~Ioana~ "The Queen's awake! Oh, thank the glorious Selenara!" When I gained consciousness, eyes snapping open to the familiar luxurious ceiling, along with the sobbing beside me, I knew without someone telling me, I am back. Footsteps sounded, the door burst open, slamming against the wall with a bang. "It's true! The Queen's awake!" 'Back to this palace.' "After a month..." 'Back to its people.' I thought my head would be gone this time for sure. It's truly a miracle only Selenara can do. 'And back to the chilling indifference.' " At least the coronation will no longer be postponed." " The prince is so pitiful. Even the world seems against him—but I'm not."
IOANA’S POV"Ioana Redmoon," from afar, I could hear the melodious voice of the High Priestess calling my name.It was the Full Moon Appreciation Night, a night to strengthen the mate bond, and I was late.My sister had locked me up in the basement. Goddess knows how I managed to get out just for this.For him, my mate, Ramon—the Alpha's son and my longtime secret crush. I had waited for this day for years, dreaming of it.My hands shook in jitters, cold and clammy with sweat, as I pushed through the crowd of people, rushing for the elevated platform.But suddenly, it was silent.Ghost-quiet. Eyes turned to me, trailing after me. I hunched my back, subconsciously protecting myself from their stares—something I had grown used to.My stomach dropped. Something was wrong. My gut screamed at me, but I shook it off with a what could it be, pressing forward. And that’s when I saw it—the consequences of my stubbornness hitting me like a wild, galloping horse.It was him.My mate, pressin
IOANA'S POVIt was something I've never felt before; it was a pure blind tape that overpowered my reasoning.I couldn't think.No, I didn't want to.Everyone faded away—the talks, the sneers, the pity—they had no effect on me now. My eyes zeroed on them.The adulterous pair.Who betrayed me.I wanted them to pay!Without thinking, a transformation happened; claws extended from my nails, sharp, gleaming dangerously under the moon.They must pay!With a guttural roar from my throat, deep and powerful, I kicked off the ground, launching at the two.Their eyes widened in shock and horror—that look sent a thrill down my spine. The fear, I loved it.I wanted them to feel more.I channeled all the hurt, all the heart-wrenching betrayal that dug at my heart like a spoon digging into flesh, dull and sharp at the same time, pushing me to the edge.Until I snapped.I was at their faces, the ends of my claws almost greeting their skin.But.Their horrified faces changed swiftly; Gabrielle lifted
IOANA’S POVA glaring bright red mark on her neck was a trophy she displayed to me with smugness.No, it can't be—maybe it's not him. I shook my head. My dizziness increased, and the world spun like a wheel out of control.I had hardly recovered from the rejection.My body ached and trembled every second I stood under the harsh lashes of the bitter icy wind penetrating my body, freezing me in place.But no matter how much I wished this was a dream, how much I wanted to slap myself to wake up, everything around me was vivid—too real to be true.The corners of my lips cracked, blood seeping out, stinging me.It wasn't a dream.I wanted to cry, but no tears came out.The door behind Gabrielle creaked open once more, and he came out, painfully shattering whatever deceit I dunked myself into.Ramon adjusted his collar, buttoning it up, but not before I saw the red scratch mark on his neck. He gave me a cold look, like I was a stranger, like the numerous nights under the moon whispering t
IOANA'S POVMy breath became lighter, almost blending into nature.I had never walked out this late before. Everything… looked the same… even scarier.Moonlight seeped in from the cluster of leaves above, acting as my guide forward, painting the scene with a silvery glow in the dark.My lips cracked with a smile. ''Everyone has abandoned me.'' I looked up at the moon.''But you won’t do the same, will you?'' I shook my head, a self-deprecating laugh escaping. ''What am I even saying?''All these things must be getting to me.I moved around another gigantic tree, its canopy stretching goryh into the sky, its roots gnarled and twisted, as big as my torso.But I wasn't in for the night scene. The wind blew, its icy breeze brushing past me. I shivered, my fingers clenched the thin, worn blouse around me, dragging it closer to my skin, but it did little to help.Teeth clattering, muscles aching, bruises throbbing with each step, sending pangs of pain radiating through my body, I winced,
IOANA'S POVA soft groan escaped my lips. My eyes flickered open. What greeted me were red, fluttering velvet drapes.What—where am I?The last thing I remembered was—flashes flickered past in my mind. My heart tightened. Pain, screams, despair, men in black, and a man who…My hand snapped up to my neck, clutching it—pain exploding up my arm at the swiftness of my actions.They injected me with something, I thought, flinching.I'm definitely not at home, I noted, still groggy and disoriented. It was like my limbs were made of iron, weighing me down.I breathed in. The air itself seemed heated with an unknown scent. It was oddly enticing and burdening at the same time—like my body burned, flames flickering on the surface of my skin with each inhale.Even the scent here was different. I took another breath, my insides heating up in a way that left me wanting more.A woody goodness that burned the backside of my throat—musk and spiced cedar.It coiled around my throat, tightening in a wa
