KING RAMSEY.
As I watched the doctor, my heart had already sank into my belly. I wouldn't want to hear the news that would make me hate my Luna whom I had loved from the first day I set my eyes on her. It would be better if she was just barren without a reason than if it was a result of taking a contraceptive. Anna was right that the drug wasn't in her wardrobe last night. When I dropped my wristwatch, there was nothing like this in her wardrobe, but seeing it now, how will I believe that she is innocent of it when it's in her room? The camera footage of her room for a month now was even wiped off and that was kinda suspicious…..but there's no way I will think she's innocent when there's all proof that she's been taking it. I believe that she forgot to hide it as usual, which made me see it. But why would Anna do such a thing if she was truly taking it? Didn't she love me because her father forced her to stay with me in exchange for his debt? Was she planning to run away someday? If she never loved me despite how lovely I treated her, then it means she has a lover outside the palace and has been cheating on me. I shifted back the result to the doctor. “Explain what is written there, I don't have time to go through it…” He cleared his throat and took a quick look at Anna, and then his gaze met mine. “She has been taking the contraceptive for a very long time. It was found in his blood. I didn't expect that…” “Me too! I didn't expect it. How will I be taking a contraceptive without knowing about it?” Johanna slammed at the doctor, tears streamed down her cheek. “I'm ovulating right here, and I already planned out how today will be for us. Knowing that this medication doesn't work if taken when ovulating, why would I be thinking of going intimate with the king if I'm taking the contraceptive? This is so ominous….I have to also know how the medicine went into my blood.” I felt the pain in his voice, but all I believed was that it was just a camouflage. She was trying to pretend not to know anything because she wasn't set to leave the palace now if I threw her out. How will I throw her out when she is my possession forever? I stood up, and my heart was already bleeding. It would have been very okay if I never loved her, nor she had ever reciprocated the love I showed her. If I treated her like a maid or slave despite being my Luna, then it would be understandable why she didn't want to conceive a child for me. But she was my priority. When I found out her family despised her, I made sure she was happy under my roof. A glance at the doctor. “Thank you so much!!!!” was all I could say. This was too heavy for me to bear. I made my way out of the hospital, straight to my car, got seated, and placed my head on the car starring to cry it all out. Johanna stabbed me in the back. He would have just told me that she had a lover out there, which made her resist being with me when her father brought her instead of ruining my life like this. What Luna does not wish to have an heir to make the royalty complete? Why would I want a Luna if having a child to take along with me wasn't compulsory? Was she wishing for the throne to leave my lineage? My heart was so heavy. It hurt so bad. I felt a touch on my shoulder, and when I lifted my head, it was her, sitting in the car. Her eyes were already swollen and reddish, but that didn't matter as it stood….it wouldn't change the fact that she had never loved me from the start. “I didn't do it. I swear by the moon goddess…..” she broke into tears again. “Give me some time to prove my innocence.” I sniffled and wiped my face. “How will you do it? Are you going to prove to me that you haven't been taking the pill, or you don't love me? No way will you love me and avoid conceiving a child for me….” I swallowed hard and exhaled hot air through my mouth. “You know what I wish to hear? That you never loved me. That you've been cheating on me. Just tell me the truth, yet you're still telling me to give you time….time to do what exactly? Time to organize yourself and leave my palace without a trace, right?” At this point, I was unable to hold back the tears that rolled down my cheeks. The tears made my sight blurry and wouldn't halt a bit. “I regret the day I made that agreement with your father and even fell in love with you. Even if it means not being the Lycan King anymore….” “My King!!!!!” her voice echoed in the car, interrupting my statement. “I won't blame you for not trusting me any longer. You have every right to do that because I have no proof that I've not been taking the pill, and it's even in my blood. I am a nobody, so do whatever you wish to me as a punishment, and I will take it. But, don't ever forget that I insist on being innocent and will continue being, and you left me to go astray when I needed you to give me even a per cent of trust." She rested her back on the car seat and put on her seatbelt, her palms covering her face. I glanced at her, but the anger overwhelming me wouldn't subside a bit, then I started the car, and we drove back to the palace. Today is her birthday, and this is how it turned out. I mind-linked my beta to get the surprise