Chapter 15

Layla POV 

I sat at the small table in my room, pushing the last remnants of my meal around the plate. The food was good, but my appetite was waning under the weight of questions swirling in my mind. 

I took another bite of the roasted vegetables on my plate, trying to focus on the flavor but despite my efforts, the meal felt like little more than fuel.

I was slowly piecing together Melody’s life, the discovery of Melody’s letters and diary had opened a door to her life, for me  but the more I learned, the more unsettled I became. Not to mention it had also left me grappling with the reasons behind my own presence here.  

A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.  

“Come in,” I called, setting down my fork.  As  I leaned back in my chair, Pearl entered, carrying fresh linens for my bed. Her expression brightened when she saw me. 

“Lady Melody, you’re looking better already,” she said warmly, placing the basket on a chair.

“Pearl,” I said, gesturing to the seat across from me.

“Why don’t you sit with me for a moment?”  Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh, I couldn’t, my lady. I have chores to—”  

“Please,” I interrupted gently. 

“I’d really like your company.” Her steps were light, and I could sense her hesitation as she glanced at me.   

“Pearl,” I called softly, 

“Sit with me,” I said,urging her close by  gesturing to the chair across from me. She hesitated again, her gaze dropping to the floor, but eventually, she obeyed, settling into the seat.   closer and setting the linens still in her arms,on the floor next to her.

“Yes, Lady Melody?” she asked, her voice as steady though her eyes darted around the room nervously.  

“What do you need my lady?”  

I folded my hands on the table, leaning forward slightly.

 “I need to ask you something, Pearl, and I need you to tell me the truth.”  

Her brows furrowed, and she shook her head quickly.

“I don’t know what you mean, my lady. I only serve to—”  

“Please,” I interrupted gently but firmly.

“I’m asking not as your mistress but as someone who trusts you. Tell me how I really fell ill.” Pearl’s hands tightened around each other. 

“The doctor said it was exhaustion, my lady. You’ve been through so much.”  

“Pearl,” I pressed, my voice breaking. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. Instead, she glanced at the door, her fingers twisting in her lap. Her brow furrowed, and she bit her lip, clearly torn.

“My lady, I don’t think—”  

“I need to know. I feel like I’ve been living in a fog since I woke up and you’re the only one who can help me understand it clearly. Please.”  She let out a soft sigh, her shoulders slumping. 

“I... I don’t know if I should—”  

“Tell me,” I urged, reaching across the table to touch her hand. She looked down at our joined hands, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. 

Finally, she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“You were never the same after the announcement of your engagement,” she began. 

“At first you argued with the alpha fiercely it was surprising because you had never done it before, then you seemed... resigned. But then, as the days passed, you became quieter, more withdrawn. You stopped smiling. Stopped talking to anyone.”  

"You barely ate" I swallowed hard, my throat tightening.

“Go on.”  

“One day,” Pearl continued, “ You asked me to fetch you bush weed seeds. You said they were for tea, but…” She trailed off, her voice trembling. 

“The doctor said you took them. That you swallowed them before walking into the sea.” 

“She... she tried to kill herself,” I murmured,but Pearl was too dazed to hear my mistake. She was staring at the table unseeing.

“I didn't know –" she stammered and it hit me then my stomach churned as her words settled over me. 

I had known it but to actually hear it confirmed to me that Melody—this body’s original owner—hadn’t just been sad or reluctant about her engagement that she had been devastated enough to end her own life.  

I sat back in my chair, my hand falling to my lap. 

Pearl nodded, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand.

“We found you just in time. The healer said it was a miracle you survived.”  

“A miracle,” I repeated, laughter bubbling within my gut. Was it though if only Pearl knew the truth, that the real Melody was dead and gone would it seem like such a miracle.

And now, here I was, living in her body, given a second chance at life while she was gone.  

Why? Why had I been chosen to live in her place?  

“Thank you for telling me,” I said quietly, meeting Pearl’s tear-filled gaze. She sniffled and nodded. 

“I’m sorry, my lady. I didn’t want to upset you.”  

“You didn’t,” I assured her. 

“I needed to know.” I reached for her hand holding it in mine.

" And Pearl, you didn't do anything wrong " I whispered, she looked up at me her eyes red from all the crying.

"But I did though, I gave you the seeds I should have know what they did. If I didn't give them to you then you would have been able to swim" she mumbled.

"You are a strong swimmer " she finished.

"You followed my orders and that is not your fault " I muttered.

"Promise me you know that" I said and she swallowed.

"Yes my lady." 

"Alright, you can get back to your work" I whispered. 

She rose to her feet, taking the linens with her. 

“If you need anything else, my lady, just call for me.”  

“I will.”  I said with a smile.

When she left, I stared at my half-eaten meal, my appetite completely gone. I pushed the plate aside and stood, pacing the room as my crowding on themselves.

The story I now knew was tragic that was true , but what did it mean for me? 

Why had I been given this body and this life? Was it some sort of punishment? A test? Or was there something bigger at play?  

I stopped at the window, staring out at the mountain view to the peaceful world outside that seemed so calm, unbothered by the chaos in my mind.  

Needing a distraction, I turned to the small desk in the corner of the room, where there were a stack of books and papers had been left for me. 

I pulled out one of the books, flipping through its pages until I found a section about the pack’s history. I needed to know everything about the pack I would be living my new life in. 

The more I read, the more questions I had. 

This pack—my new pack—seemed prosperous and well-connected, so I didn't understand why they needed Alpha Damon there was little information about its relationship with him. 

What I did find, however, painted an unusual picture of Damon himself. He was described as a lone wolf, a powerful alpha without a pack of his own. It seemed he lived a distance not very far from the Alpha King's pack.

It made sense since he and Asher were cousins but it didn't explain why he didn't have a pack of his own.

Despite his solitary nature, he commanded respect and fear in equal measure, his reputation was matched.  

Why, then, was he so eager to mate with Melody? What could he possibly gain from aligning himself with this pack?  

I spent hours poring over the books and papers, searching for anything that might give me a clearer picture of Damon’s motives, I pulled out a stack of papers and a map of the surrounding territories. 

But the more I learned, the more I realized how little the world itself actually knew about Alpha Damon Blackwood.

As I studied, I found mention after mention of Alpha Damon Blackwood his reputation was undeniable: ruthless, powerful, and unstoppable in battle. Yet, despite his strength, he had no pack of his own.  

I closed the book and leaned back in my chair, exhaustion pulling at me.  I looked around to find the sun had dipped below the clouds leaving the room darker. I might not have all the answers yet, but one thing was clear, if I wanted to survive, both in this world and in this body, I would need to uncover the truth before it was too late. 

And I would find them—no matter what it took.