~Ioana~"You have five seconds to tell me who you are, or I'll assume you don't need your tongue anymore."Those were the first words I heard immediately after waking up. Hands gripped my jaw, pain flaring upon contact, causing me to snap my eyes open, tears welling up.The first thing that entered my sight was him—a broad-shouldered, bare-chested man. Strange curls of tattoos ran up to his shoulders, disappearing from my view. He towered over me, razor-sharp jaw clenched, chest heaving, predatory golden eyes shining with silent but deadly fury.'Where am I… how?'My response was only unintelligible stutters, my speech slightly slurred. My tongue felt heavy, filling me with incredulity.He was almost like a perfected statue made by the gods—until he moved.His voice came again, this time lower, like a brewing storm, sending shivers down my spine."Don't play dumb with me. Answer me," he growled. "Who sent you? Or do you think I'll let a prostitute into my bed without consequences?""W
~Ioana~This wasn't how I envisioned everything to be. I shifted a little, leaning against the cold walls behind me.At least, never in my life had I imagined that I'd have to deal with this—being locked up by who—no, by what I thought was my mate.Memories of him, his chilly eyes hiding an ongoing storm, hands grabbing at me, pulling me from the bed. My pitiful defiance was crushed and torn away like fragile paper.His men had dragged me away at his orders, while I, on the other hand, as pathetic as I was, could do nothing. Everything ached in ways I couldn't explain, including my heart.And now, as I rested my back once more against the chilling stone wall, my arms went around my knees, wrapping around them, and my head rested on my knees, which dug uncomfortably into my cheeks. The clanking of the chain echoed through the gloomy cells with every shift. I once more realized, 'Fate hates me.' I let out a wry smile. There wasn't any solid proof, but everything I've experienced seemed
~Ioana~ "The Queen's awake! Oh, thank the glorious Selenara!" When I gained consciousness, eyes snapping open to the familiar luxurious ceiling, along with the sobbing beside me, I knew without someone telling me, I am back. Footsteps sounded, the door burst open, slamming against the wall with a bang. "It's true! The Queen's awake!" 'Back to this palace.' "After a month..." 'Back to its people.' I thought my head would be gone this time for sure. It's truly a miracle only Selenara can do. 'And back to the chilling indifference.' " At least the coronation will no longer be postponed." " The prince is so pitiful. Even the world seems against him—but I'm not."
~Ioana~I shivered violently. Something brushed over my skin, like silken velvet. My eyes fluttered open, light flooding my vision.I squinted uncomfortably, the sudden switch from dark to light stinging my eyes like the creatures of the night. I winced, shielding my eyes with my arm.A second later, dropping them slowly, and when I did, I couldn't help but gasp."Where am I?"Before me wasn’t the suffocating grand room but an open space. The scent of wildflowers blending in, butterflies fluttered their wings cheerfully from one flower to another. The grasses swayed calmly, undisturbed.I breathed in. The taste of freedom I never knew I missed so hungrily lingering on the air.I stepped forward, glancing around. It was wide enough that I couldn’t see the end.'Was everything just an illusion?' I loved to convince myself such.I parted the golden-eared grass-like things, moving through them.For the second time since I came here, my mouth dropped open wide."What is that?" I exclaimed,
~Ioana~He dropped those words, snuffing out the flame within me.Speechless, what else could I say?Confusion swirled like a tornado in my head, wrecking havoc.A havoc that he never bothered to correct. He walked away, leaving a cold broad back which once protected me, igniting things that shouldn't have been within me.I collapsed on the bed, shielding my face with my arm,Coiling in on myself, arms wrapped around my legs, pulling them inward and head resting on my knees.I felt so open and vulnerable.A chill attacking my skin with each action I made, the bed was so cold, the elaborate painting on the wall seemed to laugh at me, invisible lips stretched in mockery.He abandoned me on my wedding night. I could already imagine all the whispers that will fly tomorrow through the kingdom.It made me want to wrap myself in blankets until I'm buried in piles of them, never surfacing again.Just then,A knock sounded on the door, short and heavy. I ignored it at first, not wanting anythi
~Ioana~“Outrageous!” the elder yelled, his face red, flushed from the pressure behind his words, hands trembling, blue veins visible underneath his semi-transparent skin.Despite the pressure bearing at me from various gawking parties, I found myself straightening my hunched shoulders.Facing him, I asked, “Why not? You said should any party refuse, didn’t you? Or perhaps my ears are beginning to fail me.”The audible gasps that rang out from the crowd cleared my mind. Immediately, I felt like slapping myself. The courage drained out; it carried with it the weariness that plagued me.“That doesn’t give you the right to refuse.”“So you’re saying it’s just for the sake of formality?”I sighed, taking a step away, but still pressed on.“No, it’s not—”He smirked. “It’s for people who had the decency of waiting. As far as I’m aware, the both of you have already completed all the rites, or have you not?”“B-But,” I stammered, “but what you said has nothing to do with whether the rites we
