Alpha's Rejected becomes the Lycan's Obsession

Chapter 160: That is my mate

Once Tessy got in the car and Roman got in beside her, she let out a long, weary sigh. The sound was soft, but it carried enough weight to immediately catch his attention. He turned his head to her, his eyes narrowing slightly as they settled on her face. Her brows were furrowed, her expression tight, like something was bothering her deeply. He hadn’t even asked a question yet when she threw the first one, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

"Who is this Jorell?" she asked, turning her face fully to look at him, her gaze unwavering and demanding an answer.

Roman exhaled slowly, leaning back in his seat just a bit as he reached up to push a few strands of her hair away from her face, tucking them gently behind her ear. His fingers lingered for a heartbeat longer than necessary, his thumb brushing the side of her cheek before he finally spoke.

"He’s the Alpha of Bolarish pack," Roman began, his tone calm but edged with something darker underneath. "He’s also one of the people after the throne. He’s been obsessed with unseating me for a very long time. But I don’t take him seriously because he has never challenged me openly." _{f|ree(w)ebn\o.vel.com}

Tessy didn’t respond right away. Her eyes dropped to her hands resting on her lap, her fingers lightly playing with the hem of her blouse. Roman’s eyes softened as he studied her face, the subtle tension in her jaw, the way her mouth was slightly pressed together.

"Are you alright?" he asked, slightly worried now, his voice gentler.

"Yeah," Tessy answered simply, nodding once without looking up.

"Not too overwhelmed?" Roman probed again, trying to get a real answer this time, something more than just a short reply.

"Only slightly," she admitted, finally raising her gaze to meet his. "But I’m fine. Can’t wait to see the palace."

A small smile curved her lips as she said that, a brief flicker of light breaking through the shadows clouding her features. Roman’s lips mirrored hers as he leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his hand still on the side of her face. The warmth of his lips lingered even after he pulled away, and then the journey began. noveldrama

They drove for a while, silence hanging between them comfortably now, broken only by the occasional hum of the engine and the soft thrum of the tires against the road. Eventually, the tall gates of the palace came into view, their iron bars standing proudly like sentinels protecting the massive estate behind them.

As the convoy approached, the cars began to slow down, their engines quieting into a low purr. Williams’s car was in front, leading the way. The tinted window on the driver’s side rolled down slowly, and from inside, Williams peered out just as Durian, his gamma, was already approaching him with brisk steps.

"Alpha," Durian greeted, bowing his head slightly in respect.

"Where is he?" Williams asked from inside the car, his voice calm but holding the weight of someone who already knew the answer.

"He’s inside," Durian responded immediately, already knowing who Williams meant. Alpha Jorell, the troublemaker.

Even as they spoke, the gates creaked open with practiced ease, allowing the convoy inside. The cars drove through, one after the other, but Williams’s car didn’t park at the usual designated area. Instead, he swerved and veered off the main path, heading in the direction where he had already spotted Jorell waiting. His presence was as loud and disruptive as ever, standing there like he owned the damn place.

By the time Williams brought the car to a halt, he didn’t wait for the driver to come around. He flung the door open himself and climbed down swiftly, his pace quick and purposeful as he approached Jorell with a no-nonsense stride.

"Williams," Jorell called out, his tone smooth, casual. He didn’t seem the least bit bothered that Williams looked ready to throw hands. "Your minions finally summoned you," he added with a smirk, his eyes flicking momentarily to the other cars, assessing the unfamiliar occupants.

"I should disfigure your face for even thinking about laying your claws on my men unprovoked," Williams hissed, his voice low but dangerously threatening. "But out of respect for the king and queen, I’ll spare you just this once. This better not repeat itself, Jorell."

"Don’t threaten me, Williams," Jorell dismissed with a scoff, shifting his full attention now to the cars pulling in behind.

He kept watching them as they parked, his brows twitching slightly in curiosity. His expression changed subtly when he noticed the guards lowering their heads at the exact moment the door to Roman’s car opened. His eyes widened, realization dawning slowly but surely.

"The king," he murmured under his breath, disbelief written all over his face. "Unbelievable."

He took a small step forward, his lips parting slightly. "They were telling the truth. He finally decided to come back."

Williams stood beside him, arms folded, eyes cold. "Much to your disappointment, right?" he asked, his voice cool, every word a calculated blade aimed at cutting through Jorell’s false bravado.

Jorell chuckled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "The closer the better," he said with a small, smug smile. But that smile slowly faded the moment Roman and Tessy stepped fully out of the car.

They had their backs to him, so he couldn’t see their faces immediately. But he didn’t need to. Roman’s figure was too distinct to mistake—the regal posture, the commanding presence, even the way he stood, like the air itself bent around him.

Roman turned briefly, his eyes landing on Jorell for the smallest of moments before he turned away again. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he walked over to Tessy’s side, extended his hand toward her with silent tenderness.

Tessy placed her hand in his without hesitation, and together they began walking toward the main building. Tessy’s eyes widened in awe the moment she looked around. The palace was massive, a masterpiece of architecture and elegance. Everything from the carved pillars to the sprawling staircases screamed wealth and power. It was overwhelming in the most beautiful way, and Tessy knew without a doubt it would take her several days—maybe even weeks—to explore every corner.

She tore her gaze from the wonder around her and returned her attention to Williams and the man standing beside him. The moment her eyes landed on him, she froze slightly. Something about his face... she could have sworn she had seen him somewhere before. It nagged at her, this strange feeling of familiarity, but she couldn’t place it.

Roman’s voice broke through her thoughts.

"I believe you have had enough time to sightsee all you want," Roman said coolly, his arm still around Tessy’s waist. "Now I want my wife to have a proper rest without your disgusting presence disturbing her, so take your sorry ass out of my palace."

His voice was calm, yet every word vibrated with power and command, each syllable dripping with venom directed solely at Jorell.

But Jorell didn’t respond. He didn’t move. His entire body was frozen. His eyes were glued to Tessy, unblinking, almost haunted.

"Why is he looking at me like that?" Tessy asked in a whisper, a slight tremble in her voice as she moved closer to Roman. She was visibly uncomfortable, her shoulders tense under his arm.

"Are you crazy? Quit staring at her like that!" Williams snapped, shoving Jorell with his shoulder, trying to break whatever strange trance he was under.

But instead of retreating, Jorell’s expression darkened. His brows pulled together tightly as he stared even harder.

"Tracy?" he called out suddenly, his voice shaky, uncertain.

"Huh?" Tessy tilted her head slightly to the side, confused. But before she could ask what he meant, it happened.

A sharp unseen force slammed into her head like a brick wall. Her scream pierced the air, raw and filled with agony as she grabbed her head, her knees buckling. Her whole body shook violently, convulsing for a few terrifying seconds before she went completely still, her arms dropping lifelessly to her sides.

"Tessy!" Roman shouted, his hands catching her just in time before she hit the ground. Panic flooded his features as he lowered her gently, his hands trembling.

"My love? Tessy? What’s wrong? Talk to me, Tessy!" His voice cracked as he cradled her unconscious body.

"What the hell did you do?" Williams growled at Jorell, rushing to Roman and Tessy’s side and crouching to check on Tessy, his mind racing with possibilities, fearing it was some kind of witchcraft attack.

"That is my mate," Jorell declared in a loud, clear voice, his eyes still locked on Tessy like he’d seen a ghost. "Tracy. My goddess-given mate."

The air around them shifted instantly. Roman’s head snapped up, eyes bloodshot.

"Does the king now have no shame," Jorell continued, venom in his voice, "that he steals other people’s mates, claiming them as his because he lost his own?"

And at that very moment, Roman saw red.