Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 111

Enzo's POV

The silence of my office felt heavier than usual. I’d sent away three messengers already, barked at two warriors, and snapped at my beta, and still, my chest hadn’t stopped aching since they carried Lisa out of the fighting ground. The sight of her—small, drenched in blood, ribs visibly broken—kept flashing in my mind. No matter how many years I’d seen warriors bleed, or how many battles I’d waded through ankle-deep in corpses, something about seeing her like that left a sour taste in my mouth. She wasn’t a seasoned fighter; she wasn’t supposed to be on the ground, torn and cracked open like some offering to the moon.

And yet, she fought.

She fought Irene with everything she had and more. She called on her wolf—however briefly—and survived what should have killed her. That truth alone should have filled me with pride. But instead, it filled me with a sharp, gnawing concern I couldn’t shake.

The healers had wanted to put her in the infirmary. I had denied it. She was placed in one of the guest chambers under heavy sleeping sedatives, ribs bound, bandages tight across her middle. And for the last twelve hours, I’d been in and out of her room, every time I had a spare breath from pack duties.

But those breaths were rare.

“Alpha.” The door creaked, and Atlas’s head poked in, his dark eyes scanning me with that unshakable calm of his. “You didn’t eat the meal Kael brought earlier. It’s getting cold.”

I waved him off without looking at the tray. “Not hungry.”

Atlas walked in anyway, shutting the door behind him. “Not hungry, or you don’t want to waste time chewing?”

I exhaled, dragging a hand across my face. “Both.”

He didn’t answer. Just placed the tray closer, within my reach, before his gaze moved toward the door leading to Lisa’s chamber. “Still under?”

“Yes,” I muttered. “The drugs hold her. Better she sleeps than wake and scream from the pain. Her ribs are… bad. Healer says three clean breaks, one cracked. Left side. Every breath she took before they sedated her sounded like knives in her lungs.”

Atlas nodded, grim but calm. “She’ll recover. She has a wolf. She just needs time.”

“Time,” I repeated under my breath, standing. My boots scraped against the stone as I crossed the room and pushed open the side door.

The chamber was dimly lit. Candles burned low in the corners, their wax dripping slow rivers onto metal trays. Lisa lay still on the bed, a faint sheen of sweat on her pale skin. Her breathing was shallow but steady, her chest wrapped tightly in fresh bandages. She looked so fragile it clawed at my insides.

I pulled the chair closer and sat beside her. For a moment, all I did was watch her chest rise and fall. Then I muttered, “You’re reckless, omega.”

Atlas lingered by the doorway, quiet as a shadow. He never said more than needed.

There was a soft knock before Ash strolled in, louder than necessary, his boots echoing. “How’s she holding up?” His voice was low but carried concern.

“Alive,” I said.

“Barely,” Ash countered, frowning as he came closer. “She looks… gods, Enzo, Irene did a number on her.”

My jaw tightened. “Irene wanted to break her. And she almost did.”

Ash rubbed the back of his neck. “Lisa fought well, though. I heard from the others. Said she pushed Irene out of the ring with her wolf, even if it was just for a moment. That’s not something to brush off.”

“She’s not supposed to be fighting at all,” I snapped. My voice echoed sharper than I intended, and Ash raised his hands in mock surrender.

“I didn’t mean—”

“I know,” I cut him off, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I know. Just… seeing her like this…”

Kael entered quietly after, carrying fresh bandages and a bowl of warm water. His usual smirk was absent; his face was set in hard lines. “She’ll need her wrappings changed before dawn,” he said simply, setting the bowl down on the side table. “I can do it.”

“I’ll do it,” I said immediately.

Kael arched a brow. “Alpha, you’ve got pack matters piling to the roof. Let one of us handle—”

“I said I’ll do it.” My tone left no room for argument.

Kael held up his hands, much like Ash had, and backed off a step. “Fine. Just saying, you’re not the only one who cares if she breathes tomorrow.”

His words hung heavy in the air.

I didn’t reply. I only reached for the clean cloth, dipped it into the warm water, and wrung it out. With slow hands, I began to dab the sweat from Lisa’s brow, careful not to wake her. Her face softened a fraction, though she didn’t stir.

“She fought for her place,” Atlas finally said, voice low. “She earned it.”

“She nearly died for it,” I countered.

Atlas inclined his head. “Sometimes that’s the only way to earn it.”

I didn’t answer. My eyes stayed on Lisa, her fragile chest rising and falling under the heavy sedative. She didn’t belong in a world that demanded this much blood from her. And yet, she was here. By choice. And gods help me, I had to respect that.

---

The hours bled into one another. Between messenger briefings, territory patrol reports, and endless disputes between lower-ranked wolves who had grown restless after the duel, I found myself returning to her bedside. Each time, I sat there in silence, listening to her breathing, watching for any flicker of change.

Kael was right—I had work. The pack didn’t stop because one omega broke ribs in a fight. But leaving her alone felt wrong.

At dawn, her body stirred faintly. Just a twitch of her fingers. Enough to pull my gaze sharp to her face. I leaned forward.

“Lisa?”

She didn’t wake. The drugs held her still. But the twitch reminded me of her fight—how she’d stood, bloodied, ribs shattered, and still thrown Irene back with raw willpower.

I adjusted the bandages carefully, as the healer had instructed, unwrapping them slow so as not to pull at her wounds. The bruises along her ribs were deep, ugly shades of purple and black. My wolf snarled inside at the sight, the instinct to protect rattling my bones.

When I finished binding her again, I tucked the blankets closer around her, then sat back, rubbing my temples.

Ash walked in again, this time holding a ledger under his arm. “Alpha, you’ve got to sign off on the supply runs for next week. If not, the hunters—”

“Put it on the desk,” I muttered without looking up.

He did, then hesitated. “You’re really not leaving her side, are you?”

“No.”

Ash exhaled, shook his head, but didn’t push. Instead, he sat on the other chair, his eyes softening as they landed on Lisa. “She’s stronger than she looks. Reminds me of someone.”

“Don’t,” I warned.

Ash smirked faintly but obeyed.

---

The day dragged. Reports came in, warriors filed in and out, Kael checked the bandages, Atlas brought food I still ignored, Ash pestered me about responsibilities. But in every break, I found myself back here, beside her.

Not because of affection. Not because of softness.

Because she was mine to protect.

And until she opened her eyes again, I wouldn’t leave.