~Ioana~ "The Queen-to-be, Ioana Blackmoon, now enters!" I could hear the shrill voice of the Royal Announcer booming even from behind the door. The moment his words ended, without a second to calm my raging heart, the guards beside yanked the door open. I felt a slight push from behind, causing me to stumble forward. "Is this our future queen?" "Hmph, such an ungraceful entrance." "Can she support the prince with such an embarrassing posture?" Snide, dagger-like comments shot towards me. Heat rushed to my cheeks, burning with shame. I dropped my head to the floor. Who stumbles in on their wedding day—but this couldn't be called a wedding anyway. I snuck a peek behind me but saw no one. My fingers wrapped around the Moonweave silk, wrinkling it. The corset dug into my sides, suffocating me. It felt like the air I breathed wasn't doing its work properly. I sucked in a huge breath. The chandelier suddenly became too bright, stinging my eyes. Tears welled up, blur
~Ioana~Numb.That's how I felt.My eyelashes fluttered open, light flooded in, floor-to-ceiling window barred with delicately crafted iron rods.Even in captivity—in such a rushed work that didn't forget to make something so gruesome look luxurious.My fingers dug into the satin bedsheets, attempting to push myself up, only to wince in pain.Turning my head to the side, a girl looked back at me, complexion pallid as death, dull hazel stared back at me.Resisting the agony,I swore my muscles creaked like the hinges of an old door about to fall out, but that didn't hold me. Crawling forward desperately, I gripped my mirror with my hands.I saw it, and once I did—tears.It was as if something snapped in my mind.Drip, drip, a drop of liquid fell on my exposed lap,Tears soon following after, gushing down.Choked sobs wracking through me.On my neck was a silvery pale mark like a crescent moon. It wasn't a tattoo—it was the mark.I flinched involuntarily, my teeth dug into my lips, draw
~Ioana~But that didn’t make my mind any more silent. The ringing only got louder.A warning.Urging me to—run.My heart dropped to my stomach.And run I did.I skirted to the side, making a dash for the exit, the same time he moved.I caught a flash of something primal in his eyes.Something I had seen numerous times. Once their wolves were let out. Weaving through the trees.A shudder ran down my spine, the bony fingers of fear clinging to me.I didn’t outrun him. Instead, it was he who let me.That was my last thought as I broke through the entrance. A flash of gold staring at me,And how far I could run. If I could escape at all was…It was the hunt.*****My breath came out in short pants."Faster," I urged.My feet flew through the forest ground, over the tiny twigs, browned leaves, darkened soil."Faster, faster…"My heartbeat pounded in my ears.All of a second, I'm hit with a feeling of déjà vu.As if I’ve experienced this before.His casual footsteps like thunder to my ears,
~Ioana~Boom.Lightning streaked the sky followed by the roar of thunder.I jerked awake, gasping. My chest heaved with each huge intake of air, the world split into two, merging back.I fell back, my back resting against something. My ragged gasp in my ears.Disoriented. I shook my head from side to side, but that didn't make it any better.Just then.Lightning cracked once more, lighting up the sky for a split second.And my heart stopped alongside with it.Something stood before the entrance—no, it was someone.A hulking mass, like a statue. 'Calm down, it's probably…' my voice trailed off not knowing what to say.But I didn't need to make that decision because it did for me.It took a step inside, water pooling behind it, leaving trails with each footstep.His head snapped up, molten pools of gold locking on me. Immediately, my emotions took a plunge, despair enveloping me like a tsunami.It's him.He found me.Scampering to my feet, I realized how foolish my decision was.How cou
The moment I crossed into the building, a shadow whooshed dangerously past—By a hair’s breadth, lounging at where I was standing before.Looking backward, outside,cold sweat trickling down my neck. 'If I was just a second too late…' I gulped in fear.The same way it appeared, it disappeared as swift.But I knew—FlinchingSomething was out there. Watching. Bidding its time for the moment I exit.I shuddered violently.“The forest is truly as dangerous as rumoured,” I muttered under my breath.Tearing my gaze away from the ominous atmosphere,I walked in, my footsteps thudding against the floor, echoing through the room.Just then—Whoosh!Jerking backwards, a flame was lit next to me. “What the—” I exclaimed with widened eyes as if receiving a hidden order.Torches lit up one by one, lining the walls on both sides until I could see without night vision.That's when I realised where I was—it was a hall. A wide one.Directly before me was a raised platform. Tendrils dangled from the