CHAPTER 256: IN A DEEP SHIT

Meredith.

I woke up with my heart already racing. Excitement and dread wrestled inside me, and for a few seconds, I simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, willing myself to breathe evenly.

Today, Draven was finally coming back to Duskmoor. Just thinking it made warmth rush through me—I missed him more than I dared to admit.

But that warmth soured the moment I remembered the other truth: my brother and sister would be arriving with him.

I wasn’t sure what would happen when I saw Gary and Mabel again. My stomach tightened at the thought of their smirks, their voices, the weight of years of torment pressing down on me.

Would they mock me the moment they stepped foot inside, or would they simply watch me, waiting for a crack in my composure?

No. I wouldn’t give them the chance.

I swung my legs out of bed and stood, forcing my nerves into the back of my mind. I dressed quickly in my usual training fitted outfit.

My fingers worked through my hair, tying the silver strands into an updo. In the mirror, my reflection looked sharper, steadier. Not the fragile girl they remembered, but the Luna I was learning to become.

I wanted Draven to see what I had learned when he returned. I wanted my siblings to see the effect of all my training and realize I was no longer beneath them.

Dennis didn’t need to call me today—I already knew where I was going. The training grounds. I would meet him there, and I would prove to myself what I’ve been learning.

As I descended the stairs, a familiar voice reached me. It was Wanda’s. She was speaking in a hushed tone, but the words floated clearly enough.

"...Father ruined everything for me... I don’t know how to face Draven anymore... I don’t even know if he is going to forgive this..."

I froze, every muscle in my body tightening. My eyes narrowed as I crept down a step, straining to catch more.

What had she done? And why hadn’t Draven mentioned it last night?

He had told me everything about my father, about Gary and Mabel, but nothing about Wanda panicking like this.

I pressed closer, holding my breath.

But just like that, the door clicked shut, and the sound vanished. Wanda was gone.

I straightened slowly, frowning. It looked like she was in a deep shit. Whatever she had done, it was enough to leave her shaken.

I wanted to know. But I didn’t need to pry. I trusted Draven. He wouldn’t keep this from me, not anymore. Sooner or later, I would find out.

I forced myself to keep moving. The ground floor bustled with servants, and they stopped to bow as I passed.

"Good morning, my lady," they greeted.

I answered them with a nod and quiet words, but inside, something settled in me. Every time they called me Luna, I felt the weight of it more.

I wasn’t just Meredith Carter anymore. I was Draven’s wife. Luna of Duskmoor. The future Queen, just like Draven had reminded me last night.

Stepping outside, the morning air bit against my skin, cool and sharp, waking me fully.

The training grounds stretched ahead, and I caught sight of Dennis already there, waiting. My nerves didn’t disappear, but they dulled beneath the steady drum of resolve.

---

By the time I returned to my bedroom, every muscle in my body ached from the training session with Dennis. Sweat clung to my skin, and my silver hair—once so neatly tied—had half-fallen from its pins.

I pushed the door open and was immediately met by the familiar sight of Azul, Kira, and Deidra waiting inside.

Azul moved first, her sharp eyes scanning me from head to toe. "You look exhausted, my lady," she murmured, her hands already reaching for the water they had prepared.

Kira and Deidra hurried in behind her, fussing as they helped peel away my damp clothes. The routine was comforting.

They worked in silence at first, quick and efficient, but I felt Azul’s gaze linger on me more than once. When she finally met my eyes, there was a crease of concern etched across her face.

I raised a brow. "What? Is there something on my face?"

Azul shook her head slowly. "No, my lady... but you look nervous. Worried."

Her words pierced through me. I tried to smile, but the weight pressing on my chest wouldn’t let me.

I sat down on the edge of the bed as Kira dabbed at my arms with a warm cloth. "It’s Gary and Mabel," I confessed softly. "They are coming to Duskmoor. They will be here today."

Azul froze for a moment. She didn’t need me to explain further. She already knew the scars those two had carved into my past.

With a soft sigh, she set aside the towel she’d been holding. "My lady," she said gently, "you have Alpha Draven now. He won’t allow them to harm you. They can’t touch you anymore."

Her certainty steadied me, though the knot in my stomach still twisted.

Kira’s head snapped up. "Gary and Mabel? My lady, those are your siblings, aren’t they?"

Deidra blinked, looking between us with wide eyes. "But... you seem afraid. Why?"

Azul answered before I could. Her tone was calm, but there was a sharp edge beneath it. "Because they bullied her for years."

The cloth in Kira’s hands dropped back into the tub with a splash. "What? Bullied you? Their own sister?"

Deidra’s lips pressed into a tight line. "That’s unforgivable."

Deidra crossed her arms, her youthful face fierce. "Let them try anything here. I will show them what happens when someone dares to insult our mistress."

Kira chimed in, her voice low but resolute. "You are our Luna. You are our Queen-to-be. They will learn respect whether they like it or not."

Their words made me chuckle, despite the heaviness in my chest. I looked at the three of them—their flushed cheeks, their fiery loyalty—and felt warmth bloom inside me.

How had I become so fortunate to have them at my side?

"I don’t deserve the three of you," I murmured, smiling as Azul finally knelt in front of me to fix the strands of hair slipping from my updo.