Alpha's Rejected becomes the Lycan's Obsession-Chapter 40: Mad man

Roman’s car zoomed off with the same breakneck speed as they had arrived, the engine roaring like a beast unleashed. This time, Tessy kept her mouth shut, though her heart felt like it was lodged in her throat, pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears.

The world outside the windows blurred into streaks of light and shadow, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the edge of her seat. There was nothing she could say that would make him listen and slow down anyway, so why waste her breath? She decided to channel what little energy she had left into silent prayers for her survival.

He made a sudden, sharp, and dangerously abrupt turn, causing the tires to screech loudly against the asphalt, the sound piercing the night like a scream. But that wasn’t the only thing that sent Tessy’s anxiety skyrocketing.

Roman was now driving straight toward a tall grass barricade that led to what looked like a farm, and he showed no signs of slowing down. The headlights illuminated the dense wall of vegetation, and for a moment, Tessy was sure they were about to crash.

"What are you doing?" Tessy managed to choke out, her voice trembling. Despite being secured by the seatbelt, her hands flailed, searching for something to hold onto as she braced herself for what felt like the inevitable end. Her mind raced with images of twisted metal and shattered glass, and she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.

Roman didn’t respond. His gaze remained fixed ahead, his jaw set in a hard line as he focused on the road—or lack thereof. His hands gripped the steering wheel with a calm precision, his expression unreadable. He was acutely aware of the danger lurking around them, hidden in the shadows. He was thankful for the fear that kept Tessy’s eyes forward. If she had glanced to the side, she might have caught sight of the fast-moving figures darting through the darkness, their glowing eyes barely visible in the moonlight. The creatures moved like shadows, their forms flickering in and out of view as they pursued the car.

The field he was aiming for was no ordinary farmland. It was laced with a potent werewolf repellent, a substance strong enough to keep his pursuers at bay. The repellent had no effect on him, though, and Trevor had ingested so much of it over the years that he had developed a natural immunity. Entering the field wouldn’t harm either of them.

In a matter of seconds, Roman crashed through the barricade, the car tearing through the tall grass and breaking open the hidden silver gate. The impact was jarring, the sound of metal scraping against metal filling the air, but he managed to bring the car to a stop once they were safely inside the field. The engine idled softly, the only sound in the sudden stillness.

Tessy’s eyes, which had been squeezed shut in anticipation of a crash, snapped open when the car finally came to a halt. She sat frozen for a moment, her chest heaving as she tried to process the fact that she was still alive. Slowly, she reached for the door handle, her movements shaky but determined. The cool night air hit her face as she stepped out, her legs wobbling slightly as her feet hit the ground.

"Where are you going?" Roman asked, his voice cutting through the silence. His brows were knitted together as he watched her step out of the car, his sharp eyes tracking her every move.

When she didn’t respond, he let out a sigh and climbed out after her, his long strides quickly closing the distance between them. He grabbed her hand, stopping her from taking another step. His grip was firm but not painful, his touch sending a strange warmth through her despite the tension in the air.

"I asked you a question, Tessy. Where do you think you’re going?" Roman’s voice was low, almost a growl, but there was a hint of concern beneath the sternness. The deep frown etched on his face deepened even more, but he forced himself to stay calm. The last thing he needed was for her to have another panic attack.

"I’m going to find a taxi," Tessy yelled, her voice cracking as she tried to pull her hand free from his grip. But his hold was firm, unyielding. "It’s okay if you want to die. Just don’t pull me along with you," she said, her voice softening as tears welled up in her eyes. "Let me go, Roman."

Roman almost laughed. She had just said she didn’t want to die, yet she was asking him to let her go. He knew she had no idea what he was saving her from, but the irony wasn’t lost on him.

"Trevor will be here in a few minutes. He’ll take you home," Roman said, his tone calm but firm.

Tessy shook her head, her frustration evident. "I don’t want to ride with Trevor either. I want to take a taxi," she insisted, her voice trembling but resolute.

"You’re still not getting it. You’re the wife of the most powerful man in Apex Dominica. No wife of mine will ever travel in a taxi when I can afford any type of car she desires."

Tessy narrowed her eyes, momentarily distracted from her fear as something he said struck a nerve. "No wife of yours? How many are you planning to marry?" she asked before she could stop herself. "Never mind," she added quickly, frowning as she realized what she had just blurted out.

For a moment, Roman wanted to smile, sensing the jealousy in her tone. But knowing what she had endured in her past, he kept his expression serious.

"Get back in the car if you don’t want me to carry you there myself," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"You’re a madman," Tessy fumed, shooting him a glare that could have melted steel.

"I take that as a compliment, baby. Shall we?" Roman flashed a faint smile, then tugged her hand lightly, guiding her back toward the car.

Tessy had no more words. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. She might as well say her last prayers and kiss her life goodbye.

"What are we doing here?" Tessy asked, finally reaching the car but not getting in. She leaned against the side of the car, her arms crossed over her chest as she scanned the vast farmland they had crashed into. The field stretched out endlessly, the tall grass swaying gently in the night breeze. It was eerily quiet, the only sound the distant chirping of crickets.

"We’re here to admire the beautiful field," Roman answered casually, his face showing no sign of jest. "What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful? Have you been here before?"

"I need to lie down. I’m tired. My head is a mess," Tessy said, ignoring his ridiculous questions. She pressed a hand to her forehead, as if trying to ward off the pounding headache that had begun to form.

"Trevor will be here in about five minutes. He’ll take you home safely," Roman assured her, his tone softer now.

Tessy gave up. She peered into his eyes for a moment, searching for something—answers, reassurance, she wasn’t sure—but found only his usual unreadable expression. She looked away, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

Seeing the pain in her eyes hurt Roman more than anything. But he knew this was the only way to save her life. If only she had listened to him and waited until morning before coming out, they wouldn’t be in this situation.

When she looked away and said nothing further, he let out a silent sigh. Standing directly in front of her gave him access to all of her features, and most importantly, her scent. He needed a lot of strength for the fight waiting for him outside the gate, especially now that Lazer was in a weakened state. Her scent seemed to be doing the trick, calming the storm inside him.

Just as he had said, about five minutes later, a loud screech of tires reached Tessy’s ears, making her heart race again. She realized she would soon be in the same car as the one driving, and the thought made her stomach churn. How had she gotten herself involved with such reckless people? In her next life, if she ever found herself working in a hospital as a nurse, she would never take on the responsibility of cleaning car crash victims—especially insanely handsome ones.

While she was still processing the thought, her eyes widened when other banging and crashing sounds reached her ears. She turned to Roman, who had a deep frown etched on his features and had turned toward the open gate.

Shifting her attention to the gate, she waited in trepidation for the car to drive into the field, knowing it was still moving.

It took a few seconds for the car to finally show up. But Tessy couldn’t believe that was the same car that had driven away from her parents’ house with Freya inside.