Alpha's Rejected becomes the Lycan's Obsession-Chapter 55: Goodbye, Mom

As they were filing out of the dining room, Ruby suddenly stopped and turned around to face Tessy.

"I heard what happened to your mother, ma’am. Please accept my deepest condolences." She put on a sad look, lowering her eyes.

"Thank you, Ruby. I appreciate your kind words," Tessy responded.

"Accept my condolences, ma’am," Gina and Alexa chorused, as if they had been waiting for Ruby to say it first.

Again, Tessy flashed a smile. "Thanks for your kind words," she responded.

"Do you need anything, ma’am? Maybe something I can do for you?" Ruby threw a question, her eyes holding the innocence of a child who wanted to please her mother.

"There’s nothing for now. If I think of something, I will let you know."

After she said this, they all filed out of the dining room, leaving her and Trevor alone.

"Are you sure about keeping all three of them?" he asked her, his face holding uncertainty.

"Yep. The company would be appreciated. This place is too dull." Tessy remained unshaken in her decision.

"All right. I have to go to the office now. Breakfast will be served in a few minutes." He pushed himself off the seat and also walked out, leaving her to herself.

Meanwhile...

"I don’t think we should idle about. Let’s get to work already. There has to be something around the house we can engage in," Gina, the one who looked more mature than the others, said to them.

"You are not the boss. What makes you think you can tell us what to do? Madam said she would let us know if she wants us to do something for her," Alexa countered, glaring at the girl.

"Watch how you talk to me. I’m pretty sure you know you don’t want to offend me." Gina shot a warning look at the girl and the latter returned the look right back.

"You two should stop fighting already." Ruby spoke in a soft voice, looking all nervous even though she wasn’t part of the fighting pair.

"I’m not the one fighting. She is the one bringing up a fight," Alexa quickly defended herself, then turned to Gina, refusing bluntly to let the matter rest. "Like I said, you are not the boss of me, so you cannot tell me what to do. And don’t think because you are a beta wolf you can bully me. I might be an omega, but I will not go down easily or subject myself to be bullied by you."

As soon as the words slipped out of her lips, Trevor walked into the hallway where they were arguing, forcing all of them to shut their mouths and lower their heads.

"It’s not even 24 hours yet, and you are already breaking the most important rule." Trevor’s voice reached their ears.

"She started it, Sir Trevor," Alexa pointed at Gina.

"I don’t care who started it or who ended it. If this repeats itself, you all will be severely punished for it." He stated in finality, but ruby raised her finger. "Yes?"

"Including the one who didn’t say anything?" She asked, very sure she didn’t want to be punished for another’s crime.

"Only those guilty will be punished," Trevor rephrased his sentence, after letting out a sigh.

***

It had been three days since the devastating news of her mother’s demise, and finally, the day of the funeral arrived.

The sky was gray, and a soft drizzle fell over the cemetery. Tessy barely noticed. She stood still, staring at the casket in front of her, her fingers gripping a single white rose.

The priest’s voice carried through the air, speaking of peace, of rest, of God’s will. None of it mattered. Nothing could change the fact that her mother was gone.

She could feel her father standing somewhere nearby, but she didn’t look at him. She couldn’t. Not today.

A part of her had always resented her mother—for staying, for enduring a torturous life she could have walked away from. Tessy had begged her, argued with her, cried over it. But her mother had only ever given her a sad smile and said, "Some things aren’t so simple, my child."

And now, she would never get to ask her why. Never get to tell her she was angry, that she didn’t understand. Never get to hear her side of the story.

A lump formed in Tessy’s throat, thick and painful. She clenched her jaw, trying to hold herself together. Then, a warm hand wrapped around hers, steady and sure. Roman.

He had been beside her the entire time, quiet but present, just like always since she met him. She didn’t have to look at him to know that if she broke down, he would catch her.

"It’s going to be okay, my love," he murmured, his voice low, meant only for her.

Freya stood beside her as well, offering silent comfort. She had tears in her eyes, but she tried to be strong for her friend.

Tessy sucked in a shaky breath, but it didn’t help. The pain pressed in on her chest, suffocating, and when the first handful of soil hit the casket with a hollow thud, something inside her cracked.

She had spent years carrying anger toward her mother, wishing she had chosen differently. But standing here, at the edge of this grave, none of it mattered anymore.

All she wanted now was one more conversation. One more moment.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, so softly she wasn’t sure if she had said it out loud. "I just wish things were different."

Freya’s hand tightened around hers, pulling her back from the edge of her grief. She turned to her then, letting her forehead rest against her friend’s shoulder as silent tears slipped down her face. Freya didn’t say anything. She just held her.

People moved around them, murmuring condolences, but Tessy barely registered any of it. Not the pitying glances. Not the sound of her father sniffling somewhere in the background. None of it mattered.

Only this—this moment, this loss, this sudden realization that love, even when it wasn’t perfect, was still love.

"Goodbye, Mom," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I love you."