Meredith.
"How are you adjusting to your new phone?" Dennis asked, scooting closer to me.
"I even forgot I have a new phone. No one calls me," I sighed, pouring out my frustration.
The only thing that has been occupying a greater part of my mind lately is Valmora and Queen Serena. I need to sort out the issue with my wolf first before anything else.
"You will get used to it soon," Dennis said to me. Then his smile grew wider. "I know what to do. I will call you every morning before breakfast and then in the evening to remind you about our practice. How does it sound?"
I nodded. My spirit lifted immediately.
Jeffery was the next to arrive, so Dennis went back to his seat. They exchanged greetings before Jeffery turned to me.
"Good morning, my lady."
"Good morning," I replied and watched him settle down.
Shortly, Wanda and her brother arrived. Levi exchanged warm pleasantries with Dennis and Jeffery before fixing his attention on me.
"Good morning, Luna Meredith."
He was polite, so, I returned the favour.
Wanda settled down next to her brother, across from us at the table. She hadn’t bothered to greet anyone.
But Dennis decided to take the pains to school her.
He propped his elbows on the table and stared at her. "Wanda, your own brother is so humble despite all his achievements and titles across our race. Yet, you, with only less than half of it, cannot be respectful to others."
Wanda rolled her eyes. "My brother and I are two different people. You can’t expect me to be his shadow."
"Well, you’re already his shadow given how unreasonable you are with the lousy excuses instead of admitting to your mistakes," Dennis said to her and withdrew his hands from the table.
Wanda wouldn’t even respect Jeffery, a respected Beta from one of the Royal werewolf packs. I blamed Draven for everything.
Just then, Draven walked in, and we all stood to greet him.
Breakfast carried on in subtle silence before Wanda decided that peace wasn’t her thing. Then she started a conversation.
Everyone else joined, giving their piece, except me. The topic they were talking about had nothing to do with me.
"Let’s chat a bit after breakfast in my office," Draven said to Levi.
"Sure," he replied eagerly.
---
~**Draven**~
I didn’t particularly like having company so early in the morning—especially not in my office—but I’d invited Levi here myself.
The man sat across from me now, legs slightly spread, cup of black coffee cradled in one large hand. He had that same calm composure Wanda wore when she was scheming—only Levi’s was more charming and far less grating.
"How was the journey?" I asked, leaning back slightly on the armrest of the couch.
He shrugged. "Uneventful. But I enjoyed the silence. Being a warrior doesn’t come with many quiet days."
I nodded. "Still training with the Circle?"
"Of course." He smiled faintly. "Once you’re in, you never really leave."
We exchanged a few more pleasantries, the kind of light talk that didn’t demand too much thought. It was only when Levi’s eyes narrowed slightly over the rim of his mug that the conversation shifted.
"I noticed that Duskmoor’s security have tripled since my last visit," he said. "What’s going on at the borders, Draven?"
I took a slow sip of coffee before responding. "A human body was found in the eastern woods. Killed. Neck snapped. Heart missing."
Levi stiffened. "And the humans?"
"They’ve raised brows," I said flatly. "But I’ve already handled it with the mayor. A counter-narrative is in place."
His face didn’t ease. If anything, his grip on the mug grew tighter.
I watched him for a few seconds before deciding to shift the topic. I didn’t want any serious conversations that would lead to him having more information that I wanted him to receive.
"You’re here for peace, Levi," I said. "Let’s not drag politics into morning coffee."
He chuckled softly, the tension slipping off his shoulders like a shed coat. "Fair enough."
Then, as if remembering why he came, he straightened. "I’d like to ask permission to use your land for morning runs. Just the outer stretch."
"And a tour?" I asked, raising a brow. I knew what he wanted.
He nodded. "If it’s not too much trouble."
I studied him for a moment. There was something behind his gaze—curiosity, maybe. Or something more strategic. I didn’t know whether it was his father who sent him or not, but I wasn’t handing over a key to my estate that easily.
Instead, I set my cup down and changed the offer.
"How about this," I said. "Join my warriors for a spar today. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"
Levi’s eyes lit with something I hadn’t seen in him since his arrival. It was genuine excitement.
"I could use a stretch," he said, rising from his seat. "Let’s see if the warriors are as sharp as their Alpha."
I stood and adjusted the cuff of my rolled sleeves.
"Then let’s go," I said, already walking toward the door. "The training grounds await."
~**Third Person**~
The wind shifted.
And then—chaos.
A sudden blur of fur tore through the treeline bordering the eastern edge of the training grounds. Two wolves—one pitch black, the other a deep, earthen brown—launched themselves into the centre of the shirtless warriors’ formation.
Startled yelps and curses rang out as the wolves struck like shadows, crashing into the men with brute force. One warrior was flung several feet into the dirt, while another rolled to his feet, growling, blood smeared across his ribs.
There was no warning. No howl of challenge. Just an ambush.
A second later, instinct took over.
Several warriors shifted on the spot, their bones cracking and bodies stretching in violent transitions. The air rippled with raw power as they tore from their skin into fur and fangs, launching back at the attackers.
Dust lifted in angry clouds. Claws met claws. Teeth scraped against hardened muscle.