CHAPTER 257: FOR MY HUSBAND

Meredith.

Azul met my gaze, unwavering. "You deserve more than you realize, my lady. And we will remind you of that every single day if we must."

For the first time since waking that morning, the tension in my body eased. My siblings were coming, yes—but I wasn’t that defenseless girl anymore. I had Draven, and I had these three by my side. Their loyalty wasn’t something that could be bought or traded. It was mine, unshakable.

And suddenly, I realized—I wasn’t facing this day alone.

---

The clink of silverware against porcelain filled the breakfast hall, yet the air felt heavier than usual.

I sat at the long table, idly stirring my tea, while Wanda pushed food around her plate as if every bite were poison. Her hands trembled faintly when she lifted her fork, and she barely looked up from her meal.

I pretended not to stare, but it was impossible to ignore the way her face tightened every time someone entered the room—as though she feared who might walk in.

Her nervousness was palpable, gnawing at the edges of her composure.

What has she done? I still wondered, narrowing my eyes slightly. This wasn’t the behavior of someone with a simple worry or crime.

No—Wanda looked like a woman cornered, carrying the weight of some major secret mistake.

I sipped my tea slowly, hiding the small smirk tugging at my lips. Whatever it was, she had done that was big enough to warrant this slip in her composure, would definitely worth my happiness.

It was about time Wanda made a big mistake that would really get her on Draven’s bad side. Just as long as it doesn’t jeopardize something important him.

The thought of Draven made my chest tighten. My left hand slipped on top of the table to touch the phone next to my plate, where his last message glowed across the screen: On my way to Duskmoor.

Relief washed over me. Soon, he would be here—my anchor, my shield. I could already picture the moment his presence filled this house again, steady and commanding.

I glanced once more at Wanda, catching the flicker of panic in her eyes as she forced a smile toward Xamira.

Yes. She was in trouble, real trouble. And I couldn’t wait for Draven to come home.

"My lady, I want another boiled egg," Xamira’s contented voice reached me, pulling my attention back to her. But Dennis was faster.

"Here," Dennis said with a smile as picked up a peeled boiled egg from his plate and passed it to her. "You can have it."

Xamira’s face shone brightly as she reached out her small hand to take it. "Thank you, Uncle Dennis."

"You’re welcome. Now, enjoy your egg."

And with that, we all continued with our breakfast, my mind counting down to how many hours left until Draven arrived.

---

I lay sprawled across my bed with a history tome open on my lap, though my eyes had been skating over the same paragraph for the last ten minutes.

My mind wasn’t on ancient wars but on the clock. Every tick seemed to mock me.

Across the room, Cora and Arya folded fresh laundry into neat piles, chatting softly to each other as if the world weren’t dragging its feet just to torment me.

Then my phone rang. My heart leapt, and before the second chime I snatched it up.

"Meredith," his deep voice filled my ear, steady as ever, but there was a warmth beneath it that melted me instantly. "We’re forty minutes away."

I squealed—an utterly childish, unguarded sound—but I didn’t care. "You’re almost here!" I laughed, pressing the phone close. "I’m waiting."

There was a pause, and I could hear the faintest trace of amusement in his silence before he asked, "Are you truly that happy?"

"Yes," I said without hesitation, grinning so wide my cheeks ached. "More than you know."

When the call ended, I sat there a moment, giddy and warm all over, then immediately dialed Dennis and informed him that his brother was forty minutes away.

His voice came brisk and bright: "Perfect. I will get everyone ready."

"I will check the kitchen," I told him quickly, already swinging my legs off the bed. "Wanda has been out of sorts lately, and I don’t trust her to oversee the preparations."

Dennis chuckled knowingly. "Then carry on. You won’t rest until it’s perfect anyway since you really want to welcome your husband."

I didn’t deny it. I chuckled instead. Then hanging up, I scrambled to my feet. Cora and Arya were watching me with matching smiles.

"Is the Alpha already close, my lady?" Arya asked, eyes shining.

"Yes," I said, my smile almost uncontrollable. "Very close. But I need to check the kitchen before he gets here."

"Let me come with you," Arya offered quickly, but I shook my head.

"No, I will be back soon. Tell Azul and the others to have my bath ready by the time I return."

They nodded obediently, and I swept from the room, my heart fluttering like wings against my ribs.

On the ground floor, the scent of baking bread and roasting meats greeted me, rich and warm. But beneath it, another sound pricked my ears—raised voices.

Wanda’s voice, sharp and shrill, echoing down the corridor that led to the kitchens.

My brows knit together as I quickened my pace. Who was she shouting at now?

I rounded the corner and stepped into the wide kitchen—and froze.

Wanda stood in the center, her posture rigid, her face twisted in anger. Before her, one of the female chefs kept her gaze down, the left side of her face flaming red as though freshly struck

My stomach lurched, then heat surged through me—anger, pure and swift.

"Wanda," I said sharply, my voice cutting through the clatter of pots and the thick silence that followed her tirade.

Her head whipped toward me, and the look she gave me could have curdled milk.

"Well, look who finally decided to play Luna," she sneered. "Didn’t realize you had time to meddle in the kitchen."

The staff froze, not daring to breathe. My hands curled at my sides, but I forced my voice to stay levelled.

"You struck my chef." For a brief moment, I was met with silence, then Wanda’s laughter suddenly rang out, low and scornful.