Chapter 1

JOHANNA.

One of the maids offered me a seat before the mirror so she could dress up my hair. I was almost late, and I'm sure the king will be ready by now. He had told me that he had a surprise for me and wouldn't tell me what it was until we reached the resort.

I was so curious to know what the surprise was all about. Today is my twenty-fifth birthday, and he celebrated it in the palace for me, but this time, he insisted that we must leave the palace because of the surprise.

The maid was done, and I stood to get some clothes from the wardrobe. “The Lycan King ordered this. You will have to put it on.'' The maid drew my attention. I wasn't close to the wardrobe yet, I quickly hurried to the package, loosened it, and it happened to be a blue royal gown. “It was brought this morning…” she added and bowed to me.

My lips stretched apart into a slight smile. King Ramsey won't stop amazing me. He wouldn't have ordered another cloth when I had lots of them here that I would even get confused about the one to put on.

“Breakfast is ready. Lycan King requests for Luna's presence….” An announcement came from the doorpost.

I scoffed and dropped the gown. “I should have it on after having breakfast, right?” I asked the maid, and she shook her head. “Do you mean that I will go from there and won't come back to my room?” she nodded with a bow.

I understand.

Five years of marriage with the Lycan King, and it seems like we are just starting today. Years ago, my parents sold me out to the Lycan King because of the debt my father owed him. I didn't have a say since my mother threatened to throw me out of the house if I refused to stay with the king.

Rumour had it that the King is a beast and would tear anyone that crosses his path apart. Despite reminding my parents of that, they insisted, especially my mother and sister…..they persuaded me, and the palace guards dragged me into the palace.

My father explained that it was per their agreement and that I would be his property forever in replacement of the debt. I sobbed on my father's feet in the presence of the King, pleading to work my ass out and make sure to clear the debt instead of being with the King, but it was all on a deaf ear. He didn't have a rethink and left me to be with the King.

I sat on the floor, staring at the King who stared back at me, grinning like he had found prey. I counted myself as dead and wished not to breathe again….but he shocked me. I didn't believe it at first that the King lifted me into his arms into his room, washed me up himself, and dressed me up.

On that same day, he crowned me his Luna, and I became his Luna officially and not as a commodity. King Ramsey treated me like the Queen that I am, and I blessed the day my father handed me out to him. But one thing was missing in our marriage—I was still unable to bear him an heir despite how I prayed to the moon goddess.

I've met the doctors several times, yet nothing was done. The King had assured me that I would soon be a mother, or we could adopt a child for the sake of his throne….but I was bothered. My parents would curse me several times…my sister talked ill of me. They called me barren and cursed Luna, who can't conceive a child.

My mother threatened to kick me out if the King threw me out because I couldn't conceive a child.

Today isn't just my birthday, but also my ovulation. I would make love to the King tonight, and I hope it would yield something positive this time.

“Good to go!!!” The maid tapped my cheek, and I chuckled. “The King must be waiting for you—”

I nodded and walked out of the room slowly to the dining area. The king was seated but wasn't eating yet. “I took your time….” I sat beside him and took the fork. “You didn't have to get me another gown, but I love it. Thank you…”

“Anything for my Luna—” he licked his lips and caressed my cheek. “You're twenty-five today….”

“Yeah!!” I tasted the meal. “I'm f*cking curious here…”

He winked at me, and we focused on the meal. He was done with his meal before me and stood up. “I forgot my wristwatch in your wardrobe yesterday. I'll go get it, and I hope you'll be done before I return…”

I laughed. A slow eater like me might not be done before he returns, and he knows that. At times, it takes me minutes to finish a plate of food, especially when it's hot, and that's why he insists that I start eating before him when we are going out.

As today is my birthday, my family is supposed to celebrate it with me, but they won't agree to come over if I invite them. For four years, they kept insisting that they would celebrate it with me when I was able to conceive, and because of that, the king ordered that I shouldn't invite them over again.

For more than ten minutes, the King was yet to return to the dining. “Isn't it just his wristwatch? I'm done with my meal already…” I cleaned my lips and stood. I had to go check what was holding him there, but at that moment, I began hearing his footsteps.

It was slow and cold and unusual of him. The King I know calls me out from a distance before he comes closer.

“Is everything okay?” I mumbled and stepped out of the dining chair.

He came face to face with me. There was no atom of a smile on his face. Looking at his right hand, he was holding a card of medicine. “My King….” I whispered as he came closer. He dropped the card of medicine on the dining table, his gaze fixated on me and his face contorted. “Didn't you find your wristwatch?” I inquired since I didn't see it on his wrist.

He shifted the card towards me, shut his eyes for some time, and then opened it. “What is a contraceptive drug doing in your wardrobe?”

My pupils dilated. Did I hear him say a contraceptive drug?