The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 455

Chapter 455: The Woman They All Underestimated

[Meredith].

Cora brushed my hair dry, and Arya styled it into a soft, intricate half-up knot. Kira applied light makeup: warm nude eyes, soft lips, subtle blush.

When I stood before the full mirror, they stepped aside to let me look.

I looked... Calm, composed. Like a Luna.

"Perfect," Azul said quietly.

I exhaled slowly. "Thank you," I murmured, and I meant it.

"You are welcome, my lady." Azul smiled and stepped behind me to tighten the last ribbon on my dress.

In that exact moment, a familiar shift in the air made every maidservant in the room stiffen.

A heartbeat later, Draven appeared in the doorway looking a bit wild, precisely as he always looked after shifting back from a run.

His black hair was damp with sweat, some of it sticking to the sides of his face.

His shirt clung to his chest and back; the fabric darkened, outlining every sculpted line beneath.

His breathing was still faintly uneven—like he had run straight through the forest and into my presence without stopping.

Azul, Kira, Arya, Cora, and Deidra all bowed deeply, heads lowered as if looking directly at him after a run would be disrespectful.

"Alpha," they whispered together.

His golden eyes didn’t even acknowledge them at first. They were fixed entirely on me.

Slowly, deliberately, they travelled from my face to my neckline and then down to the fitted waist of my dress.

Heat gathered behind his gaze in such a consuming way that I had to straighten my posture to withstand it.

He finally exhaled. "You’re ready," he said, voice deeper than usual.

I swallowed. "Mostly."

Only then did Draven drag his gaze away long enough to give a curt nod to the girls.

They took that as their cue and immediately bowed again before slipping out of the room, quiet as shadows.

As soon as they disappeared, Draven stepped inside and closed the distance between us.

And then, he inhaled—a full, deep breath as if he needed it.

"You smell like strawberries and heat," he said under his breath. "It’s distracting." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

My cheeks warmed. "You’re the one who went for a run knowing we have to leave soon."

His mouth curved in a wicked half-smile. "I needed to burn off what you started last night."

My heart thumped.

Then he leaned closer, brushing a thumb along my jaw.

"Let me bathe," he murmured, lips hovering near mine. "Unless you want me to take you back to the bed looking like this?"

I stepped back instantly. "Go. Please."

He chuckled darkly, amused—and brushed his fingers over my waist as he passed. "I will be quick."

Then he disappeared into the bathing room, the door shutting behind him.

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