Rejected Mate, Cursed Alpha Behind the Mask

Episode 4

Gerald was even more surprised, his body tensing. "You?" he whispered, trying to digest the situation with confusion. Adrian's affectionate embrace of Alice made him confused, unable to shake off the discomfort that filled his heart.

"You seem surprised to see me." Adrian said with a smile that sent a chill down anyone's spine who heard it, while his hand remained on Alice's waist, as a sign that he would never leave Alice alone in any battle.

Gerald tried to hide his discomfort behind a forced smile. "Oh, Adrian, you're still alive, it seems the rumors about your curse are just nonsense after all."

But Adrian just smiled, a smile that sent a chill down anyone's spine who heard it. "Perhaps, Gerald." He replied shortly, yet meaningfully.

"It seems like you're trying to undermine my wife. Am I wrong, Gerald?" Adrian pressed with a calm yet threatening voice.

Gerald swallowed hard, looking slightly nervous by Adrian's presence. "I just wanted to know how Alice is after we parted," he replied, trying to defend himself. Gerald was sweating cold. Knowing who Adrian was, a figure feared because many bad rumors spread about Adrian. No one dared to disturb the man. Let alone approaching him.

"You have no more business with Alice," Adrian asserted, his voice echoing in the silent room. "She is now my wife, and I will not let you hurt her again."

Silenced by the realization that Alice had found protection in Adrian's embrace, Gerald withdrew with hesitant steps. In his heart, Gerald felt confused thinking about Alice, how could the girl be involved with the cursed wolf?

While Alice looked at Adrian with grateful eyes, believing that together, they could face any obstacles.

As romantic music began to play, the atmosphere changed. People started to dance, leaving behind the tense episode. Alice and Adrian stepped onto the garden, greeted by the cool night breeze.

Suddenly, a group of warriors blocked their path outside the mansion. They ordered to capture Adrian. However, Adrian resisted and eventually a fight broke out.

Alice tried to intervene but could do nothing but watch as Adrian fought fiercely against five warriors simultaneously. Alice's expression showed confusion about what was happening as the warriors suddenly wanted to capture Adrian. What was the actual problem?

"Alice, you shouldn't have brought the cursed wolf to our party," Lily's voice was heard. Spontaneously, Alice turned around to see Lily walking gracefully.

"What do you mean?" Alice asked, furrowing her brow. Alice suddenly felt uneasy, although Lily had not yet answered her question.

"That man is cursed. It's forbidden for us to host a guest with a deadly curse here. Our happiness could be ruined or we could even be infected by his curse," Lily explained in a cold voice, glancing disdainfully at Adrian who was fighting, then giving Alice a scornful look.

Alice clenched her fists, suppressing her anger. Feeling how inadequate Lily's response was to everything that had happened, Alice wanted to hit that beautiful face. But she restrained herself and felt compelled to respond. "Lily, what have I done to you?" Alice asked, puzzled and disappointed.

In her memory, before their affair was revealed, Alice and Lily's relationship had always been harmonious like that of typical sisters. But now, Lily seemed like a completely different person in Alice's eyes, or perhaps this was Lily's true face.

"You're asking what you did wrong?" Lily repeated Alice's words with a sneer. "You've taken everything I had. Isn't it fair if I also take the life you have?" Lily was too proud to admit that she was simply jealous of Alice's good life before their parents got married.

Lily was extremely jealous of seeing Alice's life, which included a caring and wealthy father, as well as a handsome and high-status fiancé. Whereas Lily herself, before her mother remarried, lived in poverty and difficulty, with a cruel and alcoholic father, spending most of her days being oppressed by people, and even being ostracized by noblewomen.

"Is this your way of paying me back, Lily? After all my sincere affection for you, you repay me with betrayal? I am deeply disappointed in you," Alice couldn't contain the tightness in her chest. Her eyes filled with tears, unable to fall. Betrayal was something Alice couldn't forgive.

She had always been kind to Lily, treating her step-sister like a blood sister, and she accepted Lily's presence in the family home. However, as they grew older, Alice's life changed for the worse. Starting from her father's biased attitude towards Lily. Lily had managed to gain sympathy from their father and pushed Alice into loneliness for years.

Suddenly, the fight between Adrian and the warriors came to a halt in tense silence when the mask fell to the ground. Everyone froze in shock, staring at Adrian who was bowed down. They could clearly see the face behind the mask.

Black markings resembling tattoos were visible on Adrian's face, giving a chilling impression on his pale skin, accompanied by dark spots staining his white complexion.

"Cursed... he's cursed!" one of the knights exclaimed, his voice trembling. They felt Adrian's appearance had become a frightening threat. Their hands trembled as they gripped their swords and spears, and they began to keep their distance from Adrian, considering him a terrifying creature.

"What are you waiting for? Quickly, capture him!" Lily shouted, giving orders in a shrill voice. However, she herself did not know Adrian's current condition, as she was positioned behind him.

Whether they liked it or not, on Lily's order as Gerald's legitimate fiancée, the warriors dared to fight Adrian. Adrian utilized his unarmed combat skills and appeared skilled in moving without getting injured. On the other hand, the warriors seemed overwhelmed. At one point, one of the warriors took the opportunity to stab Adrian from behind.

Busy as he was, Adrian did not notice the attack coming from behind. Simultaneously, a shadow darted quickly and prevented Adrian from being injured. Adrian only realized when blood splattered on his cheek. When he turned around, he was surprised to see a spear stuck in Alice's abdomen. Alice had managed to prevent Adrian from being hurt, but in return, she became the victim.