The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven Chapter 662: The Announcement was Made

At the break of dawn, by an explicit mandate from the King, Mabel Carter was granted her freedom.

The prison gates swung open without fanfare, the guards moving aside as the shackles were stripped from her wrists. For a fleeting moment, she hovered there, motionless, as though her mind had yet to grasp the reality of her situation.

"His Majesty has commanded your mercy," a guard remarked.

Mabel blinked. A wave of bewilderment washed over her features, yet it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. She chose not to seek explanations, nor did she crave them. After weeks of solitary confinement, subsisting on a single daily meal, and enduring the suffocating burden of isolation, none of those details held weight anymore. Her only desire was to return home.

Tears welled in her eyes as the truth finally took root. She was going home. The guards lost no time in escorting her out.

—

The Carter residence~

A servant sprinted into the villa, slightly winded. "Beta! Madam!" she hollered. "Miss Mabel is back—she is standing at the gates!"

Both Beta Gabriel and Margareth stood transfixed. "What?" Margareth’s voice wavered with uncertainty.

"Miss Mabel… she has been set free. The royal guards escorted her home."

Hearing the commotion from within the house, Monique and Gabriel rushed to join them, their movements charged with a mixture of confusion and intense anticipation. By the time they reached the living room, their parents were already present. The doors creaked open, and Mabel stepped inside.

An abrupt silence blanketed the room. For a heart-wrenching moment, no one dared to speak, for the girl before them was a mere shadow of the daughter they remembered.

Her skin had darkened from the harsh environment. She had thinned to a disturbing degree, her physique stripped of its former vitality. Her hair was a matted, tangled ruin, and the gown that had once been pristine was now tattered and sullied. She looked utterly broken and weary, carrying with her the unmistakable stench of neglect.

Margareth clapped a hand over her mouth. "Mabel..."

Mabel’s lips trembled before she crumbled internally. Tears cascaded down her face as she surged forward. "Mother—!"

Margareth did not hesitate, throwing her arms around her daughter and pulling her close, irrespective of her disheveled state. "My poor child... my sweet child..."

Mabel clung to her, sobbing uncontrollably, her frame shuddering as the trauma she had suppressed finally broke free.

Monique remained several paces away, her chest tightening at the painful display. While a surge of relief washed through her, she didn't step into the embrace. She stood still, hands intertwined, a subtle, somber smile manifesting through her conflicting emotions. Mabel had returned, and that was enough.

Gary positioned himself beside her, equally reserved, though his eyes never left his sister. Eventually, he took a step forward, his face a mosaic of relief and lingering doubt. "Mabel," he said with caution. "How... how did this transpire?"

Mabel sniffled, drawing back from her mother slightly while maintaining her grip on her. "I... I didn't ask," she replied in a raspy, frail voice. "And I have no desire to know..."

Fresh tears tracked down her cheeks. Her mother reached out, cupping her face with delicate affection. "Enough," she whispered. "You aren't required to divulge anything right now." Her expression softening, she added, "You require a bath immediately."

Mabel offered a weak nod, too drained to protest. With tenderness, Margareth steered her further into the mansion. Beta Gabriel stayed calm, eyes tracking their departure, before he finally let out a long, heavy sigh. A sense of closure settled in his heart. Regardless of the motive, his daughter had finally returned home.

***

Time drifted by in relative peace. By the conclusion of Meredith’s third month, the subtle shifts within the palace could no longer be kept from the public eye. The facade of restraint Draven had maintained was finally abandoned, and the announcement was officially issued: The Queen was with child.

The news swept across Stormveil like a wildfire. From the opulent palace halls to the most distant outskirts of the city, the announcement brought a wave of euphoria unseen in generations. The citizenry rejoiced with unrestrained fervor, their voices brimming with excitement and relief.

"The King shall have an heir."

"The royal bloodline remains secure."

"Stormveil is truly blessed."

Within the palace walls, the Grand Hall was once again buzzing with activity, though this time the energy was celebratory rather than heavy with judgment. The council of elders gathered before the throne, their countenances far more relaxed than they had been in months.

"Our sincerest congratulations, Your Majesty."

"Stormveil is graced with great fortune."

"This is a truly auspicious era for our kingdom."

Their relief was genuine. To them, this represented far more than personal joy; it promised stability, a clear lineage, and the assurance that the throne would remain firm. Draven acknowledged their well-wishes with dignified authority, while Meredith remained beside him, composed as ever, though a tender softness in her eyes escaped no one.

Randall stood among the crowd, quiet and observant. The pride radiating from him was palpable. A faint smile graced his lips, one that persisted even as others converged to offer him their own congratulations.

"You must be immenseley proud," one of the elders remarked.

Randall gave a slight, solemn nod. "I am indeed."

He did not attempt to hide his satisfaction. From that moment on, the palace was inundated with offerings from Council elders, Royal Alphas, and various high-ranking officials. Lavish fabrics, exotic herbs, enchanted talismans, and meticulously crafted heirlooms arrived by the cartload—each gift presented with a mixture of jubilation and carefully calculated allegiance.

In her more private moments, Meredith took it upon herself to personally inspect these offerings, motivated by caution rather than vanity. She handled each item with precision, her gaze sharp as she vetted their contents to ensure nothing malevolent had been hidden within. She remained ever-vigilant.

—

Meanwhile, at the Carter residence, the mood was significantly more somber. The family sat around the dining table, the news of Meredith’s pregnancy still weighing heavily on their thoughts.

Monique was the first to break the silence. A cold, cynical scoff broke from her lips. "So, that is the truth of it," she remarked, her voice dripping with bitterness. "That must be the reason His Majesty suddenly saw fit to release Mabel."

She cast a fleeting look toward her younger sister, but Mabel offered no reaction. She continued to eat, her movements precise and detached. Whatever inner thoughts she carried, she kept them guarded; the hardships she had suffered had been a harsh teacher.

Margareth glanced between her daughters before speaking. "Monique," she said with measured intent. "When do you intend on returning to your mate’s pack?"

Monique paused, then slowly tilted her head. "Are you attempting to cast me out, Mother?" she countered.

Beta Gabriel interjected immediately. "You are to depart in three days," he declared firmly. The finality of his tone left no room for debate.

Gary offered a small, affirmative nod. "You have lingered longer than is customary, Monique. Your kin require you at home."

Monique’s features tightened in annoyance, but she kept her rebuttal to herself. Instead, she returned to her meal in stony silence. Dinner proceeded to its conclusion without further confrontation.