Reborn As The Ruthless Lycan's Mate

Chapter 5

(Aya’s POV)

My head still felt foggy, as if someone had shaken the world and put it back together wrong. Well, I'd like to think that just happened, because why are these people suddenly calling me Marie-Anne??? Why did I suddenly become Marie-Anne?? The name Marie-Anne echoed in my ears but it didn't feel like mine. I was Aya... Aya Johnson. But the mirror was not showing me Aya Johnson right now. Neither did the voice of the maid who just left to summon more servants.

I knew Marie-Anne Rose Crown. I mean, who doesn't? Everybody in our town, as large as it is, knew who Marie-Anne Rose Crown was. She was the most beautiful woman in the town. She had such rare beauty that men were actually intimidated by her, even though they were naturally drawn and women were envious of her.

She had long flowing hair and a gorgeous pair of big brown eyes that fitted perfectly in her small face. Her skin glowed like porcelain, and when she passed by, people stopped to stare at her, it was impossible not to. Even I had caught a glimpse of her one time in the past and I was stunned.

Now I was standing in front of a mirror and I'm staring at the beautiful and drop dead gorgeous, Marie-Anne Rose Crown, instead of the usual pathetic Aya Johnson who always had sadness written all over her.

Now, four other women stood around me in hushed awe, fussing with my hair and smoothing soft fabric over my shoulders. I sat quietly on the edge of the bed, numb, watching them flutter like butterflies drunk on honey.

“You look absolutely radiant, my lady,” one of them cooed.

“We are so happy to see that you are well,” another one said with a rehearsed smile. “We were all… so worried.”

Lies.

I didn't know how I knew that. But I just knew the both of them just lied to me.

And that’s when it happened. The shift.

It started like a whisper, a murmur threading through my thoughts that wasn’t mine.

“Ugh... She should’ve stayed dead.”

My heart froze.

I looked at the maid who had spoken those words—at least, thought them. She was smiling, holding up a necklace with trembling hands.

“What did you say?” I asked, my voice was calm but cold. I couldn’t believe what just happened.

The maid blinked, looking genuinely confused. “I said… I’m so glad you’re awake, miss.”

“Stupid girl. She doesn’t even realize how lucky she is to be breathing.”

The voice again—but it came from another one. One fixing the hem of my dress. I turned sharply toward her, and her smile faltered for half a second.

I could hear them.

Their thoughts.

I blinked rapidly, disbelief washing over me. This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t just waking up in another body. Something else had changed.

I tested it. Focused.

“Pretend you’re happy. Don’t let her see anything. Don’t let her see you’re disgusted and irritated by her presence.”

That one was thinking too loud.

She was disgusted by me. No... Marie-Anne Rose.

Why?

Then came the flood—murmurs of disdain, jealousy, hate. None of them wanted Marie-Anne alive. They didn’t want her to wake. She had been better off dead in their eyes. Whatever status Marie-Anne held here, it wasn’t one of love.

But why?

I didn't know much about Marie-Anne Rose Crown but I knew a lot about her reputation, asides her very stunning appearance, she was known for her sweet personality. Her looks matched her character. She was known to be easy going, soft spoken and also very kind.

So why? Why do I feel so much hate from her maids towards her?

I slowly stood, the silk of my dress whispering with the motion.

“Leave,” I said, staring dead into their eyes.

They stilled.

“My lady?” the one with the necklace asked in confusion.

“I said leave,” I repeated, my voice firmer now. “I don’t need your help.”

The pretense cracked. I saw it in their expressions. Relief mixed with resentment.

One by one, they curtsied and slipped out, the door closing behind them like a final breath.

I exhaled and rubbed my temples. This wasn’t just a second chance—it was a whole new reality. And I had a weapon now. A dangerous one.

I could hear lies.

I could hear truths no one wanted spoken.

Before I could process more, the door opened again—sharply this time.

And another woman stepped in.

The air turned to ice.

She was tall, regal, dressed in deep plum velvet that clung to her frame with calculated elegance. Her red lips curled downward into a look of distaste before her eyes even met mine.

“Still breathing, I see,” the woman drawled while glaring hard at me.

The venom in her tone was deliberate. She made no effort to hide it.

Who is this and how is she related to Marie-Anne? I needed to be updated, even though everything was still very confusing.

I straightened, my spine went stiff. “Can I help you?”

She let out a dry laugh. “Help me? Oh, darling. You’ve helped enough just by staying out of sight. But now that you’ve graced us with your miraculous recovery, I thought it only right to come see if the rumors were true.”

I felt it again, that murmur beneath her words.

“I should’ve poisoned her tea when I had the chance.”

I stared at her. “Who are you?”

Her smile widened, dripping with scorn. “Are you f*****g serious? Is this your latest trick? Feigning amnesia?" Her smile was anything but sweet. She moved closer to me and touched my hair lightly, "There's no way you don’t know your dearest aunt, your father’s sister, Evelyne Crown. So drop the stupid act."

So this was the infamous Evelyne. Everyone knew Evelyne Crown, while Marie-Anne was known for her beauty and good personality, her aunt was known for being unnecessarily cruel and mean.

“You’ve been a f*****g stain on our name since the day you were born.”

I took a step toward her, tilting my head slightly. “It’s interesting… you hate me, yet you still showed up to bask in my survival.”

Her eyes narrowed, surprised and taken aback by my words. “What did you just say?”

I smiled, cold and slow. “Nothing I didn’t hear already.”

A flicker of confusion passed across her face before her mask returned. “Watch your tone, you stupid brat. You may be engaged to the King, but you’re still a Crown. And we don’t tolerate--”

“Disgrace? Weakness? Yes, I’ve heard it all before,” I interrupted.

She froze, clearly not expecting the interruption. Definitely not from me.

“this little b***h changed. This isn’t the girl I remember. Something’s wrong. What the hell happened while she was in coma??”

I stepped closer, my voice soft. “You’re right, Evelyne. I’m not the girl you remember.”

I let the words linger, brushing past her as I reached for the door. My fingers paused on the handle.

“I’d advise you to be careful,” I added over my shoulder. “From now on, I hear more than just words.”

Then I opened the door and walked out, leaving Lady Evelyne staring after me in stunned silence.

Aya Johnson might have died in that forest.

But Marie-Anne Rose Crown?

She just woke up.

And this time, she wasn’t going down easy.