CHAPTER 253: BOOSTING HER CONFIDENCE

Draven.

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on my knees, and said, "I want you to follow me to Duskmoor. You will oversee the estate there."

Her brows lifted slightly, surprise breaking through her usual composure. "To Duskmoor, Alpha?"

There was a small pause, then she added carefully, "What about Wanda?"

I shook my head once. "Wanda is no longer suitable." My voice was flat, final.

Whatever trust I’d once placed in Wanda had eroded, too many small failings accumulating into something I could no longer ignore.

Madame Beatrice didn’t reply immediately. She let the words settle between us, her gaze steady on mine. After a moment, she inclined her head, though not without hesitation.

"Very well. But, Alpha, you know I am the one currently managing your family’s household here."

"I know," I said, my tone softening a fraction. "It can be sorted out. Entrust your duties to a capable hand—someone you believe won’t falter in your absence."

Her lips pressed together in thought before she gave a slow, deliberate nod. "As you command. Whatever you say, Alpha, I will do as you have instructed."

"Good." I leaned back, a small measure of relief easing into my chest. "We leave early tomorrow—around five."

She rose gracefully to her feet. "Then I will go at once to transfer my duties and prepare my things."

She paused, her eyes narrowing just slightly with the precision of someone who never overlooked details. "But you should let your father know of this change. He will not appreciate being informed after the fact."

I gave a short nod. "I will."

"Very well." She bowed, a gesture of loyalty that came without the stiffness of obligation, and turned to leave.

When the door closed behind her, I let out a quiet sigh and leaned back in my chair. The silence of the study pressed in once more, but my mind refused to settle.

Already, ideas and strategies began brimming in my head, pieces shifting across a board I couldn’t yet see in full. Duskmoor, Meredith, her siblings, the undertones of my father’s warnings—all threads weaving into a future that would demand precision, strength, and an iron will.

And I intended to be ready.

---

The night pressed heavy against the windows of my chamber, the moonlight spilling pale and silver across the floor.

I sat on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, my thoughts still tangled in the day’s dealings. After a long breath, I pressed the call button.

It rang once before Meredith’s soft voice came through, as always when it was just the two of us.

"I remembered to call you didn’t I?" I asked in a teasing tone.

"Of course, you did." I could feel the smile from her tone.

Then I proceeded to ask her about her day and finally when I had set the tone, I moved on to something more important.

"Meredith," I said, leaning back against the headboard. "I need to tell you something."

There was a pause, then she answered, "What is it?"

"Your father came to see me today," I began. "He asked that Gary and Mabel be allowed to follow me to Duskmoor."

The silence on the other end sharpened. When she finally spoke, her voice held a thread of unease.

"What did you say?"

I closed my eyes briefly, sighing. I told her everything, even explaining my reluctance.

"... I even had him sign an undertaking, thinking it would stop him. But in the end... I couldn’t prevent it. They will be coming."

The line went quiet again. Too quiet. I straightened, the unease prickling at the back of my neck. "Meredith," I said carefully, "are you angry?"

Her answer came slowly, her tone cool but steady. "No. I just know my father. He’s never cared about me. Sending Gary and Mabel here isn’t about my well-being—it’s an excuse. Either to monitor me... or to dig for something more."

Her words were sharp with truth, and I felt a grim sort of satisfaction that she saw it so clearly.

"You’re right," I admitted. "But listen to me—I won’t let them harm you. Not in Duskmoor, not anywhere. You are under my protection. They can’t do anything to you."

Still, she said nothing. The silence pressed heavier now, like a weight between us.

I let out a low breath, forcing my voice to soften. "Meredith. You are my wife. That makes you Luna. By rank alone, you stand above every member of your family. Not one of them can touch you without consequence."

For a beat, the line was empty. Then—quiet, almost disbelieving—she chuckled.

The sound tugged at the corner of my mouth. A smile, unbidden but welcome.

"That’s better," I murmured. But I didn’t stop there. "And more than that—you’re the future Queen of our people. You should walk with confidence. Don’t let anyone, not even your siblings, make you feel smaller than what you are."

Her voice was softer now, but tinged with pain. "That’s easier said than done, Draven. They’ve tormented me for years. Just being in the same space with them feels... suffocating. Traumatizing."

I let her words settle, then spoke, low and firm.

"Then do what you always do with me. Find that same boldness you use when you argue with me, when you stand your ground and fight me without fear. That fire is yours. Wear it. Use it against them if they dare to disturb your peace."

For a moment, silence again—then, unexpectedly, she laughed. Not just a chuckle, but a true, unrestrained laugh, bright enough to pierce the heaviness of the night.

I leaned back, allowing myself a rare moment of ease, a faint smile curving my lips. Hearing her laugh like that—it almost made me forget the weight of what awaited us in Duskmoor. Almost.

Her laughter lingered through the phone, light and fragile, as though it might shatter if I breathed too hard.

I closed my eyes, letting the sound wrap around me like warmth after a long winter. For once, she wasn’t weighed down by fear or bitterness—just... herself.