Chapter 72

Chapter 72
Layla’s POV

I was awake for a long time after I returned to the room. I was disturbed because I realised late that Damon had seen my smeared lipstick. I was troubled by the kiss Asher and I had shared, and my mind was overcome with guilt.

Damon didn’t return until it was very late and  I pretended to be asleep. I wasn’t brave enough  to face his accusing eyes. When I woke up, he was gone. They said he and Lycan Asher had left for the southern border. I had a terrible feeling about it suddenly.

Pearl arrived  with my breakfast, as well as to prepare me for the day. I had insisted on having my breakfasts alone in the room. I could tolerate Cassandra and Isabella during dinner. 

‘’Your father wishes to speak with you before he leaves, my lady,’’ she said, setting down the tray.

She avoided my eyes but I could tell from her lacklustre voice and the way she carried herse;f that something was wrong.

‘’Pearl,’’ I called out. ‘’Is something wrong? You don’t sound like your usual bubbly self.’’

She bent over the tray as she set the meal and covered each bowl. ‘’I’m fine, Luna. I didn’t sleep well last night.’’

Apparently, a lot of us didn’t sleep well last night. But I had a very good reason. What could have been disturbing her?

‘’Why is that?’’ I asked, getting up from my vanity and dropping my hair brush.

She raised her head, looked me into the eyes and shook her head. ‘’It’s nothing, my lady.’’

‘’I’ll be back,’’ I said to her as I pulled a robe over my night wear.

–

Alpha Ryder was already set to leave when I joined him. We spoke about general things with the beta guards there, but I knew he needed us to discuss privately. 

‘’Give us some privacy,’’ I said to the guards.

‘’It’s the Lycan order,’’ he replied, without looking at me and staring ahead.

‘’As Luna, I order you to leave,’’ I responded, irritated.

Asher had all the corridors crawling with guards. There was hardly a place you’d turn without finding a guard watching you. 

The guard bowed his head and walked out of the room.

‘’It’s exhausting,’’ I said, securing the door.

‘’He doesn’t trust anyone,’’ my father said, leaning forward. ‘’And it’s a good thing he doesn’t.’’

He held my hand. I knew where the conversation was headed.  ‘’I want you to remember your role here, Melody. Keep your head down and make the Lycan trust you. Keep your eyes open too. I know you are a brave girl.’’

Yeah, right. He was just trying to use me for his own exploits.

‘’I’ll do the best  I can, dad,’’ I replied.

‘’I’ll keep in touch regularly,’’ he continued, dropping his voice even lower. ‘’Pearl will deliver my notes to you through someone anonymous, and you’ll destroy them after reading. Don’t send a written message to me. I’ll let you know when I want answers.’’

I waved him goodbye shortly after and watched him ride off until he disappeared from the horizon. I felt alone suddenly. I wrapped my arms around my body and headed inside. 

‘’I always knew you were a witch.’’

I stopped cold in my tracks. Cassandra appeared beside me, bitterness spelt over her face. She looked even more pathetic than angry and somehow I felt sad for her. She had been stripped of her powerful position, and even though her  daughter was Luna, she had no power.

‘’Good morning, Lady Cassandra,’’ I responded and continued walking.

‘’You can drop the act, you know,’’ she continued, falling into step beside me. ‘’I see right through you. You can deceive everyone but me.’’

I stifled a laugh. ‘’You are mistaken.’’ I faced her. ‘’I don’t want any sort of trouble between us, Lady Cassandra. You look like a sensible woman.’’

‘’Only a witch could crawl back from the grave,’’ she continued, facing me. ‘’Wearing another person's name and identity, trying to fool us all. You brought Lycan Asher here. Made our pack powerless, and why are you here now? To witness us grovel at his feet?’’

I bit my lips. They had been the ones to bring Lycan Asher to the pack. It was all a game plan that backfired in their face, and i took all the blame for it.

‘’You speak nonsense,’’ I replied, side stepping her.

She let out a cold laughter that caused my body to freeze. ‘’Do I? I saw you last night.’’

I stopped walking and she got to my side.

‘’At the temple.’’

I faced her. ‘’There’s no crime in going to the temple, is there?’’

‘’Oh, no,’’ she continued. ‘’’But when my baby came crying to my chamber, that her husband had called her Layla while they were together, and suddenly ran off, I knew I had to find and kill the witch.

I scoffed. ‘’So did you find this witch?’’

‘’Yes,’’ she continued. ‘’Just where I thought she’d be. At the temple.’’

‘’Good for you,’’ I said and started to walk away, hoping she had not seen Lycan Asherr and I together.

‘’With the Lycan,’’ she dropped the bombshell.

My feet grew heavy suddenly, but I managed to pull a straight face. ‘’Well, you are mistaken. Lady Cassandra. But I forgive you because it was quite dark that you couldn’t see that I was with my Alpha.’’

‘’There was nothing wrong with my vision, you witch. I warn you, stay away from my daughter, Stay away from Lycan Asher. Or I swear, you will burn to death again. And this  time, you won’t be crawling back.’’

I smiled at her. She was terribly miserable and it was very obvious Isabella was going to be more miserable than she was. I knew Lycan Asher was obsessed with Layla but I had not imagined it was so serious. I was about to respond to her when a guard came running towards me.

‘’Luna,’’ he said. ‘’Your maid had passed out.’’