Chapter 2

Sovia’s POV

Whack!

The force blasted my neck to the side, a sharp sound ringing deep within my ears.

A metallic taste flooded my mouth. Blood.

I swallowed it down, along with my pride.

"By the moon!"

"Did the alpha just hit his Luna queen?"

"Be quiet. She deserves it."

With trembling hands, I held my face until I met Janova’s eyes again.

He, more than anyone, should understand how I felt about being hit. Janova knew my past better than anyone.

How could he do this to me?

My lips parted, unable to form words as a tear slid down my cheek.

"Apologize to Blossom. Now," he said firmly. From the way he stood, he was giving me no choice.

"Janova Lockham…" I gritted my teeth together. "I didn’t expect you to be so ungrateful—after everything we’ve been through together. I even lost my wo…"

"My lord…" a soft voice cut me off, her footsteps light as she skipped a few steps.

Janova quickly wrapped his hand around her waist, propping her forward. "Be careful so you don’t hurt yourself."

I could hear the crack in my jaw as I pressed my teeth together.

So he knew how to be gentle—he just wanted to be cruel to me.

Before the tears rolled off again, I swiped them away with my palm, taking a deep breath.

"Sovia Henric, I’ll ask you one last time. Apologize and admit you're wrong." His red eyes shimmered again, and the wolves around us scurried back with low whimpers.

Even though my knees knotted together, I took a step forward. "No." I forced a strained smile. "I didn’t do anything wrong, and I’m the Luna queen of Babel State. I won’t bow to a mere rogue."

He blinked as if he didn’t believe what was happening.

Raising his hand again, I stood there unmoved.

The Luna queen was the only thing I had left, and no one could take that position from me.

Janova smirked, pulling Blossom closer. "You never talk back to me before. Do you want a death wish?"

When I didn’t answer, he waved his hand, signaling the betas guarding the hall.

Swiftly, they came over, forming a circle around me. My pulse spiked as two of them snatched my arms.

"Take her away. Forty lashes.," Janova ordered and then drawled.”Sliver whip.”

Everyone gasped, and my breath hitched.

"Janova! You…"

He smirked while Blossom snuggled closer, feeling the pain as the betas started yanking me.

"Janova! You can’t do this to me!"

*****

It had been so long since I felt a tear in my skin. Maybe that’s why I forgot what they actually felt like.

Sore, bitter, and humiliating—but nothing compared to the pain of seeing my fated mate with another woman.

The Moon Goddess never makes a mistake, so why has my life been so tragic, right from the day I was born into this cruel world?

"My lady! My Lady!"

I closed my eyes, pulling my knees together, burying my face between my legs.

The door kicked open and her quick footsteps rushed inside.

Her hand wrapped around my arm, causing a rough hiss to escape my lips.

"I'm so sorry, my lady." Her voice broke. I didn’t need to lift my gaze to know that she was already in tears.

Vanessa—my personal maid who grew up with me since childhood.

After I found her on the street, she decided to serve me once I gave her bread. Despite my countless rejections, she followed me relentlessly until I agreed.

"How could the Alpha treat you this way?" she mumbled, her tears dripping on my palm. "He promised he would give you a better future. I thought we would finally escape from that hell. My lady, you deserve better."

Even if I was tearing up inside, I had to be strong—at least for Vanessa.

I pulled her close. "Don’t worry. Everything will be fine."

Even I didn’t believe those words, because it was obvious—my mate had found my replacement.

"My lady, everyone is talking about how the King has gotten a mistress. What about you…" Vanessa sniffed, wiping her nose.

"Most Alphas don’t stay with one woman. Some even have breeders. We still have a chance. Alright?"

And in our wolf state, for a Luna to be removed she had to die or abdicate willingly.

This entire state, the peace and prosperity—it all rested on my sweat and blood.

"Hmmmm—"

Clang!

Vanessa sprang up to her feet as two beta guards trooped in.

"How dare you enter the Luna Queen's room without permission. If the Alpha hears about this…"

"So what if he does?"

I frowned once I caught the faint sound of footsteps—soft and graceful.

She smiled sweetly. "Greetings, big sis."

I squeezed the blanket over my leg. Most people would think she was being polite, but I had never met anyone so disrespectful.

Adjusting my hips against the bed, I straightened. "It’s Luna Queen," I scoffed, turning back to her. "I don’t know how people live in Chaldean, but in Babel State, we have rules and hierarchy. You are beneath me."

Blossom’s delicate appeal cracked, but she tilted her head gracefully. "Greetings, Luna. Forgive my rudeness."

I thought she was going to put up a fight, but surprisingly she was cooperative. Strange.

"What do you want?" Vanessa snapped.

Blossom smiled. Once she stretched her palm, one of the betas placed a paper in it.

Stretching it forward, she continued, "The Alpha King has gifted me your residence. Please, Luna, move out now."

I nearly sank back onto the bed. Everything was beginning to spin, and for some reason, it was starting to make sense.

They humiliated me so I would leave.

Squeezing my palm, I dragged a smile across my face. "Inform my mate that if he wishes to seize my title, I will not make it easy for him."

Blossom purred, her fingers playing over her neck, and that was when I noticed the moon jade necklace—the one I carved specifically for Janova on our first anniversary.

He told me he was going to keep it for the rest of his life, but he gave it to another woman.

"That bastard…"

I shot up from my bed, tossing the covers away, my sight darkening for a moment as I staggered over to where she was.

The urge to hit her, to shred her face into pieces, filled my mind, but now more than ever I had to be calm.

"That necklace…" I whispered, watching how perfectly it suited her slender neck.

"Oh, this…" Blossom chuckled, caressing the necklace. "This trinket was a gift from His Majesty. Please Luna, don’t think too much about it."

Closing my eyes, I stretched my lips into something that resembled a smile, my jaw aching from the strain. "Trinket?" I asked, cocking a brow. "You don’t deserve it."

With those words, I reached out, ripping the necklace from her neck and smashing it against the floor.

Its shards clanged and scattered.

"Get out! All of you!" I yelled.

"I’ll never give up what’s mine. Over my dead body…"

I took a deep breath as the pain from my back surged through me.

"My lady," Vanessa held me back when I stumbled.

Thud! Thud!

"My lord. What are you doing here?" Blossom purred, her eyes dilated as Janova strolled past her.

His pupils contracted for a single heartbeat, noticing the necklace. "Who did this?"

When I didn’t answer, he dragged his steps until he stopped in front of me, sizing me up carefully.

He tilted his head before crossing his arms over his chest. "Tell me, Sovia. Do you want death that much?”