that I had for her back to the palace because I already mentioned it as hers, and it would be no matter what. When we reached the palace, I parked the car. “Come straight to my room…” I said to her and alighted from the car. As I entered my room, my Beta came forth and gave me the parcel which I kept on the table. “Wait behind….” I said to him when he was about to leave. His facial expression twisted. “Is everything okay?” The door opened, and Johanna walked in. “Come closer—” I said to her, and she did, and then I handed the parcel to her. “This was the surprise I prepared for you….” She licked her lips and unfolded it, revealing the car key in it. “A car key?” her brows arched. “Yes, a car key. But, I'm taking it back…” I bent down and took the key. I got jewellery for her as well, so I brought it out from the box and put it on her. “Happy birthday to you…” She shut her eyes. “The car costs more than the money your father owes me, so I will take it back there and will be balanced back. The jewellery is the last birthday gift you might get from me, so keep it safe….” I stated, trying so hard to hold the tears in my eyes back. This wasn't how I planned this day to be. I turned to my beta, who was still baffled about what was going on. “From today, she is no longer my Luna, but my slave. Take her out and dress her like a slave….” “Your majesty!!” his eyes snapped open. “That is my declaration…'' I cut him short and walked straight to my bed. Johanna rushed to me and got to her knees, but my Beta came forward immediately and held her up. “Leave me alone, I have to prove my innocence. He has to trust me even if it's just now….let go of me.” she cried as my Beta took her out of my room. My palm clutched to the bed cover, and fist tightened while I sobbed silently. Her statements in the car and now are still the same. I don't think I can trust her to prove her innocence. Rather, I'll investigate the matter myself. I picked up the car key and dropped it on the table beside my bed. She had a special place in my heart for five years and shouldn't be in vain. She isn't remorseful for what she did but is still insisting that she never did it. I stood up and began unbuttoning my shirt. “Arrest all the maids that served Johanna immediately. I will interrogate them myself.” I ordered my Beta via the mind link.JOHANNA. Which female wishes to be demoted from Luna to a slave over something you know nothing about? Isn't it better to keep being in my father's house and be treated like a servant there instead of being a Luna for five years and then becoming a slave—not even a servant? I was taken out of my room and stripped of the royal gown I was having on. Although I didn't leave the palace building, the room I was in this time was like hell. The female servants were all occupying the room, how shameful it is to share that sort of room with the maids that once served me. None of them could come near me, I was isolated, and the mockeries from them were too much for me to endure. “I will leave this palace if the King still won't come to his senses. I didn't do that, and he wouldn't let me look into it and prove my innocence….” I muttered and sat on the floor. Throughout the night, I wept like never before. My eyes didn't shut a bit. For some time, I thought about going to see the King
JOHANNA. “Ouch! What's this heavy on my arm?” I struggled to open my eyes despite how heavy it seemed. I swirled my neck to the side to see an enormous figure lying beside me. “Didn't I pay for a room alone? How come I spent it with someone?” Slowly, I opened my eyes, but the sight of him beside me made my lips drop open. It was an illusion. I just wished he was on my side, so I shut my eyes again and laid back, waiting for about a minute before I opened them again. He was still there, lying beside me and sleeping peacefully. “What on earth happened?” My gaze fixed on his face. “Did he find me? Never! He must have been drunk as well... but why? He doesn't drink.'' I slowly pulled out my arm and hurried up from the floor. I was completely naked. “Shit! He f*cked me!” My pupils dilated while I searched around for my clothes. His leg was on it, so I had to carefully take them without waking him, and then I had them on. My heart was racing. I wouldn't want him to wake up and see me
KING RAMSEY.“Don't tell me stories. Just bring Anna to me.” my voice thundered as I faced the guards. They were on their knees, quivering like it would solve the issue on the ground. “What is the essence of having you all here when you can't protect the Palace? What is the use to pay you monthly?” My face turned red, teeth gritting.Behind me was my beta. I don't even know what to say to him for not being cautious as always. How would they—the whole of them be at work - and Johanna vanished in a twinkle of an eye? I've sent them to search the whole Pack, thereby ordering the Gammas to block the boundaries, yet that didn't work.My fist tightened around my staff. Why? Why would she leave? Where is she now? Who did she go to? I couldn't answer any of these questions…..and I didn't care to know. All I wanted was to see Anna in the palace, even if she would patrol around as a slave.Did she leave to be with his lover out there, or did she just run away? Johanna is my property, even if sh
