Chapter 5: Different Path Begins

Melody's POV

“Care to explain why?”

Alpha Andrew, my father asked, his tone neutral yet laced with the unmistakable weight of authority.

I swallowed hard, my fingers nervously clenching down on the hem of my dress.

"Father, I… I don’t want to be engaged to Jay," I whispered.

How could I tell him the truth? That this was my second chance at life? That I had already made this mistake once—trusted the wrong person, loved blindly, and paid with my life? He would think I had lost my mind.

“Princess!”

A too-familiar voice chimed in.

I turned, my heart sinking, as Agatha, my stepmother entered the office with Mr. Hall close on her heels. Her smile was soft, elegant… and a complete lie. I used to cling to the illusion that she cared about me, but now? I saw right through her.

"What's wrong, dear?" she asked in an over-sweet tone. "You don't want to be engaged to Jay anymore? What are you saying? You already agreed.

I clenched my fists at my sides. In my past life, I was foolish enough to accept the mirage of her affection. Never again.

"Mother," I said flatly, without an inch to give. "I will not mate with Jay, and neither will I marry him.

“Melody…” she started to say, when my father interrupted her.

“Okay.”

I blinked. “…Okay?”

He nodded, though his expression turned uneasy.

“It’s up to you who you marry.”

My chest constricted; my eyes welled up at the shame. Even in that doomed past life -- where I betrayed myself and trusted the wrong people -- he still stood with me. I had taken his love for granted… and lost everything.

"It's not too late to call it off, is it?" I asked awkwardly, an optimistic flutter in my chest.

But before my father could answer, Agatha's voice sliced through the moment:

"I have already sent out the invitations."

My heart dropped to my stomach.

The whole kingdom would know. The ceremony was only a week away; hundreds of guests had been invited. In our world, an engagement wasn't so easily broken as with a refusal. It would be a public shaming to my father, which would also entail his paying reparation to Jay. And Jay… he'd never settle for a mere fortune.

He wanted influence. Power.

My father's pack was vast and wealthy. Jay's was still growing. Marrying me would give him everything.

Not again.

Not in this life.

I steadied my breath. “I can handle this, Father.”

He faltered, concern flitting across his eyes.

“Melody, if you really don’t want to be engaged to him… if you don’t want to mate with him—”

“I’m just being silly,” I lied, forcing a smile past the lump in my throat.

Immediately, Agatha brightened up, her expression triumphant.

“Of course, you are; just nerves,” she cooed, smugness curling at her lips.

I didn’t say anything. I had already begun thinking.

If I couldn't call off the engagement in public… then I needed Jay to.

A firm knock sounded—and the door burst open.

Mr. Hall stepped inside, his face tense.

"Alpha Jay is here."

My father drew in a controlled breath.

"Send him in."

Jay didn't waste any time. He strode straight to me, urgency with every step. His hands gripped my arms—firmly enough not to hurt but enough to show possession. The warmth of his brown eyes overflowed with so much concern… something that actually now felt nauseating.

“Melody, what happened?” he asked, voice tight.

"You were supposed to meet the designer today. Your engagement gown has already started production."

I cast my eyes low, feigning embarrassment.

“I’m sorry… I forgot.” I looked up and let innocence paint my features, a role I had played to perfection once before. "You still have such a childish personality," Agatha grumbled, her tone full of disdain. She looked at my father and back to Jay with a calculating glint. “Perhaps Jay should start helping out with the Madison Pack now. And after Alpha Andrew steps down, we should merge our packs together, since obviously Melody isn't ready to take over." My father stiffened, rage simmering beneath his calm façade.

“Mother,” Jay said sharply, a warning. He wasn’t angry because she insulted me, just irritated she was drawing unnecessary attention. I turned to Agatha and smiled sweetly, allowing a sharper edge to conceal under my tone. “There’s no need for that. I will be the future Alpha of this pack.” Everybody froze. Shock radiated from each face. In my past life, I had begged my father to hand over the leadership to Jay… and that single decision destroyed everything. Not this time. This was it, my future. “What changed your mind, Princess?” Agatha asked, setting a forced comforting hand on my shoulder. Her voice was soft, but her eyes were probing, suspicious. She let out a very dramatic sigh. “You never wanted the Alpha training. You know nothing about ruling a pack. What harm is there in letting Jay guide you?”

 Because he led me… Directly into hell. I stepped back, slipping from Jay's hold, and I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze unafraid.

 "I want you to call off our engagement."