CHAPTER 258: DROPPING THOUGHTS OF WANDA

Meredith.

"Your chef? Don’t make me laugh, Meredith. This estate solely belongs to Draven. Nothing here belongs to you. Or have you been dreaming of stealing something of his’?"

I took a slow step forward, locking eyes with her. "I am Draven Oatrun’s wife. Which makes this my household as much as his. I don’t need to steal anything, unlike some people with dangerous covetous desires."

"I wonder who those people are," she said to me, meeting my gaze head-on without even as much flinching.

She was confident. But I was more confident than she was.

"Well, those people know themselves and would never ever admit to the truth publicly, even if they are injected with a wolfsbane. The only way to expose them is to publicly disgrace them."

Wanda’s face darkened, her jaw clenching. I had struck a nerve.

"Well, good luck with finding the pieces of evidence. Because, you are nothing but a pathetic little shadow—hiding behind others, waiting to be pitied." She stepped closer, lowering her voice until it was like venom against my skin. "Enjoy your moment. For now."

I let her venom wash over me, standing tall, my heartbeat steady as I ignored her statement and changed the topic.

"Regarding your rash actions earlier, you have to refrain from pouring your external aggression on others. From my knowledge, Draven pays you very well, but, I don’t think part of your job description includes hitting the staff. I hope there wouldn’t be a repeat."

Her eyes narrowed, burning with silent fury, but she didn’t reply. Instead, she turned on her heel, her skirt swishing as she stormed past me.

I guess she was mad because I reminded her that she was Draven’s employee.

I exhaled slowly, the tension draining from my shoulders as the kitchen staff quietly resumed their work. My gaze lingered on the doorway Wanda had stormed through.

The kitchen was still heavy with silence, the staff keeping their heads down, as though hoping they could disappear altogether.

My gaze shifted to the young chef, her cheek still flushed red where Wanda’s hand had struck.

I softened my voice. "I’m sorry," I said, stepping closer to her. "You didn’t deserve that from her."

Her eyes widened slightly, as though no one had ever apologized to her before. "My Lady—"

I shook my head and reached out, lightly brushing her arm. "Go put some ice on it. Take a few minutes to rest before returning to your station."

For a heartbeat, she just stared at me, lips trembling, then she gave a deep bow.

"Thank you, my Lady," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, before excusing herself and slipping out of the kitchen.

The others, though they tried to remain invisible, stole quick glances at me. I caught one or two small, grateful smiles, and I offered a nod in return before rolling up my sleeves a little.

If Wanda thought she could leave chaos in her wake, she’d be disappointed.

I moved toward the long counters, where the aroma of roasted meats, buttered vegetables, and baked bread filled the air.

The chefs straightened, their movements becoming brisker now that the tension had lifted. "Show me what we have prepared so far," I asked gently.

One by one, the dishes were uncovered—rich stews, glazed fish, spiced wine sauces, and delicate pastries dusted with sugar. It was a true full-course meal worthy of welcoming Draven home.

I took up a small tasting spoon and sampled each dish as if I knew much about cooking.

Regardless of my experience level, the seasoning was flawless, the presentation elegant. I could already picture Draven’s quiet nod of approval, the way his dark eyes always caught every detail even when he said little.

"Perfect," I said, setting the spoon down with satisfaction. "Keep it warm and ready. The Alpha will be home very soon."

The staff bowed, their relief almost palpable, and I left them to their work, my steps light as I turned back toward the stairs, totally dropping Wanda out of my thoughts.

---

"My lady," Azul said softly, a knowing smile curling on her lips as soon as I stepped back into my bedroom. "Your bath is ready."

I nodded without protest, allowing them to lead me toward the bathroom.

Steam curled warmly as Deidra poured fragrant oils into the water—jasmine, sandalwood, and a hint of vanilla. My favourite. Draven’s favourite too.

As I stepped into the bath, I closed my eyes, sinking into the perfumed warmth. My silver hair floated around me like silk.

Kira gently massaged my scalp with herbal rinse, her touch soothing, while Azul scrubbed and polished my skin until it glowed.

I knew Draven would likely be weary from travel, his mind full of strategy and responsibilities.

He might only wish to hold me tonight, to rest in quiet. And yet... I wanted to look my best for him. Even if all he did was wrap me in his arms, I wanted his first sight of me to steal away a fraction of his fatigue.

When the bath was done, they wrapped me in soft linens and began the work of dressing me. I chose a gown of lavender silk to match my purple eyes, and light enough to move gracefully.

My hair was dried and twisted into a soft updo, tendrils falling artfully at the sides of my face.

Azul dabbed scented oil onto my pulse points—the same warm, lingering scent from the bath, subtle but impossible to ignore.

I caught my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed with anticipation, my eyes brighter than usual. I didn’t see the timid girl who used to shrink beneath her siblings’ words. I saw his Luna—his wife—waiting for her Alpha to return.

Still, a whisper of nervousness lingered. What if Gary or Mabel tried to ruin tonight? What if their presence reminded him of politics instead of... me?

I shook the thought away and pressed a hand to my chest. Draven had promised me last night—his words still echoed in my mind—that no one could put me beneath them. And I believed he would never break his word.

"Perfect," Azul murmured, fastening the last pin in my hair.

I smiled faintly at her through the mirror, though inside, I was a storm of emotions—joy, longing, and a little fear, all tangled together.

He was almost home.

And when he walked through the doors of this estate, I wanted the first thing he saw to be me—his wife, his Luna, ready to welcome him back.