Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 400

The warehouse was dark, damp, and smelled of rust and old oil. The faint hum of a generator in the distance was the only sound cutting through the eerie silence.

A single flickering bulb cast harsh shadows against the stained concrete walls, making the place look even more sinister than it already was.

Thomas Winters stepped inside, his shoes echoing against the floor as he moved toward the center of the room.

His eyes were cold, filled with an unrelenting fury that burned deep inside him.

His entire life had fallen apart overnight, and there was only one person to blame—Serena Winthrop.

And tonight, she would pay.

At the far end of the room, tied to a rusted metal chair, Serena sat slumped forward, her long dark hair cascading over her face.

Her body ached, her wrists raw from the thick rope cutting into her skin. The cold bit into her, her thin dress offering little protection from the freezing air.

Beside her, little Amy was curled up on the filthy ground, her tiny body trembling with fear. Her hands were bound, her eyes red from crying, her cheeks streaked with dirt.

Every now and then, she would let out soft sniffles, trying her best to be brave.

Serena had been awake for hours. She knew they weren’t alone—she could hear footsteps, whispers, the shuffling of men moving around the warehouse.

But she hadn’t done anything. She refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Then, the sound of approaching footsteps made her tense.

A pair of expensive leather shoes stopped just inches from her. The air around her thickened, and even without looking up, she knew who it was.

Thomas.

A hand grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head up violently. She gasped, her blue eyes meeting his dark, rage-filled ones.

He crouched before her, his fingers tightening in her hair as he studied her with cold amusement.

“Well, well…” he murmured, his lips curling into a sneer. “The woman of the hour. The woman who single-handedly brought my life crumbling down.”

Serena clenched her jaw, refusing to let him see her fear. “You did that all on your own, Thomas,” she rasped, her throat dry from hours without water.

His grip tightened painfully, making her wince. “No, sweetheart. You did this. You and that big, arrogant mouth of yours.”

He let go of her roughly, sending her head snapping back. He stood to his full height, towering over her.

“Did you think you were clever, Serena?” he continued, pacing in front of her.

“Did you think you were some kind of hero by exposing me? Did you think the world would see you as the righteous victim?”

Serena lifted her head, meeting his gaze with defiance. “No, I did it because the world deserved to know what kind of disgusting man you really are.”

The slap came so fast she didn’t even see it coming. Her head snapped to the side, the sting spreading across her cheek. Amy let out a frightened cry, her small voice trembling.

“Mommy!” Amy screamed.

Serena coughed, tasting blood on her lips, but she forced herself to remain upright. She refused to crumble in front of him.

Thomas crouched again, this time grabbing her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look at him. “You think you’ve won?” he hissed.

“You think ruining my reputation, my family, my marriage is enough to make me disappear? You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

Serena smirked, despite the pain. “Oh, I know exactly what you’re capable of,” she whispered. “That’s why I made sure the whole world saw you for the scum you are.”

Thomas’ eyes darkened with fury. He let go of her chin and straightened up. Without warning, he drew back his fist and slammed it into her stomach.

Serena gasped, her body jerking forward as pain exploded through her ribs. She coughed, struggling to catch her breath.

“Stop it!” Amy screamed, kicking her tiny feet at the man holding her. “Leave my mommy alone!”

Thomas turned his gaze to the child, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he approached her, crouching to her level.

Amy trembled but held her ground, glaring at him through tear-filled eyes.

“You have a brave little girl,” Thomas murmured, brushing a lock of her brown curls behind her ear. “Just like her mother.”

Serena struggled against her restraints, her breath coming in short, painful gasps. “Don’t you dare touch her!”

Thomas smirked, standing up. “Or what?” he taunted. “You’re tied up. Completely powerless. And yet, you still talk like you have control over the situation.”

Serena swallowed hard, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in her stomach. “If you lay a hand on my daughter, I swear—”

“You’ll what?” Thomas interrupted, his amusement growing. “Kill me? Destroy me? News flash, Serena—you’ve already done that. There’s nothing left for you to take from me.”

His eyes darkened. “But I can still take something from you.”

Serena’s blood ran cold.

He turned to one of the masked men standing near the door. “Take the kid into the other room.”

The guard moved forward, grabbing Amy by the arm.

“No!” Serena thrashed against the chair, desperation seizing her chest. “Leave her alone!”

Amy screamed, kicking and struggling as she was dragged away. “Mommy!”

Serena’s eyes burned with unshed tears. “Amy!”

The door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the warehouse.

Thomas turned back to Serena, smiling in satisfaction. “Now that we’re alone, we can have a real conversation.”

Serena was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling in rapid, uneven breaths. She glared at him, her blue eyes blazing.

“You’re a monster,” she spat.

Thomas laughed, shaking his head. “No, sweetheart. I’m a man who had everything taken from him.”

He crouched beside her again, his fingers trailing down the side of her bruised face. She jerked away from his touch, but the restraints held her still.

“Your little stunt cost me everything,” he murmured. “My reputation. My marriage. My standing in this city.”

Serena scoffed. “You did that yourself, Thomas. You destroyed yourself the moment you decided to betray your family.”

Thomas’ jaw clenched. “You really don’t know when to shut up, do you?”

He pulled a knife from his pocket and flipped it open, the sharp blade glinting under the dim light.

Serena’s stomach twisted, but she didn’t let her fear show.

He traced the cold metal along her jawline, watching her reaction carefully. “I could make this so much worse for you,” he murmured.

Serena didn’t flinch. “Then do it,” she challenged. “Or are you just all talk?”

Thomas’ nostrils flared.

“You really think Ryan is going to come save you?” he sneered. “You think he gives a damn about you after everything? He’s too busy licking his wounds, embarrassed that the whole world saw his father screwing his fiancée.”

Serena’s lips curled into a smirk. “You sound jealous.”

Thomas grabbed her throat, squeezing just enough to make her breath hitch. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Serena.”

Serena met his gaze head-on, refusing to back down. “And yet, I’m still winning.”

Thomas’ grip tightened—before suddenly letting go.

He turned away, his hands trembling with barely contained rage. “You won’t be so smug for long,” he muttered. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Serena’s heart pounded as she watched him storm toward the door. He paused, glancing over his shoulder with a wicked grin.

“Sweet dreams, darling.”

The door slammed shut, leaving her alone in the dark.

But even as pain racked her body, even as fear threatened to consume her…

The only thing she prayed was for Amy to be okay. She was all she had and would go crazy if something was to happen to her.

“Please stay strong for mommy, Amy…” she mumbled silently as pains shot through her body.