JOHANNA.The maid's lifeless body was taken out of the cell, and then I left with the king back to the palace compound. We strolled, our hands crossed backwards.When I turned to glance at him, our eyes met, and I faced my front immediately. We shouldn't look at each other. We are only working together for the betterment of our child. I can't stand my child being bullied or denied his or her rights because of something he or she doesn't know about.I loosened my arms and stretched my fingers. My attention was pulled towards him when he cleared his throat. “What's that for? He thinks I want to talk to him?" I pouted my lips, my brows arched.“If Roger murdered the lady, then he would be losing. I'm sure he found out what you did at the cell and wanted to close the case that way.” King Ramsey glanced at me while speaking. I didn't say a word to him….not that the discussion wasn’t related to me, but I still can't find myself sharing words with him when I find everyone suspicious. “He is
JOHANNA.In my room, I stood immobile, staring at the floor. “Nina isn't in her room, then where is she by this time of the night?” I pondered. Turning to the maid at my left, she lowered her head. “Did you see her leaving?”She shook her head. “We didn't leave the room….” she responded, and I sighed.Evelyn wasn't back, and she would be the only one who could tell what was going on. At times, I wonder if she has four eyes and four ears that she gets what's going on so quickly.“I will wait for her return to know who the lady was.” I walked to my bed and sat on it, taking the pillow and placing it on my thighs. To think of it, what would make her leave at this time of the night? And she wasn't cautious. Does she think no one would get to see her?The door burst open, bringing me out of my thoughts. I faced the door to see Evelyn walk towards me. She squatted down, panting. It seemed like she had a long run, which meant that the lady went to a far distance.I wiped her forehead with my
KING RAMSEY.“Sam! Step on it!!” I ordered my Beta, and he increased the speed of the car. We were heading to meet the Clan's Priestess so I could get some solutions from her. As we reached, the car was parked in her compound, and we alighted.She bowed the moment she sighted us, and I hurried towards her, walking into her building, and she followed immediately. This wasn't the time to show some courtesy. I wasn't in the mood to respond to any greetings.I took a seat before she could offer me one, and my jaw tightened. “What brought His Majesty to my domain today?” she inquired, taking a seat before me and my Beta too.I licked my lips. “Uhmmm, I came to seek a solution.”“What is it that's bothering the King?” her face twisted.“Is there a charm to ruin a fake mate bond? Nina, my consort claims to be my mate, and I feel the mate bond and inhale the mating scent……but my wolf doesn't respond to the bond." I explained to her.She nodded slowly, her eyes narrowed. “What about the Supr
NINA.The sun was setting, and one thing made my heart skip each time I recall it. The medicine that the witch doctor had given me which I was to inject on my butt twice a day for a month and then once a week until nine eight months elapsed.I lay on the bed, gripping the pillow with tears already streaming down my eyes. Aliya, my chief maid, came to the bed where I lay and massaged my foot. “Can you stand it until a month elapses, My Lady?”A nod. Why won't I when I need this? I have to endure the pain that came with the injection to be able to triumph in this battle or I will be the loser here.“Your mother sent a letter. When we are done, you can go through it.” Aliya announced and took the syringe on the table. “I will inject you now. Please, do hold your screams with the pillow. Remember, no one is supposed to know about this.” I nodded, sniffling. “Let's do it at once—”As I shut my eyes, holding the pillow to my mouth, I felt the needle piercing into my skin. If the pillow was
JOHANNA.Evelyn got me some chips and I was eating them slowly while scrolling through my cell phone. I had written a letter to my father in response to the one he sent. I find it odd that he was behaving that way—less concerned with my safety.If this was why he was eager to have me back to him then I will have to disappoint him. That throne isn't my priority…..so I won't love what I'm supposed to hate because I was the Supreme Heiress.I threw up the chips and got them into my mouth, smiling to myself. “I smell the King—” I mumbled, inhaling every bit of his scent. It was the first time relishing his scent and my wolf whimpered to it as well. “What is he here to do?” my brows furrowed.“The Lycan King is here….” came an announcement from the doorpost.The door opened and he walked in. His facial expression made it difficult to tell if he was happy or not.I crossed my legs, having the little plate that bore the chips on them. “What are you here for?” my voice sounded cold, and he wo
JOHANNA.Minutes later, Evelyn came into the room and called me up. I wonder when they will learn when I need no disturbance. I was battling with my thoughts, trying to get an alternative on how I would get rid of King Ramsey from my life entirely when Evelyn interrupted me.I sat up and faced her. I would just send her to the afterlife if looks could kill. “I would double your salary when you quit being a thorn to me….”She chuckled. “And you know it won't be easy as I'm doing my job. But you would increase my salary at the appropriate time.” she stretched her lips after taking a pause and then came a bit closer. “I was expecting you to take action towards what the King just told you.”“What do you expect me to do? He would order my meals and that's the most important part of it. Isn't it?" I gestured, eyes widened.She nodded. “It is! But, don't you think everything isn't right?”“You just told me to forget about the King and whatever he's up to…..” I snapped at her.She licked her