JOHANNA.The hall was filled with the masses. They were all celebrating the return of their Princess. Was I truly the Princess? How long did the slave master know of me being the Princess and kept it to himself? Why and how did I get lost after my birth?There are tons of questions that I need an answer to, and so I hope the ceremony ends anytime soon so I can meet my father. I was motherless since no one was talking about their Luna here.“Your Highness!!!!” I was startled by a feminine voice from behind. When I turned, I met a maid who bowed to me. “Do I owe you anything?”“You have to get dressed and join the ceremony. They are all waiting for the Heiress to show up,” she explained.I looked at myself. The Heiress? This still seems like a movie. What about the family that trained me up, how did they manage to get me? Now I see the reason they hated and despised me. They mistreated me because I wasn't their biological daughter. But why would they take me in if they knew they wouldn
JOHANNA.I was battling with my eyes that almost shut. Tiredness swam all over my body. I had trekked to this clan, and it wasn't fun any longer like it was when I was still in the woods. The moment I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, my father cleared his throat—my eyes snapped open.He was standing before the crowd, gripping his royal staff. “I think it's time to declare the most important part of this ceremony….”I adjusted on my seat, eyes glued to my father to hear what he had to say, which was the most important part of the ceremony.“Years back, a week after the Supreme Heiress disappeared and none of the guards could find her, I made a declaration—a vow to anyone that would bring her back to me.”The weakness in my body subsided. My eyes narrowed while I was all ears to hear what he had in store for us.“I declared that whoever found the Supreme Heiress amongst the men of this Pack would be married to the Heiress and would be the next Supreme King….”My heart stopped pump
KING RAMSEY.Facing the moon, I crossed my hands backwards. Last night, I spent my night in a tavern, drunk, and I couldn't continue that way. Tonight seemed to be the worst and longest night for me. It was 1 a.m., yet I was unable to shut my eyes.The thought of Anna flooded my mind. Where is she exactly? Hope she's safe even after escaping. Even if she has been cheating on me and has run to her lover, she needs to be well, at least, until I find her.One thing I'm certain of is that no matter how long it takes, I will surely get her back to this palace. Seeing her daily, even if she was a slave, will ease my mind and make me concentrate.I've gotten no good news from the guards and my Beta. I have no clue about Anna and the slave master—but all I focused on was Anna. If she had done all that in five years of living with me, then she must pay for making my heart bleed and wasting my time. But if she is innocent, then she must take back her position while her sister would be my consor
JOHANNA.I sneaked into the restroom and leaned on the wall. Two weeks had passed since I agreed with my father to return to the Divergent Shadows Pack. He was enraged when he learned that I was the deposed Luna and was framed, but I had already decided to prove my innocence to the other Clan.My temperature was still rising despite the medication I had taken. “This f*ck can't stop me from leaving. I have to go back there and look into that matter,” I murmured, my lips twitching. “If my father finds out that I'm sick, he will cancel everything that I planned. I can't let this sickness stop me from leaving today.”I spitted out saliva into the WC and gasped. “Wasn't I supposed to be getting better by now? That medicine isn't working….” I grimaced and stormed out of the restroom.Evelyn was still arranging my belongings that I was going to leave with. “Are the envoys ready?” I inquired and she nodded. “We have to hurry so my father won't change his mind.” I glanced at her. “What of yo
JOHANNA.The chief envoy dashed towards me the moment I made the announcement, no one—not even my chief maid knew about it. I hid it from everyone—from my maids that my sickness was the symptom of my pregnancy.King Ramsey looked stunned. It's okay if he looks that way because he didn't get to see me after that night. I was sure to leave before he was awake and without a trace.“Your Highness!! It would be better to get this known to the Supreme King.” the chief envoy said to me, staring at my face. “That's not why we are here. It was agreed on the reason for your return, so you ought to step back from whatever motive you have.”I grimaced. “Are you saying that I made it all up?”He gasped, unable to answer me.“I'm telling the truth here and it isn't a joke. My child belongs to King Ramsey, and only after he or she is crowned will he be dethroned. I would like to see him pay for accusing me—but in a way that it won't affect my child." I uttered, sparing him a glance. He lifted his f
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