The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven

Chapter 172: The Full Story

Meredith.

When I woke, the other side of the bed was empty and cold.

I pressed my palm against the sheets, hoping maybe he had just stepped out moments ago, but the chill told me it had been a while. Too long.

I pushed back the covers, slipped into my nightrobe, and tied the sash at my waist. For a moment, I stood there, staring at the door, thinking of all the places Draven could be. But just as I reached for the handle, it opened from the other side.

Draven stepped in, and my breath caught.

His black shirt clung to his chest, damp with sweat, strands of his dark hair stuck to his forehead. He was panting lightly, and there was something else—something distant in his gaze like he couldn’t quite look at me properly.

"Where did you go?" I asked softly, my voice slipping out before I could stop it.

"Morning run," he said, his tone flat, clipped. "I couldn’t sleep."

My brows drew together. "But... your side of the bed was already cold when I woke up. You must’ve been gone for a long time. Is everything okay?"

His gaze shifted away. "I’m just exhausted," he murmured.

I didn’t believe that.

I could feel it in my chest. But the words stayed on the tip of my tongue, unspoken. Instead, I swallowed and tried to steady my voice. "Are you sure you’re okay?"

Draven didn’t answer immediately. For a moment, the mask slipped—and his eyes looked so tired, so worn, that it made something tighten in my chest. But then it was gone, replaced by that unreadable calm he always wore.

"I’m fine."

I let it drop—for now. But then I remembered.

"Last night, you told me you’d explain where you went," I said, stepping closer. "What happened? Where were you?"

He hesitated, jaw tightening. Then he lifted his gaze properly to mine. "Sit," he told me gently.

I crossed to the bed and perched at the edge, fingers curled around the robe’s belt.

Draven remained standing for a heartbeat longer, his chest rising and falling as though steadying himself. Then he spoke.

"It’s time you knew what’s been happening here, Meredith," he began, voice low. "Not just rumours. The truth."

My pulse quickened.

"Some of our people—werewolves—were found dead. Their hearts ripped out, necks snapped." His eyes darkened. "And others have gone missing entirely."

My throat went dry. I knew about our people who had their hearts ripped out, but the missing ones caught my full attention for now.

"Missing? Who would do something like that?"

Draven’s stare was steady, unflinching. "The humans. At least, that’s my suspicion. They’ve been taking some of us—and hiding what they do next."

My heart lurched. "Why? What would they possibly want?"

He released a slow breath. "The Humans are obsessed with power and influence. I believe they are running experiments. Trying to unlock something that belongs only to our kind."

The words settled in my chest like a stone.

"But there’s more," Draven continued, his voice even lower. "The killings—the ones where hearts were taken? That wasn’t the humans."

My brows furrowed. "Then who—"

"Vampires."

For a second, the room felt smaller.

"Vampires?" I whispered.

He nodded. "Over a month ago, Dennis and I caught the scent of blood in the woods. We stopped the car, went in to see what it was. And we found one."

My breath hitched. "You actually saw one?"

Draven’s jaw tightened. "I did. Red eyes, pale skin, fast—faster than even I could match. It hurt Dennis just a bit, because I arrived in time."

Pieces fell together in my mind. My eyes widened.

I remembered that time when Dennis was hurt. It was almost two months ago now. He said he was fine, but he never told me the source of his injury because I never asked.

Though, a small part of me doubted if he would have told the truth.

My thoughts spun, and I remembered the news that was reported that same day.

"And... the dead human in the woods? The one that was reported on the news almost two months ago..."

"It was the vampire," he confirmed. "And there have been more attacks since then—against the humans, not us."

I swallowed, a cold knot twisting in my stomach. "Draven... what will you do? Duskmoor isn’t safe for us anymore. What are you waiting for?"

He exhaled slowly, shoulders lowering slightly. "I know. The peace treaty we had with the humans is already broken, and now with the vampires among us, Duskmoor is nothing but a ticking bomb."

"What will you do about the humans because they can’t be let off?" My voice was sharper than I meant. noveldrama

I was mad at the humans, and I even hated them now.

Draven looked at me, and for once, I saw a glimpse of the weight he carried.

I stared at him. "And you’re waiting to get proof," I whispered.

"Yes," he said. "Proof of what the humans are doing. So when war comes—and it will—we won’t just be fighting on anger and rumour. We will have truth on our side."

A heavy silence settled.

"Have you told King Alderic?" I asked, voice softer now.

"He knows some," Draven said. "That there’s danger here. But not about the humans abducting us. Not yet."

"Why?"

"Because the moment the King and council hear it, they will see it as betrayal," Draven murmured, "and war will come before we’re ready. Before we can protect our people."

I pressed my lips together. "But every day you wait... it’s dangerous. What if more of us disappear?"

"I know," Draven admitted quietly. "And that’s why I’m praying the vampires keep distracting the humans—attacking them instead of us—until I get what I need."

The words chilled me more than the morning breeze sneaking through the curtains.

For a while, neither of us spoke. Then I looked up at him, voice low. "You shouldn’t have to carry this alone."

Draven’s gaze softened, just for a heartbeat. "It’s my burden to carry. But... thank you."

I lowered my eyes, but my heart wouldn’t stop racing. Vampires. Secret human experiments.

Something inside me whispered that the war was closer than either of us wanted to admit.