The Forgotten Luna (Adessa)

LADESSA.

"I've been looking for you for twenty years," the King said, and it kept resonating in my ears.

I looked at him, and slowly, the words came out of my lips. "Looking for me? For twenty years? I'm not sure I understand."

"Your mother's name is Adelaine."

It was the woman's name he mentioned earlier when he first saw me.

"She was taller, but you look just like her. And even with that mask on, I could tell."

"My King, you must be mistaken." I forced a smile despite the loud beating of my heart and the sweat on my palms. "This is not my real hair. And they put too thick makeup on me. What you see..."

"I know what I felt."

I swallowed hard as my stomach churned. King Essak turned away and headed for the window. He looked outside while I remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"A King's senses are heightened. My sense of hearing, reflexes, taste, everything. And I could feel a bond. I felt it for every one of my children that came into this world. I knew someone was born twenty years ago, and I felt that same connection when I saw you." I was just staring at him as more questions formed in my head.

"I didn't know she bore a daughter. I was prophesied that I would only have sons but not a daughter." He continued while I tried to keep up with everything he was saying.

The King has five sons, all of which are ruling their own territories. And one of these days, one of them would rise as the New Alpha King.

"What that foolish woman Miranda had said only backed my assumptions. A secret we never confirmed to anyone. All royals were born with a red mark on their hip bones. And they change in every stage of their life." He then turned around to face me as goosebumps rose on my skin.

If he were lying, then he wouldn't know about the changes in my birthmark. I thought it was a defect, but the people at the orphanage stated I was hallucinating when I told them I thought my mark had changed its form while I was growing up. So, I never opened the topic again.

"What form do you have on your back now?" He asked.

"It's almost a heart. But not yet..."

"You're ready, then." He said with a poker expression.

"What do you mean, my King?"

"Call me Father, Adessa."

"I'm not sure I understand what is going on. If you were my father, where is my mother? Why was I left alone in the orphanage?"

"I know you will have many questions. I will answer all of that when the right time comes."

"Is my mother the queen?" I knew it was a stupid question because the deceased Queen's name was not Adelaine. But I wanted to understand more.

"She's not your mother."

"All your sons..."

""Your brothers..." He cut me off.

"All your sons..." I repeated firmly. "...are children of your Queen. And they're older than me. Am I an illegitimate child?"

"You're my daughter."

"You cheated on your Queen," I mumbled as tears fell from my eyes. I had no idea where I got the courage to say that to him. But maybe his thought that I was his child gave me that confidence.

"I was not proud of that, but I couldn't change a thing anymore. All I know is I am glad I finally found you."

"We are not sure if I'm your daughter."

""We will find out soon."

"And what if I'm not?" I asked as I closed my eyes, waiting for the worst.

"You will be trialed for your crimes." He said almost immediately.

I tilted my head as I fought the tears from falling. My mouth hung open as we stared at each other. "I want to see Alpha Kael."

"No." He said as he dropped his gaze and went back to the phone.

"Why not?" I asked in a soft voice.

He talked on the phone for a while, asking someone to come here before dropping the call. He then faced me. "Because the King said so."

"As your daughter, don't I have any rights to speak with whom I want to speak with? Kael is my husband."

"Ex-husband."

"You don't know what we have. He didn't divorce me because..."

"I don't need to hear an explanation." He cut me off and then cleared his throat.

The softness in his eyes was gone, the one I saw when he recognized me at the ball. All I saw was a man with a stoic face-an expression as cold as the night. "As my daughter, who's at her peak of having a mate, you're not allowed to speak to any man without my approval,

My mouth fell open.

"Or, as a fugitive waiting for a trial, it is your punishment to be isolated from the rest."

My eyes watered as everything was sinking in. Either way, he was not allowing me to contact Kael.

"If I may ask, what do you mean by being on the peak of having a mate? I don't think I will ever meet my fated mate."

"I assume you will not meet him like all of us."

"Then I have the right to choose my mate," I said, hoping the worst was me having suitors for selection.

"The Kingdom of Absalom will choose the right mate for you."

The Kingdom of Absalom is the old-times name for this country-the one he governed as the Alpha King.

He must have seen the confusion on

my face, so he continued talking. "It had been far too long since the last time this kingdom had a princess for royalty Decades after decades all the Kings were only given sons."

"So there's no guarantee I am your child. I couldn't be that special." I blurted out, still confused with his statement about the Kingdowm choosing a mate for me.

He chuckled and shook his head as his laughter boomed around me. He looked carefree and happy, far from the stoic man he was showing me in this room the whole time. "Aren't you a stubborn young woman? Tell me, my child, would you rather face the fate of the dungeons than be my daughter?"

I wanted to tell him that either way, it seemed my fate was no longer in my hands.

"All I want is to speak with Kael, my King."

"Father." He said again, slower this time, as if teaching a kid how to speak.

"Father, please..." I said softly, my voice pleading. I would do whatever he wanted so I could speak with Kael, even for a few minutes.

"No." He said at the exact moment the door opened.

I stood up and moved further away from the door when two men and a woman entered. One man seemed to be a doctor because he was carrying a medical kit.

The three who entered bowed their heads to him before turning to me and bowing to me.

My eyes widened. I was used to being bowed down to when I was still Kael's Luna, but definitely not anymore, and not from the King's men.

"Relax, Princess Adessa. I will just swab something from your mouth."

I swallowed and looked at the King.

He nodded at me. "It's just a test to prove to you that I am your father. After this, I will let you rest."