Alpha's Rejected becomes the Lycan's Obsession
Chapter 137: A sign

Chapter 137: A sign

The morning sun filtered in through the shutters of the house, casting strips of golden light across the floor. Outside, the birds were chirping cheerily as if the world itself was unaware of the turbulence that had plagued the lives of those now preparing to leave it behind. Inside, calm settled over the air like a freshly laid blanket, though beneath it lay the quiet thrum of parting emotions.

Williams sat in the living room, already dressed and packed. His sharp grey eyes, quiet with thought, were fixed on the man seated across from him, Dr. Alex, Dera’s uncle, the man who had stood as a guardian in her most broken time.

The two men sat in silence for a moment that wasn’t uncomfortable, just heavy with unspoken things. Williams could hear the soft movements coming from the bedroom. Dera and Dexter were still packing their things. It made his chest feel full and tight all at once.

"You know," Dr. Alex began, his voice low but bearing a weight that immediately pulled Williams’s full attention to him, "Chidera returned to this place... broken. Scared. Jumpy. Completely unrecognizable." His words didn’t rush. Each one dropped slowly, deliberately, like they were stones cast into a still pond, rippling the silence between them.

"It took her a lot of time to return to her normal self. To return to the person you are seeing today." His eyes locked on Williams, unwavering. "I hope she will not return in that condition again. I hope the next time I see her, she will be better than this."

Williams sat back slowly, his jaw tightening. That wasn’t just a comment. That was a man speaking from somewhere deep, a place carved by pain and love. A protector’s voice. He met Dr. Alex’s gaze fully and responded with equal depth.

"I promise," Williams said, his voice calm but firm. "I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure she’s comfortable and treated right. I know the situation is not so calm right now because of the looming war," he paused briefly, the words not just rolling out but heavy with the truth of them. "but I... I assure you that I will do everything I can to keep her and Dexter safe."

They weren’t just words. They were vows forged from loss, from a past that still bled into his nights. He had lost her once before. That memory haunted him more than any battlefield. He would do everything, absolutely everything, to ensure it didn’t happen again.

"I will hold you to your word," Dr. Alex said, his tone still serious, still carrying the sharp edge of a warning beneath the civility.

At that moment, the sound of a door opening softly stole both their attention. Dera and Dexter emerged from the bedroom, fully packed. Williams stood, his eyes instinctively drawn to her.

She looked effortlessly beautiful.

Dressed in a simple white spaghetti strap top, a black jacket casually layered over it, and loose jean pants that gave her freedom but still managed to flatter every curve of her figure, Dera looked like the woman he remembered and longed for. Her hair was pulled up into a high bun, the sleek style showing off the elegant lines of her face. The soft determination in her eyes made his heart squeeze. She was here, and she was choosing to go with him.

Dexter bounded in front of her, his small bag slung clumsily over one shoulder, his energy contrasting the solemnity that had just filled the room.

"Grandpa, are you not coming with us?" Dexter asked, turning to Dr. Alex with a slight pout forming. "Mommy said we will go to Mr. Williams’ town."

Williams smiled at that, watching the boy’s curious expression.

"If I go with you, who will look after the house?" Dr. Alex replied gently, leaning forward slightly as he spoke to the boy. "You just go on and enjoy yourself. Maybe I’ll join you there someday."

The answer seemed to satisfy Dexter, who then turned his focus to Williams with a tilt of his head.

"Mr. Williams, is your town very far away from here?" the boy asked innocently.

"You can call me Dad, Dexter," he said, his voice soft, but firm.

The moment the word ’Dad’ left his lips, Dexter’s face froze in visible confusion. His little brows furrowed.

"Dad?" he echoed, then twisted back toward his mother with wide eyes. "Mommy, is Mr. Williams my daddy?"

The question struck the room silent. For a long beat, Dera didn’t answer. Her eyes drifted from her son to Williams, then to her uncle, then back to her son. Her lips parted slightly before they closed again. And then, after what felt like a lifetime compressed into seconds, she nodded slowly.

