Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 28

Lisa's pov

Mornings in this pack were something else entirely. The sun didn't just rise—it screamed in your face through those ridiculously wide windows with no intention of being subtle. I had barely managed to tame the mess on my head and look remotely presentable when Calla shoved a mop in my hand like it was a royal sword.

"Today," she said with mock solemnity, "you mop with pride. You represent the grace and humility of a well-disciplined maid."

I gave her a dead stare. "So what you're saying is... the Alpha is walking through this corridor today."

Calla winked. "Sharp as ever."

The other girls had already started scrubbing, brushing, polishing, and doing other things I swore would haunt my dreams. I joined them without a fuss because I was determined to fit in—or at least not get fired before I understood where the stables were.

I dipped the mop into the bucket, wrung it out, and got to work, humming softly under my breath. There was something calming about repetitive labor. You could lose yourself in it, let the motion carry you, and pretend your past didn't exist for a minute or two.

My wolf, Alivia, was uncharacteristically quiet today. Maybe she, too, was enjoying the moment of peace.

"I think you missed a spot," someone whispered behind me.

I spun around so fast I lost my balance.

Before I could even process what happened, my ankle rolled sideways, and pain flared up like someone had lit a match under my skin. The mop clattered to the floor. I stumbled, trying to catch myself, but a pair of strong arms wrapped around me just in time.

"Woah! You okay?"

I blinked rapidly, already biting back tears as I looked up into Kael's annoyingly handsome face.

"You!" I hissed, still half in his arms. "You scared me!"

He grinned like it was the funniest thing in the world. "I didn't expect you to jump three feet in the air."

"Well, congratulations. You now know I'm part squirrel," I snapped, trying to put weight on my foot.

Big mistake.

A sharp yelp escaped my throat as I flinched and nearly toppled over again.

Kael's grin disappeared instantly. "You sprained your ankle."

"Maybe it's just a cramp."

"Nope. You're limping like a baby deer in high heels."

"I—"

"Don't argue."

Before I could finish protesting, he scooped me up into his arms in one smooth motion, bridal style. My entire body tensed. I was pretty sure I resembled one of those wooden dolls with all the limbs locked in place.

"I can walk," I muttered weakly, glaring up at him.

"You tried to walk," he replied, heading straight down the hallway. "Didn't go well if you recall."

The hallway suddenly felt longer. And significantly more populated. A few maids passing by paused, staring at us with wide eyes and mouths half open.

"This is so embarrassing," I mumbled, covering part of my face with my hand.

"Why?" Kael teased. "I'm carrying you like a princess. Enjoy the royal moment. You don't get these every day."

"I don't want these."

"Sure you do," he said with a wink.

"You're the worst."

"You're just mad because I caught you slipping."

"That wasn't a joke!"

"To me, it was hilarious."

The infuriating thing was he wasn't even being mean. He genuinely found my accident funny in the most lighthearted way. Somehow, it made me want to kick him. With my good foot, of course.

By the time we got to the infirmary, my face felt hotter than the sun. My ankle, however, felt like it was holding a grudge against my entire existence.

Mira, the nurse, looked up from her desk and narrowed her eyes. "What did you do this time, Kael?"

"Hey! Why do you assume it's always me?" he asked, sounding slightly offended.

She gave him a knowing look. "Because nine times out of ten, it is you."

"Okay, well this time it's more like fifty-fifty."

He set me down gently on one of the beds, and Mira walked over, already pulling on gloves.

"Let me guess," she said, inspecting my foot. "He scared you?"

"Yes."

"No!" Kael said at the same time.

Mira chuckled, shaking her head. "You two are a mess."

"She jumped like a cat in a thunderstorm," Kael muttered.

"Wouldn't have happened if you didn't sneak up behind me like a serial killer!"

"She's feisty," Mira said with a raised brow. "That's good. Means the shock didn't get her."

"Trust me," I said with a pained smile, "I've survived worse."

Mira examined the ankle and pressed down gently. I winced.

"It's a clean twist. Not broken. But you'll need to rest it for a couple of days."

"Perfect," Kael grinned. "Guess I'm officially your bodyguard until further notice."

I shot him a look. "Absolutely not."

"Too late. You already imprinted on me like a duckling."

"Kael," Mira groaned. "Out."

He held up his hands. "Fine, fine. I'll go. But only because you scare me more than she does."

He winked at me again before heading for the door.

Mira snorted under her breath. "That boy has no filter."

"You don't say."

She helped me onto the bed properly, placed a cooling wrap around my ankle, and handed me a glass of water.

I sighed, finally settling in. My heart still beat a little too fast. Not from the pain. From the mortifying idea that Kael just paraded me through the hallway like some fairytale rescue scene gone rogue.

"He likes you," Mira said casually.

"What?"

"Kael. He's always teasing the ones he likes."

"I don't think he likes me."

"Oh, honey," she smiled, "you don't know Kael."

I sipped the water quietly, my thoughts suddenly tangled in confusing threads. Sure, he was nice. Sort of. Annoying, definitely. But was there something else?

No.

Of course not.

People like Kael didn't like people like me. I was just a walking pity project. At best, entertainment.

Still, something about the way he carried me—effortlessly but gently—stayed with me longer than I wanted it to.

When I finally limped out of the infirmary with a brace on my ankle and instructions to rest, the hallway was empty again. No crowd. No Kael. Just silence.

But in my chest, something still buzzed.

And for the first time since I arrived in this pack...

I wasn't sure if it was fear or something else entirely.