CHAPTER 246: A SENSE OF REGRET

(Third Person).

The heavy door clicked shut behind Draven, sealing him away from his father’s simmering disapproval.

He strode down the dim corridor toward his own private chambers, the air still charged from the confrontation.

"Finally," Rhovan’s voice rumbled in his mind, deep and edged with satisfaction. "About time those pathetic old fools were put in their place. How dare they speak of our mate like that?"

A faint smirk tugged at Draven’s lips. "They got what they deserved for overstepping their boundaries."

"Overstepped?" Rhovan’s growl was low and amused. "Reginald’s face—" Then he broke into a dark, throaty laugh. "I will be dreaming about that expression for weeks. I swear, I saw his soul shrivel when you called Meredith your mate."

Draven’s smirk widened, his footsteps echoing in the corridor. "Just realizing that he has been pushing his daughter at me since we were barely out of training has me imagining he’s already plotting his next move."

"Let him plot," Rhovan scoffed. "The look on his face when he realized all his little schemes crumbled? Glorious. That pompous snake deserved every bit of humiliation you handed him."

Draven allowed himself the smallest chuckle, though his eyes stayed cold. "He will recover. Men like him always do."

There was a pause, then Rhovan’s tone shifted into something more playful, almost wicked. "Imagine, Draven... just imagine their faces if they learned that our mate is not wolfless after all."

A flicker of heat lit Draven’s chest at the thought. "Their expressions would be priceless. And I would love to see that."

"Oh, they’d choke on their own pride," Rhovan said, laughter rumbling like distant thunder. "Every last one of them. They would be forced to swallow their words."

Draven’s smile faded back into something unreadable. "But I won’t reveal it now. Not yet. Let them keep underestimating her... it will make their downfall sweeter when that right time comes. So for now, we have to protect our mate from them."

"You are right. Protecting our mate is our top priority." Rhovan gave a satisfied growl, and for a moment, the two shared a rare sense of perfect accord.

---

At the same time, at Draven’s estate back in Duskmoor...

Wanda had just slipped out of her dress, preparing for a bath, when her phone buzzed across the vanity. The sharp, commanding name flashing on the screen made her stomach tighten.

There was no other contact that sent fear straight to her bone marrow except a call from her father.

For a moment, she simply stared at it, dread prickling her skin. She was well aware that her father never called without reason—never without expecting answers. And she hated it.

Wanda swallowed, hit the green icon, and pressed the phone to her ear. "Father—"

"What in the Moon Goddess’ name have you been doing?" Reginald’s voice thundered through the line immediately, every syllable laced with venom. "Do you think this is some sort of game, Wanda?"

Her brows drew together. "What are you talking about, Father? What have I done wrong?"

"Don’t play dumb with me!" he barked. "I just came from the council, and your precious Draven announced that Meredith is his mate."

Almost immediately, her father’s revelation hit her like ice water. And for a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

But as soon as she caught her breath, she reacted. "What?"

"You heard me." Reginald’s tone was a sneer now, twisting like a knife. "Meredith. Is. His. Mate. Do you have any idea what this does to our plans? Or are you so useless you can’t even see the disaster you’ve caused?"

Wanda’s fingers curled into her robe. Her voice sharpened instantly. "That’s impossible. Draven is lying—obviously—to protect her and to fool everyone. You know how he plays his games."

"Fool everyone?" Reginald’s laugh was cold and humourless. "The only fool here is you, Wanda. I’ve been paving your path to the throne for years, and when it matters most, you fail me."

Wanda’s throat tightened as heat flooded her cheeks. "I haven’t failed—"

"Don’t speak!" Reginald snapped, his patience worn thin. "You can’t get anything done. Always so sure of yourself, yet every time, it’s Meredith who comes out standing. You can’t even get rid of a worthless and wolfless existence despite the many opportunities you’ve had. You are nothing but a disappointment."

Breathing furiously into the phone, Reginald continued. "Then tell me, what is the difference between you and that girl? At least she is wolfless. We all know that, so it is expected that she is useless. But what excuse do you have with a wolf—you who has been training since you were young?"

"Father, I—" Wanda tried to protest, but her father didn’t give her the chance.

"Shut your mouth! You can’t even get a simple work done."

The line crackled with the silence that followed, every word he had spat still burning in her ears.

And then—click. The call was over.

Wanda sat there, phone still pressed to her ear, staring blankly at her reflection in the vanity mirror.

Her first instinct was to dismiss his words. Draven had to be lying. It was a stunt—another calculated move to silence dissent. But as the seconds stretched, doubt began to snake its way in, winding tight around her thoughts.

What if he wasn’t lying?

What if Meredith really was his mate?

Her chest constricted, but another, more urgent realization suddenly slammed into her.

Her father... had just confronted Draven about his supposed plan to use Meredith as a pawn. That meant—if Draven connected the dots—he would know exactly how he got that information.

And there had only ever been one source.

Wanda’s stomach sank.

If Draven suspected her, there would be repercussions—and Draven was not a man who forgave betrayal lightly.

Wanda shoved her phone onto the table, pacing in tight, angry circles. Her father hadn’t just shattered her composure; he had painted a target on her back without a second thought.

He never cared about the consequences—not if they didn’t touch him.

This time, however, it was her neck on the line. And she had no idea how she was going to get out of this one—provided that it was even possible.

"Draven won’t let this go." Wanda bit her nails as a sudden sense of regret washed over her.