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 c
JOHANNA. King Ramsey stepped closer to me, his eyes dazzling while his brows arched. I've never seen his facial expression that way. It seemed like he was about to chop off my head. I swallowed hard, my right hand on the table, clenched. How did a contraceptive end up in my wardrobe? Who brought it in there? I've never seen it for once, although I know that such a drug exists. “My King!!” “You've not responded to my question, Anna. What is a contraceptive doing in your wardrobe?” he asked again. This time, I stepped a bit back from him. “Are you dumb because I saw it?” I shook my head. "I am speechless because such a thing has never existed in my life… I mean,” I scratched my head. “This is my first time seeing a contraceptive. I can't tell how it got into my room when I've never seen it. And, wasn't it there last night when you dropped the watch?” I exhaled a deep breath. This is one thing I've never imagined. Who must have dropped it there? I am not sick either, so I'm taki
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?
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.“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