JOHANNA.“It's twenty-four hours already, yet you are still fuming, Your Highness—” I lifted my head to see Evelyn standing before me with her arms resting on her belly. She doesn't understand how I feel, and neither do I. I've tried several times to get rid of the anger in me…to believe that I have nothing to do with King Ramsey any longer, but I can't find myself doing that.A gulp. I put down the leg on which I'd been resting my arm. “I don't love him any longer. I'm just bothered about why he had to cooperate with my enemy—one we both suspect is behind all the schemes. Don't you think it's….”“You shouldn't mind. Your aim should be to be safe until you conceive and take the throne for your child. Whether the King chooses your sister over you or not….it shouldn't haunt you.” Evelyn cut me short.I licked my lips and nodded. That's just it. I have to hate him—because I claim not to love him, but I feel jealous…so jealous. “Alright! That's by the way.” I faced Evelyn, looking at her
JOHANNA.The whole building, both interior and exterior, were searched, yet the assistant chef was nowhere to be found. Blood drained on my face. My eyes narrowed as I stared back at my foster mother, who seemed to have gotten rid of the fear in her. “Where is she?” I inquired, slamming my right fist on my left palm. “Bring her out, and I will decrease the punishment.”My foster father glanced at her. “Do you know her? Then spare yourself all these….”I passed the centre table and squatted before her, my gaze affixed on her face. “I won't beg you to bring her out, but remember that I no longer see you as my mother and would throw you to the abyss like it's done to the rogues….so you would better save yourself this mess.”“Like I said earlier, I've not seen that face before.”“Then somebody must have impersonated you, right?” I stood on my feet. “Alright, let's see who will succumb soon.” I walked away from her and took my hand fan. “They must be under house arrest with little or no fo
KING RAMSEY.“Evelyn is missing as well, and no one is giving hope with their words. They all claim to not know her whereabouts, whereas she returned to the palace with the other servants.” Beta Sam explained to me.It's been over a day, yet Anna was nowhere to be found. At first, I thought Evelyn would be back, but she went missing the same day as Anna, and that's alarming. How can a Princess and her maid be missing and no one was talking about them like it was a setup? They are all less concerned, making it look like it has been what they wanted. Even the Supreme Consort isn't saying anything—the officials too.I turned to Sam, “Looks like we did not search well in the woods. We should go beyond the border like the last time. Bring all your men, the whole clan would be searched this time ....we must find them." I remarked, and he bowed to me.As we entered the car to return to my clan, my cell phone buzzed. I checked, and it was a message from an unsaved contact. The message made
JOHANNA.With the last statement the man made, I knew he just didn't know that I was the Supreme Heiress, but that he knew a lot about me and my family. I glanced at the cup that had slid my palm and at the man. “I'm sorry!!”He smiled at me and picked up the cup. He washed it with the water beside him and poured another drink for me. “I expected you to be shocked. Of course, you weren't expecting it….” he stretched his hands, handing over to me the cup of liquor. “So, can my Princess share with me why he left the palace?”I snorted. “Well, I think knowing you better will be the first thing before sharing something confidential. What relationship do you have with my family to know the source of my mother's death?”He dropped his cup and rested his arms on his thighs. I was beginning to sweat already…..my mouth was drying up.“I was the Supreme Kings Beta!!”For some time, I shut my eyes and opened them again. My father's previous beta!“I resigned after the death of Supreme Luna becau
JOHANNA.While the maids were asleep, I was awake, busy watching them. I had planned with Andriana on how I would leave, and I won't miss the opportunity. She had told me the time everything would be set, and to not miss the time, that's why I am still awake.I leaned on the wall while seated on the bed, watching as the clock ticked. That merchant with a big belly and a shapeless body would be stunned when he asked me the next day and didn't see me. If he is strong enough, then he can come after me in the woods, and leaving their town will give me the strength to do what I want.My arms rested on the pillow that I had placed on my thighs. I yawned and wiped my face to get over the sleep lurking on my eyelid.The door slowly opened, and I knew it was Andriana, so I got down from my bed as well. She sneaked into the room and helped me out of the room, and we didn't say a word to each other.As we climbed down the stairs that would lead to the balcony, she glanced at me several times.“W
