Alpha's Rejected becomes the Lycan's Obsession-Chapter 90: Suspicion

Once they were inside the room, Roman led her gently toward the bed, their fingers still entwined like it was the most natural thing in the world.

He only let her hand go when he reached the edge and climbed onto it with effortless grace, his body sinking into the soft mattress as though it welcomed him home.

After making himself comfortable, he turned slightly, propping himself on one elbow, and extended his free hand toward her in an inviting gesture.

"Come lie down here," he said, his voice calm, almost tender, and deep with a softness that was rare for a man like him.

Tessy hesitated, but only for a second. The weight of the day, the lingering fatigue from her hospital stay, and the warmth of his presence urged her forward.

She moved toward him, her steps slow and cautious like she was approaching a fragile dream that might vanish if she hurried. As she lay down beside him, the distance between them dissolved.

Without a word, she leaned in closer, resting her head on his broad shoulder. His scent enveloped her—something earthy, masculine, and faintly spiced with the same cologne he always wore. It made her exhale slowly, like she’d just let go of a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

A small but visible smile crossed Roman’s features. It wasn’t one of his usual amused or confident smirks, but something more profound — satisfied, serene.

"You know," she murmured as his arm shifted slightly to hold her closer, "if I get used to this, you’re never allowed to stop it, right?"

At her words, his heart thudded once, softly, against his ribs. His brow knitted slightly, confusion flashing across his face. "Why would I want to stop it?" he asked, and though his voice was light, his eyes betrayed something deeper.

He shifted a little so he could look at her properly, and his voice dropped lower, more certain. "I’ll forever be willing to be your pillow, your support, your bed — anything you want me to be. And at any time you want me to be. You don’t have to worry about me stopping it. That’s never going to happen."

This time, it was Tessy’s turn to smile. A soft, slow curve of her lips that reached her eyes. A moment of comfort in a world that had thrown too much at her lately.

For a moment, silence settled between them. Not awkward, not empty, just quiet and peaceful, like the room had sealed itself off from the rest of the world.

"I’ve been meaning to ask..." Tessy began, her voice tentative. "What about your family? Your parents? Do you have siblings?"

The question hung in the air like a thin veil of smoke.

Roman’s expression shifted. Not dramatically, but enough that Tessy noticed. His jaw tightened slightly, his eyes glanced upward for a second, as though searching for a memory that had faded too far. Then he let out an inaudible sigh and answered.

"I’m the only child. And my parents are dead."

Tessy’s heart sank a little, and she immediately sat up slightly on her elbow, gazing down at him with soft concern.

"Oh..." she breathed, her expression folding into sadness. "I’m so sorry."

"There’s nothing to be sorry about," Roman replied almost flatly, but not without meaning. "I don’t even remember what they look like anymore."

His words were honest, but there was a hollow echo behind them that Tessy couldn’t ignore. Still, she didn’t press him further.

Shifting the mood, she asked, "So... you’re the real owner of Xylonica?"

Roman’s eyes sparked faintly, and pride laced his voice as he answered, "Yes, I am."

"Then why did you put Trevor in charge?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

"Because he’s very good with handling the business."

"And you’re not?" she teased lightly, turning her head just enough to raise a brow at him.

"I am," he replied, his tone playful now, his fingers reaching up to twirl a few strands of her hair lazily between them. "Just that... I don’t want to bother myself with titles like that anymore."

Tessy’s lips curved slightly at that.

Then her tone shifted again, her eyes growing serious. "Have you found out anything about that man I saw in my dream? The one whose picture you showed me?"

Roman’s hand stilled for a moment in her hair. His eyes darkened just slightly, the edge of his jaw tightening. He didn’t respond immediately.

She adjusted her head, leaning on her elbow again so she could see his face. "Roman?"

He finally exhaled through his nose, deciding that telling her part of the truth was better than holding everything in. Especially with how persistent she could be.

"Yes," he said, quietly. "We found out that he’s dead."

Tessy gasped. Her entire body tensed, and she rose from his side completely this time, sitting up so fast the sheets rustled under her.

"He’s dead?" she echoed, eyes wide, disbelief painted all over her face. "Are you sure?"

Roman nodded slowly, eyes never leaving hers.

"How did he die? Was his head... was it cut off?" she asked, recalling vividly how she’d held that same head in her dream — right before she returned it to the man.

Roman’s expression darkened a little more. "We don’t have that information yet," he replied carefully. "But I promise I’ll let you know as soon as we do. Okay?"

She exhaled shakily and lowered herself back down, leaning her head on his shoulder again, but this time with a little more weight, like the knowledge unsettled her.

"I wonder why I was seeing him in my dream though... and why I had his head," she muttered softly, more to herself than to him.

But Roman heard her. Every word.

"Everything is going to make sense with time," he said gently. "I’m going to uncover it all for you. You don’t have to bother yourself."

The truth hung on the edge of his tongue, but he held it back. She’d just come back from the hospital. Her body was still weak, her spirit barely stabilized. He couldn’t dump more pain on her. Not yet.

***

Meanwhile, outside the house, the evening breeze rustled through the trees lining the back fence, carrying with it the faint scent of detergent and sun-dried linen.

Alexa and Ruby moved toward the back of the house, each carrying a woven basket filled with freshly done laundry. The baskets were heavy, but their conversation was light.

"I like it here better than Madam Melissa’s house," Alexa said, a spark lighting up her face at the mention of her old workplace — or rather, her escape from it.

"Me too," Ruby chimed in without hesitation. "I like Ma’am Tessy a lot. She’s soft-hearted and isn’t as harsh as Madam Melissa."

They both shared a look of mutual relief.

"But Boss Roman," Ruby added with a small shiver, "he’s really scary. Especially when he’s angry."

Alexa chuckled. "I don’t know how Ma’am Tessy copes with him."

"I hope my mate won’t be so scary," Ruby added, her eyes flicking ahead like she was trying to manifest someone gentle and sweet into existence.

Alexa laughed again. "Your mate won’t be a lycan. Boss Roman is a lycan. The only one in existence."

Ruby blinked. "Wait, the only one?"

Alexa nodded seriously. "Do you know he used to be the King of Werewolves?"

After asking the question, Alexa halted suddenly.

Ruby had opened her mouth to respond, but Alexa’s eyes narrowed as she caught sight of something just ahead, near the tall shrubs that grew close to the garden wall.

"What is it?" Ruby asked, shifting the basket to balance better on her hip. "What are you looking at?"

Alexa raised her right hand and pointed. "Is that not Gina over there?"

Ruby turned her head quickly in the direction Alexa was pointing.

It was indeed Gina — crouched low behind the tall shrub, her back slightly hunched, one hand holding her phone close to her ear. She was whispering, clearly engaged in a conversation she didn’t want overheard.

"It is Gina," Ruby confirmed, frowning. "I think she’s on a call."

"Why does she need to go all the way there to make a call?" Alexa asked, the beginnings of irritation creeping into her voice.

"Obviously because she doesn’t want anyone to listen to her conversation," Ruby muttered, already walking forward again.

Alexa, however, lingered. Her eyes were still on Gina, and something about the way the woman hunched over, her tone hushed and hurried, made Alexa’s stomach twist.

Her heart lost peace for a second. A soft, uneasy thump replaced the previous calm.

She thought about walking closer, maybe catching a bit of what Gina was saying. But something inside her—a small voice of reason that was telling her to avoid trouble—told her to leave it alone.

Eventually, with a final glance over her shoulder, Alexa turned and followed Ruby, the heavy basket pressed to her hip and a dozen new thoughts swirling in her mind.