The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven Chapter 654: Draven’s Rage

A fractured sound broke from Reginald’s lips once he regained a semblance of control.

It emerged soft and bordering on disbelief, only to swell into a raw, unchecked howl. He stumbled ahead, fingers trembling as his gaze dropped to the coffin once more.

"My daughter..." his voice splintered. "Who did this... who dared do this to my daughter?!" The agonizing query ripped through him.

For the first time, this man known for his rigid, unyielding nature crumbled entirely. He collapsed to his knees at the casket’s side, his sorrow pouring out without restraint.

"I gave you everything..." he choked out. "Who possessed the nerve—who dared inflict this on you?!"

Standing behind him, Levi remained motionless. His eyes were locked onto Wanda’s remains, yet his demeanor had shifted. While surprise lingered, a darker realization began to stir.

His hand curled tightly by his side before his voice emerged strained. "Who delivered this here?"

The guards hesitated, causing his gaze to snap toward them. "Answer me!"

One guard moved forward and bowed his head. "Sir... it arrived from the palace."

Levi’s brow furrowed. "The palace?"

The guard gulped, adding, "They stated... Her Majesty commanded it."

A suffocating silence descended, and Reginald’s sobbing ceased instantly.

"Are you certain of your words?" Levi’s eyes widened slightly. "Do you grasp the gravity of accusing the crown?"

The guard dropped to a knee. "I swear it by the Moon Goddess. That is the message we were given."

For a heartbeat, the air was still as the chilling revelation settled in. Then, Reginald let out a jagged, hollow laugh that swerved abruptly into fury.

"The King offers my daughter a reward..." he uttered hoarsely, hauling himself to his feet. "And that same evening, the Queen has her slaughtered?"

His voice surged, vibrating with rage. "What kind of monstrosity is this?!" His eyes blazed as he gestured toward the coffin.

"What crime did my child commit to warrant this?" he screamed. "To not just slay her, but to treat her so? Not even a whole body—!"

His voice faltered again under the weight of grief, yet this time it was buried by wrath. "That woman..." he hissed. "That witch—!"

"Father," Levi interjected sharply. "Mind your tongue."

Reginald pivoted to face him, eyes burning. "You presume to caution me now?!" he snapped. "After what she has done?!"

Levi’s jaw locked. "Voicing such accusations against the Queen qualifies as treason."

"I do not care!" Reginald bellowed. The roar echoed throughout the courtyard. "I demand retribution!" he shouted. "She will answer to me! Let every soul in Stormveil bear witness!"

Levi took a forward step. "Father—"

But Reginald had already turned toward the guards. "Quickly. Spread the news," he commanded, his tone dripping with icy venom. "Inform them all—after the King honored my daughter at the banquet, his Queen butchered her out of petty jealousy."

His gaze deepened with malice. "And she didn't even leave her a whole corpse."

The guards stood frozen in hesitation.

"Move!" Reginald thundered.

They scrambled to obey.

"Father, cease this madness—" Levi reached out, but Reginald slapped his hand away.

"Do not obstruct my path," he warned. "If you lack the spine to fight for your sister, then stay out of my way."

Levi’s visage went cold, but he remained silent. Reginald returned his focus to the coffin, his chest heaving with every breath.

"I shall not bury her," he declared. "Not until the King delivers justice." His voice dropped to a low, ominous rumble, saturated with simmering hatred.

"The witch occupying that throne shall be dragged down... and she will pay dearly for this."

---

Simultaneously, a leaden silence hung within the royal dining hall, where Draven kept his gaze locked on Meredith.

"You murdered... Wanda?" he echoed, his voice sluggish as if struggling to comprehend the claim. "And returned her body to her family?"

Meredith exhaled a quiet breath. "I had sufficient reason," she stated. "And I withheld this from you last night simply so you might enjoy a peaceful rest."

Her stare remained unwavering.

"Had you known... you would have torn this palace apart."

That caught his full attention. His expression grew sharp. "Then explain yourself," he directed. "Why did you execute Wanda Fellowes without notifying me?"

Meredith did not pause. "After we departed that room," she began, "Xamira informed me that Wanda had entered and lingered there for quite a while."

Draven’s brows pulled together.

"I returned to investigate," Meredith continued. "And realized exactly what she had attempted."

A sudden frost seemed to permeate the air as Draven fell still.

"She tampered with what remained of you," Meredith said, her voice dropping to an icy tone. "She sought to seize something that belonged exclusively to you."

Silence stretched for a brief moment before the truth struck home. Draven’s features darkened instantly, a dangerous aura rising within his eyes.

"She tried to steal..." his voice barely rose above a whisper.

Meredith gave a single, curt nod. "She did."

The ambient temperature in the chamber plunged. A low, boiling rage began to stir deep inside him.

Meredith wasn't finished. "There is more," she added.

Draven turned his eyes toward her. "Explain."

Meredith’s gaze hardened. "I encountered her later, after I left the banquet hall. I overheard her with Levi."

Draven went stiff once more. For a split second, he said nothing. Finally—

"To what end?"

Meredith did not sugarcoat it. "They are both involved," she stated bluntly. "In ways that siblings should never be."

The words struck with heavy force. Disgust flickered across Draven’s features, followed by a much darker intent.

"No..." he muttered.

Meredith went on, her voice steady as she detailed the events—exactly what she heard and the certainty of her findings.

By the time she finished, Draven’s expression had transformed into a potent cocktail of shock, pure rage, and visceral loathing.

"That family..." he rasped, his voice vibrating with menace.

Meredith watched him in silence. "What she did to us was reason enough for me to act. So, I lured her away and ended her," she said.

His eyes snapped back to hers.

"I ensured she understood the reason," Meredith added. "I severed her arm, then cleaved her body vertically in half." Her delivery was devoid of hesitation. "I returned her remains to her kin," she concluded, "so that Reginald might finally experience the agony of having raised a monster."

That was the final trigger.

Draven stood up abruptly. His chair screeched against the stone floor as his aura erupted.

"They dared—" his voice pulsed with fury as he began to pace. "They dared to plot against me?"

His hands curled into fists. "To covet my bloodline... to attempt to usurp the throne—" His voice grew cold as ice. "They possess no shame."