Chapter 1

Sovia’s POV

“Sterile Luna.”

That was the name they branded me with.

But today was going to change everything, because my mate—Janova—was coming home.

“The Alpha King is here!” I spun at the sound of one of the voices cheering from the crowd.

I could feel my heart racing amidst the sound of roaring timbers and murmurs from the gathering.

My nails dug into my dress, squeezing hard like my life depended on it.

It had been over a year since Janova went beyond the borders to battle the Chaldeans—vicious rogues who had been trying to invade our state.

Thankfully, my mate came back victorious.

The doors shifted open with a heavy THOOM, the sound vibrating through the floor.

“Welcome back, Your Majesty!”

Heads bowed in reverence as he stepped in.

I smiled as he moved past the doors, his magnetic presence making me shudder.

“Um… who’s that with the King?”

Faint whispers followed, and that was when I finally noticed the lady beside him.

She was so frail and delicate. Silver hair added to her soft features.

She was… angelic.

I held my breath when Janova stopped in front of me.

A strange scent clinging to him. It was metallic and cold.

“Luna Queen.”

Even though our marriage was arranged by our parents, he had never called me Luna—at least not like that—with such an intimidating, cold gaze.

“Ja—”

“You look well. Good. Maybe this time, that body of yours might yield something fruitful.” He said it almost in a whisper, yet everyone heard it.

My legs shook as his shoulder brushed past mine.

Only one thought clung to my mind—

What happened to Janova?

Was one year enough to change someone so completely?

Where was the loving mate who once told me that having a baby did not matter, because every pregnancy I had ended in miscarriage?

The healers told me my body was too weak to bear a child. So why…?

I could feel tears threatening to fall, but I clenched my fists as the whispers grew.

“Janova!” I called, taking a step forward before they could move further away.

He turned swiftly, almost as if he had been waiting for me to call him. “Is there a problem, Luna?”

Even though everyone’s eyes were on us, I flicked my gaze from him to the girl clinging to him.

When she noticed my stare, she shifted like she feared I would attack her.

If I still had my wolf, I would have clawed that face.

“Who is she?” I asked softly, taking a deep breath.

The lady whimpered, hiding her face against his arm.

My nails sank into my palm, leaving crescent marks, the sting doing nothing to compare to the burn in my chest.

“Don’t worry. She won’t do anything to you, dear.” Janova hushed her, placing his hand gently over hers.

In the presence of the entire pack… he was coaxing another she-wolf.

Because I lost my wolf and haven’t been able to produce an heir, the entire pack already looks down on me. The elders even once petitioned to replace me, but Janova had insisted I would remain his only mate.

But now… with this public humiliation… how was I supposed to hold my head high?

“Who is she?” I snapped. He paused.

“Her name is Blossom—someone I saved from the Chaldeans. She will be living with us now.” He said it bluntly.

“And please, I’ll need you to take care of her. She’s very fragile.”

“I am the Luna Queen. And I will not be tending to rogues,” I said, feeling the burn in my eyes.

Gasps rippled through the hall.

Janova’s face darkened, but he said nothing.

With the little dignity I had left, I lifted my gown and turned away.

As if being called sterile wasn’t enough… now my mate brought another woman into our home.

What was I supposed to think?

A few wolves from high society approached, attempting to converse, but all I saw was Janova—hovering over that wolf.

One could even mistake her for as the Luna. I was still here, yet he brought my replacement.

“Jealous?”

My pores tightened when a smooth, deep voice breathed behind me.

The scent hit me—dark musk curling around my senses like fingers around my throat.

A hard chest pressed lightly against my back, sending shivers down my spine.

I turned quickly and locked eyes with the last person I expected.

Prince ZadeKiah, Janova’s older brother.

They had always been rivals for the Alpha King’s seat, but Janova had won because of me.

No doubt ZadeKiah hated me. If not for me, all of this—the crown, the glory—would have been his.

He leaned closer, and I stepped back, but his hand caught my arm.

“Easy, Luna. You don’t want to hurt yourself.” His whisper brushed my skin.

Even though we were slightly away from the lively crowd, it was not proper to be this close… and my heart shouldn’t have been racing like this.

Everyone called him the Demon Lycan because of his strength and ruthlessness or perhaps because they said he killed his mother at birth.

“Prince ZadeKiah, is there something I can help you with?” I tried to stay steady, but the way his grey eyes seemed to see through my bones stole my breath.

His fingers loosened on my arm slightly.

“Your mate brought in another wolf. Probably his mistress or breeder,” he said dryly.

A pause.

“Or the next Luna.”

My breath stilled.

I had forgotten how filthy his tongue could be.

Snatching my arm away, I stood tall. “My family affairs are none of your business. And my mate is faithful.” I swallowed hard. “He said she is just a stray he saved. The Alpha King is known for his benevolence…”

“Benevolence?” ZadeKiah let out a soft scoff, snatching a glass from a passing server.

“You really believe that, Luna?”

I watched the movement of his throat as he sipped the glass of wine he carried. His neck was adorned with a braided leather choker with a matte gold clasp.

Had he always looked like this?

“If you find me so attractive, then you can take me in as your consort. I don’t mind.”

My eyes widened, heat rushing to my cheeks as I stepped back.

His lips curled.

“Prince ZadeKiah, I’ll pretend you never said that.”

“But I don’t want you to.” His gaze sharpened. “Come with me to the North, I'm a businessman with a successful company. It won’t be glamorous like royalty, but I can promise comfort and peace. Something your precious Janova cannot give you.”

His words stung. All I ever wanted was to be safe… free… happy. And for a time, Janova had been that light.

My lips pressed together. “I don’t know what you want, Prince ZadeKiah, but I am the Luna Queen of the Babel State. I will not leave my mate. Who knows what sort of sinister plans you have?”

His laugh was bitter as he finished his drink.

“You’ve loved my brother for ten years. How has that gone for you?”

His words sliced through me. I lowered my gaze.

“If you don’t leave him now, you will regret it, Sovia.”

Before I could lift my head, he was gone.

His words lingered like frost on my skin.

CRASH!

I whipped my head toward the sound.

A crowd was gathered. A maid was on her knees, trembling.

Janova stood, holding Blossom protectively—tenderly.

“How dare you try to hurt the baby?” he roared, his hand covering her belly, fury radiating from him.

Baby?

That rogue was pregnant?

My breath stopped.

Everything went still for a moment, then the movement began—

The waitress sobbed at his feet. “Your Highness, please forgive me… I did nothing wrong!”

He kicked her away, eyes glowing, fangs out. “You deserve death.”

What!?

Before I could speak, she trembled back to her knees.

“Your Highness, please… I swear on my life… someone made me poison Lady Blossom.”

“Who?” he snarled.

Slowly, her gaze lifted and the moment her finger pointed at me, every eye in the hall turned.

“I-It was the Luna Queen. She made me do it.”