The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 660: Unspeakable Joy
[Meredith].
"I’m not reacting enough," Draven replied.
I held his gaze. There was no teasing in him now, only focus and intent.
Time passed quietly. I rested back against the pillows, one hand unconsciously resting over my stomach.
That faint warmth was still there. Though it was subtle, but alive. And somehow... steady.
Draven remained nearby, pacing only once or twice before stopping again, as if unwilling to put distance between us for too long.
Through the matebond, I sensed another shift. Valmora stirred attentively and paused. A flicker of confusion and something else, like curiosity. Before I could understand it fully, the doors opened.
The royal healer entered swiftly, bowing deeply. "Your Majesties."
"Check her," Draven said immediately without responding to her greetings.
The healer approached, her expression composed but focused. She began her examination carefully, her hands gentle and precise as she assessed me.
I remained still. Draven stood close enough that I could feel him watching and waiting.
The healer’s movements slowed and finally stopped. Then her expression changed. Her brows drew together slightly as if she were confirming something she hadn’t expected.
Draven noticed immediately. "What is it?" he asked, his voice tightening.
The healer hesitated, then she lowered her head slightly. "Your Majesty..." she began carefully, but suddenly paused.
That brief silence nearly forced me out of bed. Thankfully, she continued.
"Her Majesty is indeed with child."
Her statement settled into a quiet confirmation. Draven’s hand tightened slightly at his side, but the healer wasn’t finished.
"There is... something else."
That caught both of our attention. My gaze sharpened slightly as Draven asked, "What do you mean?"
The healer lifted her head. Her expression now held a trace of awe. "It is not one," she said. "Her Majesty is carrying twins."
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The words lingered, heavier this time. ’Twins?’
My hand instinctively pressed slightly against my stomach. That faint warmth shifted. Not one. Two.
"I’m carrying twins?" I said more to myself than to anyone else.
Draven went completely still, but through the matebond, I felt the shift in him—shock. Then something deeper and stronger.
His gaze slowly shifted to me, then lowered to where his hand had been earlier.
"To think..." he murmured under his breath.
There was something almost incredulous in his tone. Then his expression hardened with resolve.
His eyes lifted again, locking onto mine, more determined this time. Firm. Protective. No—more than that.
"You’re not leaving my side," he said.
There was no room for argument. Not now. Not anymore.
---
For a moment after Draven briefly escorted the healer out, the room fell silent. But as soon as he returned, he moved again, this time without restraint.
His composure—usually so controlled, so measured—broke completely as he closed the distance between us in a few quick steps.
His hands reached my face, and before I could react, he kissed me. It was full of something raw—relief, joy... disbelief. When he pulled back, there was a rare brightness in his eyes that I had only seen a handful of times.
"Twins," he said, almost as if testing the word.
Then he let out a short breath and actually laughed. He turned slightly, running a hand through his hair before pacing once, then stopping again, as though he didn’t quite know what to do with himself.
"This..." he muttered, shaking his head. "This is—"
He didn’t finish. Instead, he looked back at me, and I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips.
For once, I said nothing. I simply watched him because after everything we had been through together, this moment felt deserved.
"It’s been almost two years," I uttered softly.
His gaze softened slightly.
"And now..." I continued, resting my hand lightly over my stomach, "We are having our cubs."
The thought still felt surreal, then something clicked in my mind. "My grandmother’s letter," I said.
Draven’s attention sharpened immediately.
"She ended it with congratulations to us," I added. "I didn’t understand why at the time. But now, it made sense.
Draven let out a quiet breath, then gave a small shake of his head. "That woman..." he muttered. "She truly sees further than most."
His lips curved faintly. "I believe it now."
Not long after, Draven picked me up again. I didn’t bother as he had already warned me not to argue.
He carried me into the bathing room and set me down carefully by the tub, already preparing the water as though he had done it a hundred times before.
"I can do this myself," I said.
"I know," he replied. Yet he didn’t step away. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
He stayed, helping me into the bath and making sure the temperature was just right. His movements were careful—far more careful than necessary.
When I was done, he wrapped a towel around my hair himself and guided me into the dressing room.
Before my maidservants could even step forward, he had already begun drying my hair.
I raised a brow slightly. "You’re doing too much at this point."
"I’m not doing enough," he replied without pause.
The maids exchanged glances, then smiles.
When he finally stepped aside and left to go have his bath, they moved in, their expressions bright with excitement.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty."
"Congratulations, my Queen."
Their voices carried genuine happiness.
I inclined my head slightly. "Thank you."
---
Breakfast was different. Draven didn’t sit still for long. Every few moments, something new appeared on my plate.
"Eat this."
"And this."
"This too."
I looked down at the growing arrangement of fruits and dishes, then back at him. "I’m not starving."
"You are eating for three now."
"That doesn’t mean—"
"Eat."
I paused, then sighed quietly and did as he said. He watched me closely until I finished everything. Only then did he seem satisfied.
After breakfast, a familiar presence stirred through the matebond. Valmora, then Rhovan.
Their awareness brushed against mine, then shifted toward the faint presence within me. Their excitement was evident.
But what Draven and I never saw coming was their disagreement.
"They are both mine," Valmora’s presence pushed forward, almost smug.
Rhovan’s response came just as quickly, firm and amused. "One is mine."
"No."
"Yes."
Their voices overlapped, neither willing to yield. I felt the faint echo of their bickering, and despite myself, a small smile tugged at my lips.
Draven, however, did not share the amusement. "Enough," he said aloud, his tone flat.
The bond went quiet instantly, forcing a chuckle out of my lips.
After a moment, Draven’s expression changed once more, now more serious. "There will be no more training," he said.
I looked at him. "No."
His brows drew together slightly. "No?" he repeated.
"I will continue training," I said calmly. "Pregnancy doesn’t make me fragile."
"It changes things."
"Not enough to stop me."
"It’s not up for debate."
"It is."
The air between us shifted slightly. Regardless, I continued, "I am not going to sit idle for months. I can adjust my training."
"You won’t train at all."
I held his gaze. "And who decided that?"
"I did."
I paused for a moment, then exhaled. "You’re being unreasonable."
"And you’re ignoring what this means."
"It means I carry our cubs," I said. "Not that I lose myself."
His jaw tightened slightly. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then—
"I said no." The finality in his tone made it clear.
I studied him for a second longer, then shook my head slightly. "Since when did you start winning arguments against me?"
A faint flicker of satisfaction crossed his expression.
I didn’t comment on that. Instead, I leaned back slightly. "When will we announce it?" I asked, changing the topic.
His attention shifted immediately. He reached out, his hand resting gently over my stomach. This time, his touch was softer and grounded.
"After three months," he said.
I nodded, feeling it made sense. For now, this piece of wonderful news still belonged to us.
