The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven novel Chapter 296

Chapter 296: Back in Stormveil

~Third Person~

The moment Wanda’s car rolled past Stormveil’s gates, her stomach twisted.

The familiar landscape outside the window, once comforting, now felt suffocating.

She pulled her phone from her clutch with trembling fingers and quickly dialed her brother’s number.

"Levi," she breathed the second he answered.

"Wanda? Where are you?" His voice was calm but alert, as though he had been expecting her call.

"I just crossed the gates," she whispered. Then her eyes darted toward the driver and the guard seated in front. Both men wore impassive faces, but she knew better.

They were Draven’s trusted people. Every word she said could find its way back to him if she wasn’t careful.

Levi must have caught the tightness in her tone. "Are you alright?"

"No," she admitted softly, her nails digging into her palm. "Tell me, is he home?"

"Yes," Levi replied after a pause. "Father just got back from a meeting. He’s upstairs, changing for dinner."

Wanda closed her eyes, pressing the phone tighter against her ear. "Levi..."

Her voice cracked, but she stopped herself from saying more because of these ears in the car.

Levi’s tone softened, as though sensing the words she swallowed back. "Calm down, Wanda. You will be fine."

With her gaze fixed on the driver’s stiff shoulders, she lowered her voice further. "Just... stay close when I arrive."

"I’m not going anywhere," Levi assured her firmly. "I will be right here."

The line went quiet, but Wanda didn’t hang up immediately.

She clutched the phone a little longer, as though his voice alone was the only anchor holding her together while the car carried her closer to her father’s wrath.

---

Fifteen minutes later, the car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the sprawling Fellowes estate. The tall iron gates clanged shut behind them, sealing Wanda’s return.

The guard in the passenger seat stepped out immediately, rounding the car with crisp efficiency. He opened the door for her with a polite bow.

Wanda hesitated only a fraction of a second before stepping down, the evening air cool against her skin.

Ahead, Levi was already striding toward her, tall and broad-shouldered, his presence steady and comforting.

The moment Wanda saw him, her composure cracked. She closed the distance quickly and threw her arms around him. "Brother."

Levi’s arms came up, firm and reassuring, wrapping her in the kind of safety she hadn’t felt since she left Duskmoor.

Behind them, the chauffeur moved to the trunk and heaved out three large pieces of luggage.

Almost instantly, three household servants appeared, bowing briefly before taking the bags with quick efficiency.

Wanda’s heart lurched. She cast a quick glance at Levi, who gave her a steady look in return. "Remember," he whispered as they started up the stairs, "speak with confidence."

She nodded, though her palm was already damp against her side.

Inside, the air of the Fellowes mansion was as heavy as she remembered; polished wood, faint smoke, and her father’s presence pressing into every corner.

They followed the sound of deliberate footsteps until they reached the sitting room.

Reginald stood near the fireplace, his back straight, hands clasped behind him. Then his voice sliced through the air the moment Wanda stepped in.

"Why are you back so suddenly?"

The question was flat, but the weight behind it made Wanda’s throat tighten.

Levi lingered just long enough to glance at her, then he stepped aside, leaving the response to her because answering on her behalf won’t do her any good.

Wanda forced a smile and bent her head respectfully. "Father." Her voice wavered at first, but she steadied it quickly.

"Alpha Draven reassigned me. He said the rising tensions in Duskmoor required me to return here and focus on collecting reports for him that will help prepare for the war."

Reginald’s eyes narrowed as he studied her, his silence heavier than his words. It was clear as day he didn’t believe a word she said.

Levi stepped forward then, his tone measured. "Father, she speaks the truth. One of Draven’s trusted guards who escorted her back, directly informed me of her reassignment before leaving."

Reginald’s eyes shifted briefly to Levi, as though weighing the claim, before returning to Wanda with a stare that made her knees ache to buckle.