Alpha's Rejected becomes the Lycan's Obsession

Chapter 169: Such a disappointment

~Bolarish Pack~

The forest was still when she arrived.

A haunting silence hung in the air like a mist that refused to lift, cloaking the ancient trees in a shroud of secrecy. Even the rustling leaves seemed to hush their whispers as the figure moved through them.

Clad in a black robe, the hood drawn low to conceal most of her features, the woman walked with deliberate steps, her boots brushing against the damp earth without sound. She reached a massive tree—one of the oldest in that part of the woods—and turned to rest her back against it, folding her arms across her chest. Her stance was calm, but there was a stiffness to her posture that betrayed her anticipation. Her breath was even, but her eyes, hidden beneath the shadow of her hood, were alert and calculating.

Minutes passed. The stillness endured.

Then, the sound of hurried but careful steps approached. Another figure emerged from between the thick trees, similarly robed in black, though her movement bore a slight hesitation, like someone unsure of what kind of reception awaited. She stepped closer and stopped several feet away from the first woman. Then, with a respectful bow, she greeted her.

"Luna," the second woman said, her voice steady but laced with fatigue.

Lisa pushed herself upright, her back no longer resting on the tree. She pulled her hood back just slightly, revealing sharp, pale features and eyes that glinted with restrained irritation.

"Gina," Lisa called the name without warmth or resentment. Her voice was even, calm. "If you’re here now, am I to believe the job has been completed?"

Lisa’s voice, though soft, held weight. It was the kind of tone that demanded truth without theatrics. She had just left the training grounds when she received Gina’s message, and without wasting a second, she had come here, hoping for good news.

But Gina shook her head solemnly. She took a step forward and dropped to her knees, her hands at her sides and her head bowed low.

"I am sorry, Luna," she said, her tone filled with regret. "I could not complete the job. I had to flee the house when things turned against me. It was either escape or risk being caught and tortured until I revealed who I was working for. I will accept whatever punishment you believe I deserve."

Lisa let out a sigh, quiet but heavy with the weight of disappointment. She had already suspected something like this would happen. The moment the job began to stretch beyond the initial timeline, she knew things were unraveling behind the scenes.

"Get up," Lisa said, her voice lacking anger but not warmth. "Tell me everything that happened."

Gina rose to her feet slowly, brushing dirt from her knees before lifting her eyes to meet Lisa’s. She did not waste time with preambles.

"It is just like the other two times, Luna. Every single time she touches the poisoned bowl, it shatters. Not after she eats or drinks—before. The moment her fingers make contact. It is as if something—something invisible and powerful—is watching over her and reacting before she even attempts to consume it."

Lisa’s brow tightened, her lips pressing together into a hard line.

"This time," Gina continued, "I tried to remove myself entirely from the process. I implicated the Omega maid, thinking maybe the bowls shattered only because I was the one serving the meals. But even when the Omega served it, the result was the same. The bowl shattered in her hand once she picked it up. Then, something worse happened."

She paused to catch her breath, the memory clearly still fresh in her mind.

"There was a human. A woman. She came to the house with Alpha Williams. I do not know how, but she knew instantly that there was poison in the food. She called it out before anyone else could react. That was when I knew it was over. I had to flee immediately. Alpha Williams has ordered people to search for me. They are scouring the territory. I barely made it out. What should have been a few hours of travel took me days. I had to keep avoiding checkpoints. Every route I tried was blocked. It’s like they knew I was still somewhere nearby."

She finally finished, standing still as she waited for Lisa’s judgment. The silence stretched long between them.

Lisa studied her with narrowed eyes. Her mind worked rapidly, piecing together the implications of every word. That girl was not just lucky. No one defied death three times in a row due to coincidence. Something—someone—was protecting her.

"You’ve done well, Gina," Lisa finally said, her voice low but sincere. "Even if the result was not what we wanted, you made the right choice by fleeing. We cannot afford exposure right now."

Gina’s body sagged slightly in relief.

"I heard they are back at the palace now," Lisa added, her voice sharper. "Go to the cattle ranch and stay there for a while. Stay quiet, and do not draw attention to yourself."

"Thank you, Luna," Gina said quickly, bowing once more and turning away. She walked fast, her robe catching slightly on low branches as she disappeared into the trees.

Lisa stood still for a moment longer before finally turning around and heading back toward the path that led to the pack house. The robe was shed as soon as she neared the boundaries, replaced by her usual attire. Her composure was unchanged, her expression unreadable.

She had only just stepped into the courtyard when a guard rushed up to her, bowing low and panting slightly.

"Luna," he greeted her, his voice tight and uncertain.

Lisa immediately noticed the tension in his eyes. Something was wrong.

"What is it?" she asked sharply, stepping closer to him. The guard hesitated, glancing around nervously before leaning in to whisper the issue into her ear.

Lisa’s expression did not change, but she let out a soft sigh and gave him a small nod.

"I’ll see to it," she replied. noveldrama

The guard looked visibly relieved and gave her a deep bow before hurrying away.

Lisa continued her walk, her steps now purposeful as she made her way to the throne room. She already knew where he would be. At this hour, when his mind was troubled and his soul steeped in bitterness, Jorell always returned to the throne room.

She pushed the large wooden doors open and stepped inside.

There he was, seated on the throne like a man whose world had collapsed beneath him. His eyes were hollow and his jaw was clenched tightly, his posture rigid with tension. The air in the room was dense, almost choking. No one dared to approach him. Even those with urgent matters kept a safe distance, fearful of what might happen if they broke his fragile silence.

But Lisa was not everyone.

She had seen him like this several times in the past, and it no longer fazed her.

She walked straight toward him, her chin lifted, her shoulders square.

"You have been fuming since you returned this afternoon," she said, her voice firm and direct. "You have kept everyone on edge and left important matters unattended. That is not how a leader behaves, Jorell. That is how a child throws a tantrum."

His head snapped up.

"Watch your mouth, Lisa," Jorell said through clenched teeth. His eyes burned with fury. "Watch what you say to me from now on, so I don’t remind you how you ruined my life."

Lisa’s lip curled into a half-smirk. She had heard this many times. It no longer moved her.

"How I ruined your life?" she asked, her voice rising slightly. "Did I force you to reject her? Did I put those words in your mouth? Own up to your mistakes, Jorell. Stop looking for someone to blame for every little thing that goes wrong in your miserable life and fix it already."

His hands balled into fists.

"I am not looking for who to blame," he growled. "Because I already know who is to blame. You. You, Lisa. You ruined my life."

Lisa’s eyes glinted.

"You are such a disappointment," she said coldly. "Such a weak Alpha. If not for my strength and knowledge, you would have dragged this pack to ruin years ago. If I had known this is the kind of man you would turn into, I would have left you back then. I would have supported your brother to become the Alpha of Bolarish. He would have done a far better job than you ever could."

The words were like knives.

Jorell let out a savage growl. His rage exploded, uncontained.

He lunged from the throne, his hand going straight for her throat. He grabbed her tightly and slammed her against the wall with brutal force. The stone cracked slightly under the impact, and Lisa let out a strained gasp.

His eyes were wild, his breathing ragged.

"I have tolerated your venom for too long," he spat. "One more word, and I will—"

"Kill me?" Lisa choked out. "Do it."