"Yes, my love," she said softly, her voice shaking just slightly, "he is your daddy."

For a split second, Dexter’s brain seemed to process it.

Then he erupted.

"I have a daddy! Yay! I’m so happy!" he screamed in excitement, his little hands flying in the air as he jumped up and down on the spot like a bottle of soda just shaken and popped. Then, without warning, he leapt into Williams’s arms, clutching his neck tightly.

Williams caught him with a laugh, holding the boy close, his chest filled with an emotion he couldn’t quite name.

Dera walked over to her uncle, wrapping her arms around him in a long, tight goodbye hug.

"I’ll see you soon, Uncle," she whispered against his shoulder.

Dr. Alex held her tightly for a beat before pulling back, his eyes lingering on hers.

"Take care of yourself, Chidera," he said simply.

"I will," she nodded, her voice low, thick with emotion.

***

Hours passed in a blur of movement. Goodbyes, the ride to the airport, boarding the plane. But the journey from Agrapha to Monero this time wasn’t like the last. It wasn’t lonely or riddled with uncertainty. There was chatter. Laughter. Little moments between them that made it feel like hope wasn’t some far-off thing but something right within reach. Dera was quiet sometimes, her thoughts far away, but when she smiled at Dexter or leaned on Williams’s shoulder during the flight, it made everything feel worth it.

When they landed and took a cab from the airport, the driver took them straight to the foot of the mountain where Charlotte lived.

"What are we doing here?" Dera asked, stepping out of the car, frowning slightly as she looked around.

"You wanted to see Charlotte first, so we’re here to see Charlotte," Williams answered, already moving toward the path leading upward.

"Charlotte lives here? When did she move?" Dera asked, her surprise clear as she kept pace with him.

"I’m not sure," Williams said, adjusting the sleeping Dexter on his shoulder. "Where was she living before?"

"Um, when we left Casper’s camp, she got a house at the outskirts of town. I stayed with her for a while before I left for Agrapha," Dera explained, clearly still puzzled.

"She lives here now," Williams said, navigating around a bend. "At least until three days ago when I saw her last. I don’t think she has moved."

The climb up the mountain was slower with Dexter sleeping heavily on Williams’s shoulder, but they finally reached the top. The shack sat quietly like it always had, surrounded by the soft rustle of trees and the whispering wind.

Just like before, Williams stepped up and whispered a soft spell beneath his breath. The illusion peeled away slowly, revealing the little shack nestled behind it. He walked up and knocked.

A moment later, a frail voice called from inside. "Come in."

Williams stepped in first. The sight that met him froze his heart for a beat.

Charlotte was lying on the bed, her form thinner, weaker than when he last saw her. Her skin looked paler, and her breathing was labored, though her eyes still shone with that same old spark.

"Charlotte, are you okay?" he asked, concern thick in his voice.

"Williams, you came back." She smiled, but it was faint, fragile. "Where is..."

Her voice trailed off the moment Dera stepped inside.

"Charlotte," Dera said softly, rushing toward her, brows drawn together with concern.

"Caramel," Charlotte whispered, her voice light with affection. "Oh, you look even better than I imagined. How have you been?"

"I’m fine, Charlotte. You don’t look okay. We should get you to a hospital," Dera said, kneeling beside the bed, worry etched into her face.

"No," Charlotte said, shaking her head weakly. "I am an old woman, Caramel. I am glad I was able to see you once again before my end comes."

"I’m happy to see you again too, Charlotte," Dera said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Charlotte’s eyes moved slowly toward a small table. "I have a gift for you, Caramel. It’s in the black box on that small table. But you shouldn’t open it until you get a sign from me."

Dera blinked, confused. "A sign? I don’t understand, Charlotte."

"You will definitely understand it when you get it," Charlotte said with a mysterious smile. "Don’t worry yourself about it. And the sign... it will come sooner than you expect."

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