Alpha's Rejected becomes the Lycan's Obsession
Chapter 142: Do what you have to do

Chapter 142: Do what you have to do

"I finally got through to Elena this morning, Rome," Williams said, his voice heavy with a seriousness that instantly put Roman on alert. His face, which was usually composed and stern, carried the look of someone about to deliver a blow, not of the physical kind, but one that would strike at the very core.

Breakfast had long been over. Trevor had left earlier for the company, attending to pressing matters, while Dexter and Daniel were outside in the garden, playing. Inside Roman’s office, a quiet tension filled the space between the two men.

The room was dimly lit, the curtains only partially drawn, casting streaks of sunlight across the mahogany desk where Roman sat, a pen forgotten in his hand.

Across from him, Williams sat with his back straight. He looked only slightly relaxed on the outside, but Roman knew better.

Roman raised an eyebrow and leaned slightly forward, his sharp gaze scanning Williams’ expression. "Why do you look like I’m not going to like what you’re about to say?" His tone was calm, but it held an edge, an edge that came with centuries of leadership and too many betrayals to count.

"Because I don’t know how you’re going to react to it," Williams replied honestly, not bothering to sugarcoat the reality. What he was about to say was far from trivial. It was a topic so sensitive, so deeply tied to Roman’s past, that he would have gladly avoided it altogether if not for the sheer importance of the message.

Roman’s jaw tightened slightly. He could already feel where this was going. "React to what? Did she decline helping my wife gain control over her powers?" he asked, his voice low, like a warning drum beginning to beat in the distance.

"No. Elena would never do that. She can never say no to you, or to your wife. In fact, she looks forward to meeting your wife as your wife is the key to a lot of things." Williams paused, drawing in a breath, then continued. "The thing is... she said she received a message from the Moon Goddess. A message asking you to return to the palace... to reclaim your place as king. Because that’s the only way we can win this war."

He finally let the words spill out, keeping his eyes trained on Roman’s face, bracing himself for whatever would follow. Roman was known to be unpredictable when it came to matters tied to his throne and the past, especially the kind that drudged up painful memories.

But to Williams’ surprise, Roman didn’t explode. He didn’t even flinch. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, lips twitching with something between disbelief and annoyance. "The same thing Zilia came here to say," he muttered, and that reaction, calm and resigned, was even more disconcerting than fury.

"Zilia came here?" Williams asked, clearly surprised. His brows shot up as he leaned forward.

"Yep," Roman responded simply.

"Alone?" Williams asked again, voice now laced with tension.

"All seven of them," Roman answered, and then continued. "First she asked why I had been denying one of them access to my house so she could deliver the message from the Goddess."

Immediately, Williams understood what Roman was implying. He exhaled sharply and muttered under his breath, "Stupid Saphira..."

Roman nodded slowly. "Then she said the Moon Goddess wants me to return to the throne."

"That’s the same thing Elena said," Williams confirmed, now seeing the threads tie together, forming a web too strategic to ignore.

"I don’t understand what my returning to the throne has to do with winning this war," Roman said, frustration slipping into his tone. "I’m not on the throne, and yet people still recognize me as king. There’s no new king yet. Until there is one, then I remain the King. Why is it necessary for me to go back to the palace? To the same place that cost me everything?"

He wasn’t just confused, he was pained. The palace was not just stone and gold. It held ghosts. Memories. Pain.

Williams stepped forward, his eyes burning with conviction. "Rome, everyone knows you’ve left the palace for years. That place has been unoccupied. A king without a palace does not have as much authority as one with a palace. And you cannot fight a werewolf battle from a human city. That will be against everything you have fought for before."

He paused, watching the way Roman’s fingers tightened on the armrest of his chair. Then he continued, voice firmer now.

"Our enemies are not stupid. I know the bigger threat is Casper for now. But don’t forget about Jorell. He’s been frequenting the palace, dreaming about the day he’s going to take over from you. He’s working underground for now, not making too much noise. But I know he’s up to something."

Williams’ voice dropped, and he leaned slightly forward, urgency pouring out of him. "We’ve got people to protect. If we don’t do what we have to do now, we may end up losing everything and everyone dear to us."

Silence followed. Roman didn’t speak, didn’t move. He simply stared ahead at nothing, lost in thought. A long stretch of stillness passed before he finally stirred.

"Back to Elena... and the arrangement for my wife’s training," Roman said quietly, signaling a shift in the conversation.

Williams let out a silent sigh. He knew Roman needed time to process everything, and for now, shifting to Tessy was a safer path.

"Elena is still bound to Luminera," Williams explained. "She has not been given freedom to move anywhere else."

He relaxed back against his chair, the chair creaking slightly under his weight.

"Your wife’s got strange powers, Rome. I didn’t say anything last night because I didn’t want to alarm anybody. But if she doesn’t gain control fast, she may end up killing the people around her before killing herself. And all of this... she will do without wanting to, and without knowing how to stop it."

He paused, giving Roman time to let the weight of those words settle. Then added, more solemnly, "Don’t forget she has the key to ending your life."

The room grew colder with that reminder. Roman’s gaze darkened, but he didn’t interrupt.

"Elena is willing and ready to train your wife," Williams continued. "But it’s either your wife comes to Luminera and stays with her throughout the time of her training, or she goes to and from here every day. It will be easier if you return to the palace, since the palace is just a short distance away from the place."

Williams straightened up a little, his voice careful now. "If you want, I can get people to start putting the palace in order. Make it comfortable for your stay."

A pause stretched between them once again.

Finally, Roman spoke.

"Do what you have to do, Liam."

The words were low, quiet, but they carried the weight of mountains.

Williams blinked. For a moment, he wasn’t sure he heard right. Roman had agreed. He had actually agreed. His lips parted to speak but he shut them again quickly. Instead of letting out the joy bubbling inside, he simply gave a respectful nod, not wanting to push his luck and risk Roman changing his mind.

***

Meanwhile, back in the dining room where Tessy and Dera had remained after breakfast, a very different kind of conversation was taking place.

The sunlight filtering through the large windows bathed the room in a soft, golden hue. The clinking of dishes had long faded, and now, only the soft murmur of the two women’s voices filled the room.

"I’m happy you’re feeling better today... and you look even brighter," Dera said warmly, her dark eyes reflecting a genuine concern that had blossomed into quiet relief. A small but beautiful smile curved her lips as she looked at Tessy.

"I do indeed feel better," Tessy replied, returning the smile. There was something softer in her tone today, less rigid, less scared, more confident. "I’m sorry about last night. The entire thing really got to me," she added, the honesty in her voice resonating in the stillness of the room.

"It’s fine. I understand," Dera said softly, her voice calm and reassuring. "I felt something similar when I first got some powers from Williams. It was strange. I didn’t know what was going on with me, or how to control it."

Tessy’s eyes widened, clearly caught off guard. "Oh? You’ve got witch powers too?" she asked, both curious and surprised.

"Yes, I have," Dera answered, nodding. "It’s nothing compared to yours, of course. Yours is ten times stronger, I believe."

There was no envy in her voice, just quiet acknowledgment.

"Wait... care to share how it happened?" Tessy asked, the curiosity bubbling up now, making her sit a little straighter.

She didn’t know it was possible for a mere human to get witch powers from a witch. Roman hadn’t explained in detail when he told her about Williams and Dera’s story last night.

"Of course," Dera nodded, willing to share her story .