The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 680: Last Moments

[Third Person].

The night before the war was quieter than expected.

The palace, though fully aware of what awaited at dawn, did not fall into chaos. Instead, it settled into a strange calm, as though everyone had reached the same unspoken understanding—there was nothing more to prepare, nothing more to delay.

Only to face what was coming.

In one of the private sitting rooms, Meredith and Draven sat across from each other, a map spread between them. The candles burned low, their light steady, casting soft shadows across the table.

They had already gone over the formations twice. Yet neither of them moved to roll the map away.

"If the eastern flank collapses," Meredith said, her finger resting lightly on the marked terrain, "they will push inward from here."

Draven followed her indication. "Jeffery’s unit is there. He won’t let it break easily."

"He won’t," Meredith agreed, "but if they’re targeting me, they might not need to."

A brief silence followed. Draven leaned back slightly, his gaze shifting from the map to her. "Then they will try to isolate you."

Meredith met his eyes. "Yes."

Neither of them softened the truth.

"That’s why I won’t stay behind the main line," she added. "If I do, I will become the centre of everything again."

Draven nodded once. He had already come to the same conclusion. "If it comes to that," he said after a moment, "you don’t hold your position."

Meredith’s brows drew slightly. "You want me to retreat?"

"I want you alive," he replied calmly.

She held his gaze for a second longer, then shook her head lightly. "If I retreat, they will follow. That only moves the danger somewhere else."

Draven didn’t argue immediately because she wasn’t wrong. A quiet pause settled between them before he spoke again.

"Then if it turns," he said, his voice steady, "we split their focus."

Meredith understood instantly. "You draw them."

"And you break them."

The plan sat between them, dangerous, yet necessary.

Her lips pressed slightly, then eased. "That’s risky."

"So is everything else."

That was true. They both knew it.

Another silence followed, softer this time. Then Meredith spoke, more quietly. "If something happens..."

Draven’s gaze didn’t waver. "It won’t."

"If it does," she continued, "Stormveil comes first."

His jaw tightened faintly, but he didn’t interrupt her.

"You don’t abandon the war for me," she said. "No matter what."

Draven watched her for a long moment before replying. "You are asking me to ignore you."

"I’m asking you to lead," she corrected gently.

That settled more heavily than anything else they had said that night.

After a moment, he nodded once. "Then you do the same."

Meredith didn’t hesitate. "I will."

Their eyes held no dramatics or promises they couldn’t keep. Just understanding.

Then Draven reached across the table and took her hand, his grip firm but calm. "We end this tomorrow or in two days," he said.

Meredith nodded. "We do."

Not long after, a soft knock came at the door. Draven released her hand and said, "Come in."

The door opened, and a maid stepped in quietly. But both of them recognized her immediately.

"Xamira," Meredith said.

The woman stepped forward, then dropped to one knee, her head bowed deeply. "Your Majesty."

She turned slightly, addressing both of them, but her focus remained on Meredith. "I have come to ask for your permission."

Meredith’s expression shifted slightly. "Permission for what?"

Xamira lowered herself further. "To stand with you in this war."

A small, heavy silence followed, then Meredith said, "You owe me nothing."

"I do," Xamira replied without hesitation. "You spared my life. You gave me freedom when you had every reason not to. I have lived because of you."

Her voice did not waver. "Allow me to repay that."

Meredith exchanged a brief glance with Draven before turning back to her. "You understand what you’re asking? You may lose your life."

Xamira lifted her head slightly. "Then I will lose it willingly." There was nothing like fear in her tone, only resolve.

"I would rather die repaying my debt than live knowing I did nothing."

The room fell quiet again.

Meredith studied her for a moment longer, then gave a small nod. "Stay close," she said.

Xamira bowed deeply. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

***

Morning came too quickly.

The palace stirred before sunrise, movement spreading through the halls as preparations reached their final stage.

Inside the chamber, Meredith stood with the twins in her arms.

Luna rested quietly against her, while Kieran shifted slightly, his small hand gripping her clothing as though sensing something was different.

Meredith looked at them for a long moment, longer than she had intended.

There was a brief flicker of hesitation—not weakness, but something deeper. The quiet pull between staying and going.

Then she closed her eyes and pressed a soft kiss to Luna’s forehead. Then to Kieran’s.

"I will be back," she whispered.

When she opened her eyes again, the hesitation was gone.

Draven entered shortly after, fully armoured. The nannies bowed immediately. "Your Majesty."

He acknowledged them with a brief nod before walking straight to Meredith’s side. His gaze softened slightly as it fell on the twins, and he reached out, resting his hand gently on their heads.

Then he leaned in, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads. No words were needed.

A few minutes later, Meredith handed the twins over carefully.

Then she and Draven stepped out together, their hands briefly brushing before settling into a steady hold.

—

Outside, the warriors were already assembled. The air was crisp, charged with anticipation.

Oscar stepped forward. "Your Majesty, Beta Jeffery and the other commanders have already set out."

Draven nodded. "Good."

Right then, Meredith turned to her grandmother and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her briefly.

"Remember what I taught you," the old lady said.

"I will, Grandma," Meredith replied.

"Focus. Don’t rush. Don’t panic."

Meredith nodded again. "Watch over them."

"I will," her grandmother assured her. "Go without worry."

They pulled apart after that.

Draven glanced around briefly, then asked, "Where is my mother?"

"She is somewhere inside," the old lady said calmly. "Likely crying. Do not concern yourself with it."

Draven glanced once toward the palace entrance, then nodded.

A moment later, Dennis and Helena stepped forward. Dennis pulled Draven into a firm embrace. "I will hold Stormveil until you return."

"I know," Draven replied.

Helena moved to Meredith, hugging her gently. "Come back safely, Your Majesty."

"I will," Meredith said.

Dennis stepped over next, pulling Meredith into a brief hug before stepping back with a grin. "Make sure you actually use those fae powers properly this time."

That earned him a light slap on the shoulder.

Meredith smiled faintly. "Of course, I will." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The tension eased, just slightly.

Then, the time to move out arrived.

Draven stepped forward with Meredith beside him. Together, with their warriors behind them, they set out for war.