Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 116

Enzo's POV

The council chamber smelled of parchment, ink, and the faint smoke from the hearth that burned even in late summer. I sat at the head of the long, carved oak table, listening to the last of the elders argue over land borders with a neighboring pack. Their voices were grating, like stones grinding together. I kept my face composed, neutral, the way a leader must. But inside, I was weary. These meetings had stretched on for hours, filled with bickering, suspicion, and the weight of decisions that would decide not just our pack’s future, but mine.

I leaned back in my chair, hands folded neatly on the table, my gaze sweeping over the gathered council. Ash sat to my right, quiet but alert, always keeping track of every word. Atlas had excused himself earlier, running patrol checks. The room was tense. Every member present carried the fear of what alliances meant and what enemies lurked in the shadows.

Then I felt it—a thread of urgency snapping across the mind link. *Enzo.* Ash’s voice was sharp, urgent, cutting through my patience like a blade. *Lisa has woken up.*

For a moment, everything else faded. The elders’ voices dimmed, the smoke in the room seemed to vanish, and all I heard was that single line echoing in my mind. Lisa. Awake. After everything—after the waiting, the fear, the prayers—she was awake.

I must have twitched, because Ash looked at me quickly, confirming the message with a small nod.

I straightened in my seat, clearing my throat. The elders stopped mid-argument, turning their attention to me. Their expectant eyes waited for me to rule on land disputes, to make some binding decision. But nothing mattered more right now than getting to her.

“We will reschedule this discussion,” I said firmly, my voice carrying across the table. “These issues deserve our full attention, but for now, they must wait. I will call the council back within the week.”

Murmurs rippled around the table, some confused, some irritated, but no one dared to challenge my dismissal. I rose to my feet, towering over them, and gave a brief nod before striding out of the chamber. Ash followed swiftly behind me.

As soon as the heavy door closed, I stopped, gripping Ash’s arm. “Is it true?” My voice came out rougher than I intended.

Ash’s eyes softened. “Yes. She woke minutes ago. The healer said her body is still weak, but her eyes opened. She asked for you.”

I didn’t wait for more. I released him and took off down the hall, my boots pounding against stone. Every step echoed with a mix of dread and relief. My heart hammered in my chest, faster than I’d admit to anyone. I turned corners, pushed through guards, and when I reached the healer’s wing, I didn’t pause to knock.

The door swung open, and there she was.

Lisa.

She sat propped up against pillows, pale but awake, her eyes blinking as though the light of the world was too much after so long. Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the blanket over her lap. For a moment, I just stood there, unable to breathe. Then, instinct took over.

I crossed the room in a heartbeat and pulled her into my arms. The familiar scent of her, faint but still there, washed over me. My arms locked around her fragile frame, desperate, as if by holding her tighter I could erase the fear that had plagued me for days.

“Lisa,” I whispered against her hair, my voice breaking despite myself. “You’re awake. You’re here.”

Her body was stiff in my embrace. I felt it immediately—her unease. She didn’t sink into me the way she used to. Instead, she shifted slightly, her hands pressing weakly against my chest as though to keep distance.

I drew back slowly, searching her face. Her eyes—still as beautiful as ever—were clouded with discomfort. She forced a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m… fine,” she murmured, her voice hoarse. “You don’t need to worry so much.”

But I did. Every part of me screamed that something was wrong.

“You’ve been unconscious for days,” I said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Do you know how close I was to losing you?”

Her gaze flickered, darting away from mine. “I’m awake now. That’s all that matters.”

It wasn’t enough for me. I wanted her warmth back, her trust, her laughter—but right now, she looked at me like a stranger might. Still, I kept my tone gentle, pushing down the sting.

“You need to rest. The healer will—”

The door burst open.

Atlas rushed in, his chest heaving as though he’d run the length of the compound. His face was grim, his eyes hard, and I knew instantly this wasn’t a casual interruption.

“Alpha,” he said, bowing slightly but with no time for ceremony. “Word just came in. Alpha Rowland is dead.”

The air in the room thickened. I straightened, my grip on Lisa loosening, my mind spinning to catch up with the words.

“What?” My voice dropped like a stone.

Atlas’s jaw clenched. “He was ambushed on his way here. Rogues. His entire escort was butchered. The few who survived long enough to send word reported it clearly—Rowland didn’t stand a chance. He was coming here to press you again on the alliance deal. That was the purpose of his journey.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. Lisa’s hand clutched her blanket tighter, her face pale. My own thoughts churned like a storm.

Rowland, dead. On his way to me. His daughter now grieving, his pack in chaos. And all of it connected to this damned alliance.

Ash entered behind Atlas, his face grim. I turned to him, my mind already calculating, already shifting into the role of leader.

“Schedule an emergency pack meeting,” I ordered. My voice was steady now, masking the turmoil underneath. “We cannot jeopardize our safety over Rowland’s death. Our enemies will use this. They will test us. We need to be ready before the news spreads wider.”

Ash nodded, bowing his head before rushing out to make the arrangements. Atlas stayed, his eyes flicking briefly to Lisa, then back to me.

I glanced at her once more, guilt tugging at me for leaving so soon after she had woken. But I couldn’t ignore this. I couldn’t allow my pack to falter.

I squeezed her hand gently, forcing a calm smile I didn’t feel. “Rest, Lisa. I’ll return as soon as I can. But right now, I must protect us all.”

She didn’t answer, only gave the faintest nod. That distance in her eyes was still there, and it cut deeper than I wanted to admit.

I released her hand, turned sharply, and strode out with Atlas at my side. The moment the door closed behind me, I let my mask slip just a fraction.

Rowland dead. Ambushed. And the alliance hanging over us like a curse.

This wasn’t just tragedy. This was a declaration. And whoever orchestrated it had just thrown our world into fire.