Reborn As The Ruthless Lycan's Mate

Chapter 6

(Aya’s POV — as Marie-Anne)

The hallways were cold as I passed by.

Not cold in temperature, but in tone, in atmosphere. In silence. The way the maidservants bowed, their lips tight and their eyes lowered, but not out of respect or fear. It was out of contempt. And something else I couldn’t quite name yet. It was in the small things. The way the conversations halted when I walked past. The way no one bothered to meet my eyes for long. The way the doors were shut just a second too quickly behind me.

I hadn’t even been in this body for twenty four hours and already I could feel the weight of Marie-Anne’s life bearing down on me like a shroud soaked in thorns.

I turned a corner, heading down the west wing towards the main parlor where I was told breakfast was being served. My head throbbed faintly, there were too many thoughts buzzing through it. Too many lies brushing against my senses like smoke.

I reached the parlor door, released a sharp exhale and pushed it open.

Inside, the room was filled with soft light and the clinking of silverware. Evelyne sat at the head of the table like she owned the entire estate-- which is far from the truth because the real owner of Crown Estate, according to well known information was Jacob Crown, the Alpha of Crown Pack, also Marie-Anne’s father, I silently wondered why he was not seated at the table. Evelyne had a cup of tea raised to her blood red lips.

Across from her sat two other women, both older, with sharp cheekbones and sharper eyes. I didn't recognise them, never heard or seen them before. A few maidservants lingered against the walls like shadows.

Their conversation died the moment I entered.

"Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence," Evelyne said without looking up. "Did you get lost in your own house?"

"Actually, yes," I said, with an overly sweet tone. "It's hard to navigate properly when knives are constantly lodged in your back."

"How dare you speak to your aunt in that tone?!" One of the older women barked angrily. I could see the shock mixed with disdain in her eyes.

"I see the coma suddenly gave you boldness," she muttered, her eyes narrowing. "Bad idea, Marie-Anne. Your suddenly found boldness is a very bad idea."

I ignored them, walked to the table and sat without waiting to be invited. One of the maids came forward to pour me a cup but I waved her off.

“I’m not hungry,” I said flatly.

“You’re always hungry,” Evelyne replied with venom-laced sweetness. “Or at least you used to be. That's why you gained weight so easily, and it's one of the things i always scolded you about. Do you have a new diet, it's not good enough though, less brain, more bite, they always say.”

I didn’t rise to the bait. She wanted a reaction out of me and it seemed like she would usually succeed with the real Marie-Anne, but i wasn't “Or maybe I just got tired of swallowing poison with my morning tea.”

"Marie-Anne! How dare you?!" The woman who scolded me the other time, barked again, while Evelyne said nothing.

"There's something definitely different about this little b***h since she woke up. Does she know about what happened that night?" I suddenly heard Evelyne’s thoughts. She was glaring at me while thinking.

What happened that night?

What the hell happened to Marie-Anne?

Something happened to Marie-Anne before I woke up in her body. Something all of them knew, including the maidservants. And something told me it was related to whatever made these maidservants hate her with so much venom.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t envy alone.

It was something deeper and darker.

And I was going to find out what it was.

I had to. Because I need to take my revenge on Jolene and Malakai for what they did to me. I thought the goddess put me in this body to make my revenge easier, but it has turned out to be the opposite.

For me to take my revenge, I need to help Marie-Anne first.

I stood up again, ignoring Evelyne’s raised eyebrow.

"Where the hell are you going?" She asked with venom.

"I have no appetite, so i don't see any point sticking around."

"You cannot leave the table until the head of the pack is done, which is me since my brother isn't around. You know this better than anyone else. Sit your ass down this minute. " She threatened.

With the look in her eyes, Marie-Anne would have been intimidated, but I wasn't,

"I'm the Alpha's daughter, Evelyne, I'm supposed to be the head of the pack after my father, not you." I replied calmly and started walking out, ignoring her jaw that had dropped to the floor.

I was barely away from the table when I heard one of the butlers' voice,

“My lady.”

I turned to see a man with silvery hair and a furrowed brow, approaching with careful steps. He bowed low in front of me.

“Yes?” I asked, wary and taken aback by a servant actually showing me respect.

“There’s… news. From the capital.”

Okay??

“Go on.” I was still confused

He hesitated. “His Highness… the Lycan King… is returning.”

I blinked.

The lycan king?? As in Asher King??

Fuck. I almost forgot that Marie-Anne was betrothed to the lycan king.

"He is returning??" I blurted out in a low voice.

“Yes, my lady. Earlier than planned. His entourage is already on the move. He’ll be here by nightfall.”

Nightfall.

That's so soon. Oh my god.

Panic flickered in my chest. I might have handled Evelyne or been handling Evelyne and the maids well, with my acting. But this is the lycan king we're talking about.

Asher King.

The lycan King's reputation was well known and everyone who knew him shuddered in fear when his name was mentioned. A man cursed by the moon goddess herself with the worst curse given to a werewolf. A curse of no mate.

No mate means no softness. No weakness.

Asher King ruled with an iron fist and burned everybody and everything that dared oppose him.

And now he was coming home.

The news spread faster than wildfire.

Within an hour, the entire estate was alive with a new kind of energy—frantic, trembling, nervous. I passed through halls filled with whispering maids and pacing guards. Rooms were being dusted twice over, drapes were being changed, candles replaced. Evelyne herself barked orders to servants, her usual calm now sharpened by anxiety. Of course even Evelyne feared Asher King.

“He wasn’t supposed to return for another week,” I overheard one maid mutter. “What changed?”

“I heard that he killed the eastern alpha in a duel and ended the negotiations early.”

“What? Just like that?”

“Well, it is the King.”

I felt a chill run down my spine.

Of course, he killed an Alpha without any consequence.

And I had no idea what kind of man he was in private. No idea how Marie-Anne had felt about him before I stepped into her skin. Was she afraid of him? Was she in love with him? Did he care for her at all?

Or was this engagement nothing more than a political move?

I had too many questions with too little time.