},924037,1212,"Chapter 465: As I Wish","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-465",465,"\u003Cp>Meredith].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last of the dishes was being cleared when Dennis leaned back in his seat, his eyes bright with mischief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright,\" he announced, clasping his hands together. \"Since we’re all reunited after ages, why don’t we do something fun?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanda’s head snapped up instantly, her smile already forming. I didn’t even need mind-reading abilities to guess what she wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A sparring match,\" Dennis continued, grinning wider. \"Just a friendly one. For nostalgia.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There it is,\" Wanda said under her breath. She looked pleased and was practically glowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at her. That smile wasn’t excitement. It was relief because combat was her pride and favourite weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar raised a brow. \"A combat spar right after lunch?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Levi nodded in agreement, leaning back slightly. \"And you want me to fight in front of my wife?\" he said lightly, squeezing Vivian’s hand. \"I have a pride to keep. I can’t afford to lose to Draven right after dessert if I’m paired with him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vivian laughed softly, her cheeks warming as she squeezed Levi’s hand back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, from the corner of my eyes, I caught Wanda rolling her eyes subtly. I noticed she doesn’t seem to like her sister-in-law very much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dennis barked a laugh. \"This is why I’m the lucky one. No mate, no expectations. No one to impress.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he placed a hand dramatically on his chest. \"I can lose with dignity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Draven’s lips curved faintly. But then Dennis straightened, his grin returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, fine—maybe we do something else. How about... horseback riding?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeffery let out a breathy chuckle. \"Only Draven will win that one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he added, \"You know how hard it is for us to tame a horse. Humans struggle. Our aura alone scares them. Draven is the only one who makes it look easy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanda perked up at once, sitting straighter. \"A challenge,\" she said, almost eagerly. \"I like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Levi nodded while Oscar shrugged. But on the other hand, Vivian looked politely nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I kept my expression smooth, something fluttered low in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had never ridden a horse in my life. And what Jeffery said was true. Horses feared werewolves by instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I can never forget that one time, one of Draven’s horses attacked me back in Duskmoor after Xamira startled it. Thank the Moons, Draven saved me on time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, I felt Draven gaze on me. Then his voice slid into my mind through the link.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will help you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I straightened slightly. \"Let me try first,\"I answered him inwardly. \"If I fail... then you can help me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes warmed slowly, deeply with a pride that made my breath pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you wish, my love.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly looked away before anyone saw my cheeks warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dennis clapped once. \"Good. Horseback riding it is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before anyone stood, he added with renewed enthusiasm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After that, how about knife-throwing? Or—\" His grin tilted wickedly, eyes landing on Wanda, then on me \"—a strategy game.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanda visibly perked at ’knife-throwing.’ Meanwhile, I felt something inside me click into place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I like the idea of the game,\" I said gently. \"Let’s do it after riding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others agreed while Wanda forced a polite expression. \"That’s fine,\" she said smoothly. But her grip around her wine glass spoke volumes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Draven rose from his seat, his fingers brushing my waist, light but possessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My wife and I need to freshen up first and change into something more convenient,\" he announced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone murmured in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Draven turned to me and offered his hand. I placed mine in his, and he led me away from the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elevator doors slid shut with a soft chime, sealing Draven and me in a quiet, polished box of silver walls and warm lighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the doors closed, Draven’s hand tightened around mine with a quiet urgency that made my pulse flicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up to see that his eyes were already on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elevator hummed beneath us as it rose, steady and smooth... yet the air felt charged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven stepped closer just enough for his scent and lingering warmth to wrap around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you tired?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was low, rougher than earlier—the kind of tone he only used when we were alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heartbeat betrayed me. \"No,\" I answered softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the elevator reached the third floor with a soft ding. But Draven didn’t move. His chest brushed mine faintly as he leaned in, whispering just above my lips:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m proud of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, heat rushed straight to my cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doors opened, and only then did he finally step back, still holding my hand as he led me toward our bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the door closed behind us, Draven exhaled—a deep, settling breath and turned me toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You must be uncomfortable in your dress,\" he said quietly. \"Let me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, he guided me gently toward the dressing room, his touch warm on the small of my back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, the soft glow of lanterns lit the mirrors and racks of clothing. And it was just us here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped behind me, his fingers brushing the back of my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold still,\" he murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, and carefully, he lifted my hair aside, exposing the line of my spine. Then he found the zipper of my forest-green gown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment his fingers touched the fabric, my skin erupted in goosebumps. And he noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breath brushed the back of my shoulder in a silent, amused exhale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nervous?\" he asked quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why should I be?\" I swallowed. \"Didn’t you say we were only going to change?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hummed. His voice was low, controlled, but full of implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said nothing about behaving,\" he whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart stuttered. But then, with surprising restraint, he eased the zipper down slow enough to tease, but gentle enough to steady me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fabric loosened around my waist, and immediately, warm air met my bare back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt exposed in a way that made me realize how deeply he owned every part of my heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the gown slipped low on my hips, Draven stepped back just enough to give me space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Change,\" he said softly. \"Before I change my mind and we never make it back downstairs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My breath caught. I nodded and reached for a simple riding outfit from the rack—leather pants, a fitted top, and boots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven grabbed a few things from his own side of the closet and stepped out of the dressing room, giving me privacy. A rare gesture, and one that made my chest warm even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I finished and opened the door, I found him already dressed in a black shirt, dark riding trousers, and boots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes swept over me deliberately. And then, he held out his hand again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s go, my Queen\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My pulse jumped as I slid my hand into his. Then we stepped out together, totally ready for the games.\u003C\u002Fp>",1162,"2026-06-03T06:41:07.526Z","2026-06-03T06:41:13.871Z",1,"novelbin.me","c7ff32a6ee08a87eb41f2cdd03510694a3160b795364eb47f60886c874115193","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-466","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-464",685,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-cover.jpg"]