[{"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-78":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},923977,1212,"Chapter 78: Let’s Drive","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-78",78,"\u003Cp>Draven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft knock sounded on the door. Three light taps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enter,\" I called.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xamira’s nanny, Dorothy, poked her head in. \"Alpha, forgive me for the interruption. Xamira is asking if she can show you her drawing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded once, a calm smile growing on my lips. \"Send her in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened wider, and Xamira skipped in, clutching a bundle of papers to her chest. Her smile was small but present, familiar enough not to trigger alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come here,\" I said, returning to my seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My little pumpkin was just the perfect opportunity to get away from Rhovan and the silly thoughts he was forcing into my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xamira walked over and held out a page. I took it carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a drawing—crude but vibrant. Crayons smeared across the parchment, forming a garden with stick-figured wolves and a small girl with white hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You drew this?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I studied her face more carefully now. There was something... off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too quiet. Too still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xamira was many things—shy, yes—but she never brought me drawings without bubbling over with details. She also never stood this stiffly, like she was afraid to move the wrong way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You alright, little pumpkin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked at the nickname. Normally, she lit up when I called her that, but not today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m okay,\" she said softly, gaze falling to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked unhappy, and that immediately drew a frown out of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I set the drawing down on the desk. \"Did something happen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head quickly. \"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My frown deepened. That lie was too practiced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rose slowly and walked around the desk. She didn’t flinch—just stared forward, arms still tight around the rest of her papers. That was not my daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I crouched to her level. \"Xamira.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She finally looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a shadow in her eyes. Small, but it was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did someone say anything to you?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head, refusing to meet my gaze. And that was enough to bother me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who were you with?\" I asked, curious to know the reason she looked so sad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused. Then whispered, \"Miss Wanda.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My jaw clenched. \"What did she say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xamira looked unsure, like she wasn’t sure if she should speak at all. But then she opened up, \"She just told me a story and helped me with a few exercises.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded slowly, believing her. But that still didn’t solve the problem. \"But if she said anything that made you feel upset or confused, you can come to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay,\" she said softly and finally met my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gently placed a hand on her head and she leaned into it like she usually did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go on,\" I said. \"You can show your drawings to the others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she reached the door, she stopped and looked back. She hesitated for a moment before speaking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Daddy, don’t forget our play time this evening.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t.\" My gaze softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xamira finally smiled at me before running out of the office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~**Meredith**~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sat on the edge of my bed, fingers gently curling around Arya’s wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you sure?\" I asked, eyes narrowing as she adjusted her blouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, my lady,\" Arya said softly, turning slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There it was—smooth skin. The swelling had vanished, and the red lines that once marred her back had faded completely. Her complexion looked a little flushed, but not bruised. Not damaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wound had sealed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A breath of relief escaped me before I could stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t even realized how tense I had been—how tightly I had held onto the guilt since yesterday. But now, with this proof of healing, the guilt loosened its grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m glad,\" I murmured. \"Really glad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arya smiled, small but bright. I think she is still being hunted by what happened this morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And rest,\" I added. \"You are not lifting a finger until tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried to object, but I was already waving her down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a knock tapped on the door twice before opening gently. Kira stepped in, her hands folded in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lady,\" she began, \"would you like to see how the red grapes are harvested?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked. \"Red grapes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. The estate garden behind the west wing—Azul said you might enjoy the walk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I considered it. Sunlight. Fresh air. Grapes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded... normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after everything, a slice of normal sounded heavenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will come,\" I said, rising to my feet. \"I’ve been bored for hours now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garden was tucked behind the estate, sloping gently toward a trellised field where vines ran wild in neat rows. The scent in the air was fresh and slightly sweet, and golden sunlight draped across the vineyard like silk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azul and Kira walked on either side of me. Their quiet chatter blended with the rustling of leaves and soft instructions from the gardeners nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched the workers for a while. Each held a pair of small shears, clipping bunches of red grapes from the vines and tossing them gently into woven baskets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost rhythmic—like a dance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the gardeners, a boy who couldn’t be much older than me, paused and gave a small bow when he saw us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you teach me how to do that?\" I asked, pointing toward the grapes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brows lifted slightly, but then he smiled. \"Of course, my lady.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed me a pair of shears, carefully showing me how to hold them. Then he led me to a vine heavy with fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You will want to find a clean stem,\" he said, gesturing, \"and cut just above the bunch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I followed his instructions, snipping the stem gently. The grapes dropped into my palm, plump and cold with dew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There,\" I said, holding it up with a faint laugh. \"Not bad for my first try?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad at all,\" he replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I handed the shears back to him, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Azul stood nearby with a small basket, beaming like I had won a prize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I know she was proud to see me so cheerful. I would have never found a moment like this back home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling playful, I plucked two grapes and tossed them into my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burst of sweetness made me close my eyes for just a second. Then I heard a voice behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, look at who is having fun,\" Dennis said, amusement coating every syllable. \"You’ve been converted to vineyard life?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes snapped open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood a few paces away, arms folded across his chest, lips tugged into a crooked smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I almost choked on the grapes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I straightened my spine and slowed my chewing dramatically. \"Just... tasting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right,\" he drawled. \"Because that didn’t look like enjoyment at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed and changed the topic. \"What are you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked closer, stopping at the edge of the row. \"Came to tell you I’ve got a little time this afternoon. Thought I had finally make good on the lessons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked. \"What lessons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The one where I teach you how to drive a car,\" he grinned wider. \"You didn’t forget, did you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked again, then smiled. Of course, I didn’t forget. \"But I won’t give you that answer you need today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally. And I’m only teaching you the basics today.\" He extended his hand. \"Shall we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked down at my boots and then at the grape vines swaying gently in the breeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driving could be dangerous, but a lot of fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached for his hand without thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright,\" I said. \"Let’s drive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1296,"2026-06-03T06:41:07.524Z","2026-06-03T06:41:13.870Z",1,"novelbin.me","25d6d6da1dd2aad7a21903edf932793b4e640f2fc5b0556a498fde7e9c703884","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-278","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-77",685,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-cover.jpg"]