JOHANNA.“You're going to be claimed by a merchant that would take care of you and your child, so don't be scared.” the man said to me.My lips dropped open. Was this man okay upstairs? How can you give out a married pregnant woman to another man to claim? This should better be a dream.“Let's go!!”Before I could say a word, he continued moving. We reached a pavement road, but it didn't seem like a major road, and he boarded a cab that drove us to a mansion filled with servants of different genders and ages.I stood still for some time. “These people aren't werewolves or lycans? Are they?” I shook my head. If they were werewolves or lycans, their scent and wolf should be lingering around me as a welcome to the new place, but nothing was happening. I sensed nothing like a wolf in them, and they didn't even give a damn to me.The man climbed the veranda, and I did so as well. Then we walked into the sitting room where an elderly man was sitting on the couch with three ladies around her
JOHANNA.Evelyn sat beside me, leaning on my shoulder. I had tried my best to save her and I succeeded, now we aren't sure where to head any longer, and I'm not sure if there's a route that would lead us away from this deserted river.I was weak as well, and I wouldn't be able to carry Evelyn, so I made up my mind that we would stay on the river bank until the next morning and we would continue our journey. But after about an hour, when she felt she had recovered lots of strength, she insisted that we leave that area.Despite how I tried to make her understand that she was too weak and I could even manage more than her, she insisted, and I had no choice but to give in. She struggled with her feet as we walked ahead, and the least I could do was to support each step she took.I ordered her to wrap her arm around my neck, and she did, and then we began walking slowly until we left the shore.Back to the woods, but in a different place that seemed to be in another Clan, we walked gently,
JOHANNA.Late at night, I slept and woke up. My heart was palpitating. I expected that King Ramsey or his Beta would be here by now. Was it that they didn't get the letter or that they had yet to find me? By sunset tomorrow, this masked woman will return here to hear from me, and I wouldn't want to face her.The fact that I can't agree to assure her of handing over the Supreme Royal file because I'm sure they would still assassinate me after that is one reason I shouldn't be here till the sun sets the next day.If King Ramsey or his Beta gets that letter, they would come here with their men, and my safety would be guaranteed because I'm sure that no matter how hefty the guards here seem to be, they would never fight against the royal guards and warriors.I leaned on the cage, staring at the dark sky. “I just hope it doesn't rain. I won't have to catch a cold here. My wolf is already doing a lot to protect me from the wind.” I muttered and moistened my lips.My mind was heavy. I prayed
EVELYN.I stretched my limbs and slowly opened my eyes to the sun already setting. “My Princess!!” I mumbled, not sure if my voice was audible enough. “Did I fall asleep? Why should I? " My eyes sprang open finally. I recalled that I was on duty and wasn't supposed to fall asleep when I should be protecting Princess Johanna.To my greatest shock, the other servants were also asleep when I sat up. “What the heck is going on?” I blurted, getting to my feet. “Princess!!” I called out, looking around, but I didn't see her.I rushed to the other servants and hit them all slightly, waking them up. “How dare we sleep off when we are entitled to protect Her Grace? Now, she's not here—" I was still looking around. “Get up, let's search for her.”As they gradually stood, the woman who had attended to us came out from her store and bowed to us. I pointed my finger at her. “You! What did you add to the drink you gave us?” My jaw became tense. There was no way I would just doze off after drinking
JOHANNA.As I struggled to open my eyes, I heard the sound of chains clashing against each other. Finally, I was able to open my eyes again to see myself in a cage. “What should this be called?” My eyes bulged as I glanced at the chain used to hold me like a criminal.I could recall how I was saved from being attacked by a cougar, and then the two men came to me and forced a substance into my nose, and then I lost it. I looked around, and the surroundings were strange. “Is this still the wood?” I contemplated even still, and I couldn't give myself an answer to that question.I looked through the tiny openings of the cage. “Hey!!!” I screeched the moment I set my eyes on a man standing like a soldier at the side. “Hey, you over there. Come get me out of here.” my voice raised. How dare those men bring me here? Why will they chain me this way like a criminal as if they don't know my status?Did I invade their territory? Even if I did, that shouldn't be a reason for them to do this.My e
JOHANNA.The wood felt haunted. It was supposed to be a peaceful area for hunters, but it seemed something evil was in the air. As I walked, I glanced around to be sure of my steps. My heart skipped each time I heard a sudden sound.I knew, deep down, that I was taking a very big risk, but I had to do it. That's what it takes to be the Supreme Heiress. If indeed a building stays in this woods and is haunting my people, then I'm sure they are waiting for their rulers to take care of it for them.Until I entered the deepest part of the wood, I didn't set my eyes on a hunter or a farmer. Everywhere was serene. The only sound that could be heard was that of a singing bird.I halted to take a deep breath for once. I leaned on a huge tree, still darting my eyes around. “Why do I feel like such a building can't be in the woods? I've already gone so far, but I've not caught a glimpse of that.” I thought, but the other side of me insisted that a building like that exists. “I've spent more than