Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 382

Thomas Winters sat in the dimly lit VIP lounge of an upscale hotel, his fingers tightening around the glass of whiskey he had barely touched.

The leather booth he sat in was isolated from the rest of the room, providing the perfect setting for a private conversation—one he wasn’t particularly looking forward to.

Across from him, Kate Andrews sat with her arms crossed, legs elegantly crossed at the knee, her expensive designer dress clinging to her body.

Her face was perfectly made up, but the anger simmering beneath her cold, sharp gaze was unmistakable.

She had just heard the news, and she wasn’t taking it well.

“She won?” Kate hissed, her voice laced with disbelief and fury.

Thomas exhaled sharply, setting his glass down on the marble tabletop. “Yes, Kate. She won.”

Kate scoffed, shaking her head in frustration. “Unbelievable. You promised me that she would be gone. You said the board was already in our hands. And yet, somehow, Serena still manages to slip through like a damn cockroach.”

Thomas narrowed his eyes slightly. He hated being spoken to like this, but he let it slide—for now.

“The votes were supposed to be in our favor,” he admitted, his voice calm despite the irritation creeping in.

“But she worked fast. She turned some of the undecided members back to her side before we could lock them in.”

Kate let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Of course she did. That woman always finds a way to ruin things for me. It’s like she lives to destroy everything I want.”

Thomas raised an eyebrow. “Don’t be dramatic, Kate.”

Kate snapped her eyes toward him, the frustration in them turning icy. “Don’t patronize me, Thomas. You don’t understand what it’s like to have someone like Serena constantly crawling under your skin, taking everything that should be yours. She’s like an infestation that won’t go away.”

Thomas sighed, rubbing his temple. “I understand your frustration—”

“No, you don’t!” Kate cut him off, leaning forward.

“She’s already taken Ryan from me once. She’s the reason he can’t fully commit to me. And now, even with her own company on the verge of collapse, she still manages to come out victorious. How am I supposed to stay calm?”

Thomas studied her carefully. Kate was a woman fueled by obsession. It wasn’t just about Serena being a problem—it was personal.

The way her voice shook, the way her fingers tightened into fists, the way her body stiffened at every mention of Serena’s name—it was clear that her hatred ran deeper than mere rivalry.

“Kate,” Thomas said, his voice measured. “You need to control your emotions.”

Kate let out a bitter laugh. “Control my emotions? You failed me, Thomas! You were supposed to make sure she was removed, and now we’re right back where we started!”

Thomas leaned forward, his voice dropping to a quiet but firm tone. “Watch your words, Kate. I don’t take kindly to being spoken to like that.”

Kate swallowed, realizing she had pushed a little too far. She sighed, leaning back against the booth, running a hand through her perfectly styled hair.

“I just… I can’t keep doing this. Knowing she’s still out there, still winning.”

Thomas observed her, tapping his fingers against the glass. Then, he smirked slightly, his voice shifting to something smoother, more coaxing. “You know, Kate… anger can be useful when directed properly.”

Kate narrowed her eyes. “What are you saying?”

Thomas took a slow sip of his whiskey before setting the glass down. “You want Serena gone. I do, too. But now we know that taking her out politically isn’t enough. We need to hit her where she won’t see it coming.”

Kate studied him carefully. “Do you have a plan?”

Thomas smirked. “I always have a plan.”

Kate exhaled, some of the tension leaving her body. “Then do something. Make it happen. I want her out of my life for good.”

Thomas chuckled. “Patience, my dear. Everything has to be executed at the right time.”

Kate sighed, her mood still dark, but her shoulders relaxed slightly. “I just want to feel like I’m winning for once.”

Thomas leaned back, watching her thoughtfully. Then, after a brief pause, he smirked. “Perhaps I should do something to put you in a better mood, then.”

Kate raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

Thomas swirled the whiskey in his glass before setting it down with a clink. “I think you deserve something special. A surprise.”

Kate’s eyes flickered with intrigue. “A surprise?”

Thomas nodded. “Something extravagant. A night where you don’t have to think about Serena, Ryan, or anything else that irritates you.”

Kate tilted her head, interest sparking in her expression. “Go on.”

Thomas smirked. “How about a weekend getaway? A private resort. Secluded. Luxurious. Just you, being pampered the way you deserve.”

Kate’s lips curled into a smirk of her own. “Now that’s more like it.”

Thomas chuckled, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. “I’ll have my people arrange something by the end of the night. Something exclusive, something worthy of you.”

Kate let out a pleased sigh, finally relaxing into the plush leather seat. “You do know how to make a woman feel special, Thomas.”

Thomas smirked. “That’s what I do best.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the tension that had been thick between them finally easing.

Kate took a sip of her wine, her mind already picturing the luxurious getaway Thomas was planning for her.

But what neither of them noticed was the shadow lurking in the farthest corner of the lounge.

A man sat at a table near the bar, his face partially obscured by the low lighting. His phone was in his hand, the camera lens aimed subtly in their direction.

A click.

A picture of Thomas and Kate together, sitting close, their expressions lustrous.

Another click.

A photo of Thomas leaning in slightly, Kate’s lips curled into a smirk.

The man lowered his phone, glancing at the images before quickly sending them to an unknown number.

He picked up his drink, sipping it slowly as he watched the two, waiting for more.