Alpha's Rejected becomes the Lycan's Obsession-Chapter 74: It’s not pleasant news

Roman’s heart seized in his chest. Panic flared like a wildfire as he cradled Tessy in his arms, her body limp, unresponsive.

"Tessy," he called, his voice tight, tinged with disbelief. No answer. Her breathing was steady, her skin warm, but she wasn’t waking up. A sense of dread coiled around his chest like a vice. He gave her a gentle shake, hoping, praying, that she’d stir.

"Tessy, are you okay?" he asked again, louder this time, voice cracking slightly. Still nothing.

He gently lowered her into the nearest chair, eyes wild with confusion, his hands trembling as he reached for her pulse. Her heartbeat was there—soft, steady—but she remained eerily still. His mind raced. She had just been smiling at him. What had changed?

His instincts kicked in. Without a second thought, he scrambled to his feet, hastily grabbing his shirt and pants and yanking them on. His fingers fumbled with the buttons as urgency tightened its grip on him. Then he turned back to her, carefully slipping her arms through her clothes, dressing her with tenderness, reverence, and fear clawing at the edges of his calm. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

When she was covered, he swept her into his arms in one swift motion, carrying her bridal-style out of the theater. The hallways blurred around him as he moved, fast and purposeful. His breath came shallowly. Was she just asleep? Could sleep look this deep—this unnatural?

No. Something was wrong. And more than confusion, it was fear that haunted him now.

When he reached her room, he gently laid her on the bed, adjusting her position to make sure she was comfortable. He hovered beside her, heart thudding like war drums against his ribs.

Then, suddenly, she let out a moan. So soft, barely a whisper, but it sliced through the silence like thunder.

Roman’s brows furrowed as he leaned closer.

"Tessy," he whispered her name again, desperation hidden beneath the calm facade.

This time, her lips moved faintly, and she let out a low, broken hum. "I want to sleep... leave me alone," she murmured, her voice breathy, a ghost of its usual warmth. Then she went silent again.

It unnerved him.

Roman’s jaw clenched. No. He didn’t believe it. That whisper, that vague plea. It wasn’t her.

Something wasn’t right. His instincts—honed by centuries of blood and survival—refused to let him brush this off.

So he stayed. He didn’t leave her side, not even for a moment. He he sat down on the bed beside her, his eyes fixed on her face. She looked so peaceful, almost as if nothing was wrong. But her tranquility only deepened his dread.

He reached out, brushing a few strands of hair from her face, letting them fall slowly between his fingers. His mind reeled with possibilities, memories, doubts, and above all—fear of losing her.

---

Far away, in the cold efficiency of his office in Luminera, Williams sat behind his expansive oak desk, the screens before him glowing with notifications and digital noise. He sifted through the sea of emails, eyes narrowing as he searched for one specific message. Edwin had said he had sent it minutes ago.

Finally, he found it. His fingers hovered over the mouse, ready to click.

A knock echoed through the quiet room.

"Come in," he called, already recognizing the scent beyond the door.

Vanessa stepped in, graceful as always, carrying a silver tray. The scent of freshly cooked meat and herbs drifted toward him, warm and inviting.

"What’s this?" Williams asked, looking up from the screen and shifting his focus to her when she dropped the food on the table.

"Your food, Alpha," she said with a small, respectful bow. Her tone was soft, her expression concerned. "You’ve been working all day without a break. I thought you might need this."

He tilted his head slightly, studying her with an unreadable gaze.

"You need to eat," she added, her voice firmer now. "You’re working too hard. I don’t want you to break down."

Her eyes locked with his then, unflinching and filled with something soft—something real.

Williams leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. Vanessa was a capable warrior. Smart. Loyal. Kind-hearted. She was one of the few who stood out in the pack. Stronger than most. Braver than many. Beautiful, no doubt.

But she was also mateless, just like him.

She had rejected her mate after discovering his betrayal—an affair with another she-wolf. That choice had made her an outsider to many, but Williams had always admired her for it. She had refused to be tied to a bond that would break her spirit.

And perhaps because of that, people began whispering. They said she and Williams were a perfect match. Even Elena had voiced it out loud. And now, with the way Vanessa looked at him, he knew someone had been fueling those hopes.

He didn’t blame her. She was doing what anyone might do when given the chance at something more.

Still, his heart—shrouded in the shadows of his past—was not free to offer her what she deserved.

"Thank you," he said quietly, nodding toward the tray. "That was thoughtful. You should retire for the day," he added, his tone gentle but edged with command.

Vanessa hesitated, shaking her head. "You’re still working, Alpha. I can’t retire if you’re not."

He straightened. "I wasn’t asking, Nessa." His voice dropped an octave, firm now, unmistakably Alpha. "That was an order."

She swallowed hard, then nodded. "Goodnight, Alpha," she said, voice barely above a whisper. With grace, she turned and left the room.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Williams sighed, the weight of memories bearing down on his shoulders. For a moment, the past threatened to swallow him whole, but he shoved it back into its cage.

His gaze returned to the screen.

He opened the email.

As he read, his expression changed. The calm melted away, replaced by cold shock. His eyes widened slightly, then narrowed with intensity. His hands, normally so steady, curled into fists on the table.

His phone was in his hand before he realized it, fingers dialing Roman’s number with practiced urgency.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

No answer.

A curse slid from his lips. He opened the message app and typed with sharp precision:

I just received info about your wife’s father, Rome, and it’s not pleasant news. Call me as soon as you read this.

He hit send.