Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 100

Alpha Enzo's POV

I walked into my study, shutting the heavy door behind me with more force than I intended. The wood groaned, and I dragged in a deep breath, forcing myself not to punch the desk like I had been tempted to since leaving that cursed holding cell. My hands were still trembling, not from fear but from the rage boiling in my veins. The audacity of those alphas, the gall of Irene, the venom she had spewed about Lisa—it clung to my skin like a stench.

I leaned against the desk, palms pressed hard on the polished surface as I closed my eyes. My wolf was pacing violently inside me, snarling, demanding blood for the humiliation Lisa had endured. I forced myself to push him back, to keep my breathing steady. I couldn’t afford to lose control here, not again, not after the edge I had already shown them.

A knock echoed softly against the door.

I didn’t answer, but the door opened anyway, and Ash stepped in. His dark eyes studied me carefully, as though weighing if it was safe to interrupt me in this state.

“What is it?” I muttered, my voice rough with the remnants of my anger.

Ash closed the door behind him, leaning against it like he was making sure no one else barged in. “I have an idea,” he said, calm, deliberate.

I lifted my gaze to him, brow furrowing. “Unless your idea involves tearing Irene apart piece by piece, I doubt it will cool the fire in my chest right now.”

Ash smirked faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Not far from that. But more… calculated. Public. Permanent.”

I straightened slowly, arms crossing over my chest. “Go on.”

He stepped forward, stopping a few feet from my desk. His expression turned serious. “I’ve seen Lisa,” he began carefully, “out on the grounds before Irene ever arrived here. I’ve seen her on horseback. She’s good, Enzo. Damn good. She handles those horses like she was born on a saddle. And baseball? I’ve watched her take Kael’s men by surprise, smashing ball after ball, quick reflexes. She’s not just some Luna sitting pretty, she’s capable.”

My lips pressed into a line, curiosity sparking despite myself. “And where exactly are you going with this?”

Ash leaned forward, resting his hands on the back of a chair. “We make Irene choke on her own pride. We set up a competition. Not something staged, not something announced formally. Random challenges. Physical, mental, anything that proves Lisa’s strength. Irene’s ego won’t allow her to back down, not when she’s already made the accusation that Lisa is weak and unworthy. And Bryan? He won’t leave her side if she participates. He’ll be forced to watch her crumble—except she won’t. Lisa will rise, Enzo. She’ll rise, and every single person who doubted her will eat their words.”

I exhaled slowly, my jaw tightening. The idea was cunning, brutal in its own subtlety. Irene lived for her image, for the idea that she was untouchable. To publicly lose against Lisa—my mate—would cut deeper than any punishment I could hand down.

But a part of me clenched with hesitation. I pictured Lisa lying in the infirmary bed, her skin still pale, her smile forced as she told me she was fine. The thought of her being dragged into more conflict made my chest ache.

“She’s strong,” Ash added quickly, reading the hesitation in my silence. “But you already know that. She doesn’t need protection, Enzo, not from this. What she needs is a chance to reclaim her dignity after everything Irene spat at her. Give her that chance. Let her silence them herself.”

I finally moved around the desk, lowering myself into the leather chair. My hand rubbed across my jaw as I studied him. “You think humiliating Irene in front of everyone will be enough?”

Ash tilted his head, a faint grin ghosting his lips. “Oh, it won’t just be enough—it’ll be unforgettable. Every alpha, every Luna, every pack member who hears about it will remember Irene being toppled. That woman thrives on fear and dominance. You strip that away, and what’s left? Nothing.”

I drummed my fingers against the desk. “And Lisa?”

“That’s why I said it should be her choice,” Ash replied firmly. “Don’t force her into it. Ask her. If she says no, we drop it. But if she says yes…” He leaned closer, voice low and steady. “Then you’ll be giving her the stage to show she’s more than Irene could ever dream of being.”

I let out a long breath, my chest tight. My wolf growled inside me, torn between wanting to shield Lisa from every storm and wanting to see her break Irene’s bones without lifting a finger myself.

“You’re asking me,” I said slowly, “to put my mate in the line of fire again.”

Ash’s brows lifted. “I’m asking you to trust her strength. Don’t cage her, Enzo. Don’t turn her into another Luna they can pity. You and I both know she doesn’t belong in the shadows.”

His words pierced deeper than I cared to admit. He was right. I had sworn to protect her, but part of protecting someone wasn’t smothering them under your shield. It was letting them fight their own battles when they chose to.

Still, the memory of my earlier slip burned hot in my veins.

“You saw what happened earlier,” I said flatly, my voice edged with frustration. “When those alphas provoked me. I nearly lost it. I let the Lycan’s tone seep into my voice. Do you realize what that could mean? If anyone puts the pieces together—”

Ash cut me off with a sharp shake of his head. “That’s why I’m here telling you to keep your wolf in check. You can’t afford to slip again. Not now, not ever in front of them. If they suspect what you are—what we are—it changes everything.”

I glared at him, though I knew he was right. My Lycan blood was my strength, but it was also my greatest secret. A secret that, if revealed, could tear apart the fragile alliances I had built.

“I heard you,” I muttered, pushing back in my chair. “I won’t slip again. But don’t think for a second I’ll let them treat Lisa the way they did today.”

Ash gave a short nod, satisfied. “Good. Because this—this plan? It doesn’t require your wolf. It requires your support. Your faith in her.”

Silence stretched between us. I could feel the storm inside me quieting, shifting from raw rage into something sharper, more controlled.

Finally, I rose to my feet, squaring my shoulders. “Fine. We’ll see if Lisa agrees. If she does, Irene will get the humiliation she deserves. But if Lisa says no, that’s the end of it. Understood?”

Ash smirked. “Crystal clear.”

I stepped past him, reaching for the door. “And Ash…”

He glanced at me. “Yeah?”

My gaze hardened. “If you ever suggest again that I can’t protect my mate, you’ll be facing me in the ring. Not Irene.”

His grin widened, and for the first time all day, I felt a flicker of grim amusement.

“I’ll take my chances,” he said.

I shook my head, pushing the door open. But inside, my wolf growled with anticipation. Irene had started this war. She had dragged Lisa into her poison games. But soon—very soon—she’d regret ever thinking my mate was weak.