The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven Chapter 668: No Longer Allowed to Touch

Word swiftly spread to the Carter Residence about the Fae reinforcing the Great Wall.

Yet the Wall itself failed to disturb Gabriel. Something altogether different troubled him.

His mother resided in Stormveil without a single notification to him. No letter arrived. No communication came. She made zero effort to contact him, her sole son.

Silence gripped Gabriel upon hearing this, his features gradually stiffening as letdown took hold. Despite the widening gap between them through the years, such outright neglect had never crossed his mind.

Without hesitation, he summoned parchment and ink.

Though concise, the letter sharply expressed his upset. It probed her muteness, her choice to arrive in Stormveil unannounced, and her dismissal of him despite their shared blood.

Completed, he sealed it and dispatched it straight to the palace.

—

Meredith’s grandmother received the letter in her palace chambers, where she reclined.

"Kira," she summoned.

"Yes, Ma’am," Kira answered promptly, advancing.

"Read the letter."

Respectfully, Kira accepted the letter, cracked its seal, and recited its contents aloud. Quiet prevailed as Gabriel’s message echoed through the room. The elderly woman’s face stayed impassive throughout.

Kira dipped the letter a touch upon concluding.

A heavy sigh escaped the old lady, followed by a single command: "Write."

Kira dashed to the desk to ready the parchment. Prepared, the old woman dictated with steady calm.

"I will not leave the palace. But if he wishes to see me, he may come here."

Kira transcribed the exact phrasing, then recited it back for verification. A faint nod came from the old lady.

"Send it."

Sealed promptly, the reply was sent off at once.

—

Gabriel’s frustration intensified when the reply arrived.

He scanned it repeatedly. Its meaning rang crystal clear: she refused to approach him, forcing him to seek her out for any explanation.

A sharp breath escaped Gabriel as he creased the letter. "I’m going to the palace."

Margareth, nearby throughout, offered no resistance. Instead, she trailed him upon his departure.

—

Proper protocol marked their palace entry, though chill replaced any cordiality. Admitted after recognition, an evident yet understated chill hung in the air.

After a wait, a servant appeared. "My Lord," she stated deferentially, "Her Ladyship will not be seeing you."

Gabriel’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean she won’t see us?"

The servant stood resolute. "She has given her instructions."

After a beat, she proceeded with caution. "She said... you neglected one of your daughters. That you showed her no care," the servant continued, voice polite yet steadfast. "That you mistreated her... and never once asked about her after she left your home."

Each phrase cut sharper than the previous. Gabriel and Margareth both went rigid.

"And even now, as she stands as Queen... you have not gone to her," the servant appended, eyes dipping modestly.

Gabriel clenched his jaw, words failing him. Margareth stayed mute as well.

"She will not receive you," the servant finalized.

Her tone carried no ire, merely inevitability.

Speechless, they withdrew. The encounter concluded ere it commenced. Departing the palace grounds, the somber burden of rebuff shadowed them inescapably. And rightly earned.

---

That afternoon, Meredith stepped into her grandmother’s chambers for companionship.

After considerable time elapsed, her grandmother disclosed that her parents had sought her at the palace, only to be denied.

Meredith nodded faintly. "That’s fine."

Not a hint of resentment or rage tainted her voice. Her grandmother’s knitting fingers hesitated briefly.

Though blind, she angled her head toward Meredith. "You have nothing to say about it?" she inquired.

Meredith’s eyes flicked to her hands momentarily before rising. "They stopped being my parents a long time ago," she murmured softly.

Silence descended as the grandmother regarded her mutely, her visage enigmatic.

Slowly, she extended a hand to clasp Meredith’s. "You are not alone," she assured.

Meredith’s lips twitched into a subtle smile. "I know."

—

Far into the night, profound stillness blanketed the palace.

Their chambers held only dim lamplight, which danced soft shadows over the walls.

Meredith paused beside the bed, leisurely securing her night robe’s sash. The day’s occurrences had fully processed, yielding serenity and sharper focus.

Draven observed her from behind in quiet for some moments. Then he advanced.

Bridging the gap, his palms settled on her waist effortlessly, drawing her rearward into his embrace. His chin hovered gently by her shoulder, his aura enshrouding her in comforting heat.

"You’ve been thinking too much today," he whispered.

"I haven’t," Meredith countered, remaining in place.

His fingertips grazed her arm languidly, purposefully. "That’s not what it feels like."

She pivoted partway in his grasp to meet his eyes. "I’m fine."

Draven appraised her briefly, then inclined closer, grazing her cheek with his lips twice before descending further.

"Draven."

"Hm?"

"That’s enough."

"It isn’t." Confidence laced his voice. His palm then drifted from her waist, but Meredith seized it swiftly and securely.

She redirected it, positioning it tenderly atop her belly. "No further."

Draven blinked, glancing downward then up at her. "You are using them as a shield now?" he queried.

Meredith arched an eyebrow. "They come first."

"They are not stopping me."

"They are."

His eyes narrowed faintly. "They don’t even know what’s happening."

"That’s exactly why they need protection."

Silence hung briefly while Draven eyed her, her midsection, then her once more. "I don’t like this alliance," he grumbled.

Meredith nearly grinned.

His palm lingered on her abdomen. Motionless for an instant, he simply sensed. Then a breath released.

"They are already interfering with me," he tacked on.

"They are your cubs," Meredith stated evenly.

"That doesn’t make it better."

Now fully facing him, her hand overlaying his lightly. "Go to sleep."

Draven fixed her with a stare. "You’re dismissing me?"

"Yes."

He held still, eyes doubting. Meredith cocked her head. "Do you want me to ask them to behave again?"

That provoked a response—a soft, disbelieving huff. "You’re threatening me with my own children now?"

"It seems effective."

He exhaled, raking fingers through his hair prior to retreating. "This is unfair."

"It’s temporary."

"That doesn’t help."

Meredith brushed past, slipping into bed and nestling in before peering back. "Are you coming or not?"

Draven hesitated another beat before complying. He settled beside her, a trace of reluctance etching his features.

Lying next to her, he inched nearer, arm encircling her on reflex. Yet his hand remained permitted—resting atop her stomach.