Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 412

The Christmas lights twinkled softly in Serena’s living room, casting a warm glow over the space. Snow was falling gently outside, covering the city in a soft white blanket.

The smell of cinnamon and vanilla filled the air, courtesy of the cookies Emma had baked earlier. It was supposed to be a peaceful evening.

But Serena was anything but peaceful.

She sat on the couch, one hand resting on her very pregnant belly, while the other rubbed her forehead. She was exhausted.

Nine months.

She had managed to keep her pregnancy a complete secret for nine whole months.

It hadn’t been easy—working from home, avoiding public appearances, making sure no one suspected anything. Emma had done an amazing job shielding her from the world. Even now, as her due date crept closer, Serena still wasn’t ready for the world to know.

And most importantly, she wasn’t ready for Ryan to know.

She sighed, leaning back into the cushions. Amy was sitting on the floor in front of the Christmas tree, her little legs crossed as she colored in her holiday-themed sketchbook.

Serena smiled softly. If there was one thing that had kept her sane through all of this, it was Amy.

The sound of Amy’s favorite jingle bell ringtone suddenly echoed through the room.

Serena watched as Amy’s face lit up.

“Daddy’s calling!” Amy squealed excitedly, grabbing the phone from the coffee table.

Serena’s stomach tightened.

Ryan.

She shifted slightly, trying to steady her breathing as Amy answered the call.

“Hi, Daddy!” Amy chirped, her tiny voice filled with excitement.

Serena exhaled softly, letting her daughter have her moment.

“Hey, princess,” Ryan’s deep voice came through the speaker, warm and affectionate. “Merry Christmas Eve! Are you having fun?”

Amy giggled. “Yes! Mommy and I baked cookies, and I made a Christmas card for you! When will you come see me?”

Serena’s heart clenched. She had never stopped Ryan from being in Amy’s life. She had made sure they kept their relationship strong.

Ryan sighed. “Soon, sweetheart. I promise.” There was a brief pause. “Are you excited for Santa?”

Amy giggled. “Yes! But guess what, Daddy?”

Ryan chuckled. “What, princess?”

Amy’s little face lit up as she blurted out the words that changed everything.

“Mommy said I’ll have a baby brother soon!”

Silence.

Serena’s entire body froze.

Amy, completely unaware of what she had just done, kept talking. “I think he will come after Christmas, but I already told Mommy I want to help pick his name! Maybe Snow? Because he will be born in the snow—”

“Amy.”

Ryan’s voice had changed.

It was no longer playful or relaxed. It was sharp. Intense.

Amy frowned. “What?”

Ryan’s voice came again, but this time, directed at someone else.

“Put Mommy on the phone.”

Serena’s heart slammed against her ribs.

Her breath caught.

Amy turned toward her, holding out the phone. “Mommy, Daddy wants to talk to you.”

Serena swallowed hard.

She wasn’t ready for this.

She had spent nine months keeping this from him, and now, with just a few innocent words, Amy had ruined everything.

“Mommy?” Amy tilted her head.

Serena forced a small smile. “Go wash your hands for dinner, baby.”

Amy nodded and skipped off toward the kitchen, humming a Christmas tune.

Serena took a deep, shaky breath before putting the phone to her ear.

She didn’t even get the chance to speak before Ryan’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.

“You’re pregnant?”

Serena closed her eyes. She had no way out of this.

“Yes,” she admitted softly.

Ryan’s breath was ragged on the other end of the line. “You’re pregnant, and you didn’t tell me?”

Serena bit her lip. “Ryan, I—”

“How far along?” he demanded.

Serena hesitated.

Ryan’s voice turned sharp. “Serena.”

She exhaled slowly. “Nine months.”

Silence.

Complete, stunning silence.

Serena could hear the moment Ryan processed that information.

Nine months.

Not three months. Not five.

Nine.

Which meant she had been keeping this from him the entire time.

The weight of his silence was suffocating.

Serena pressed a hand to her forehead. “Ryan, I—”

“You were never going to tell me, were you?” His voice was quieter now, but no less intense.

Serena’s chest tightened.

She didn’t answer.

Because they both knew the truth.

Ryan let out a short, humorless laugh. “You were really going to have my child without me knowing?”

Serena’s grip tightened on the phone. “I was going to handle it on my own.”

Ryan scoffed. “Handle it on your own?” His voice was rising now, filled with undeniable frustration. “Are you serious right now, Serena? This is my baby too!”

Serena swallowed the lump in her throat. “Ryan, I—”

“I don’t want to hear excuses,” he snapped. “You let me talk to Amy every single day, and you never once thought to mention that you were carrying my child?”

Serena’s nails dug into her palm. “Because I didn’t want you involved, Ryan.”

Another heavy pause.

Ryan’s voice dropped dangerously low.

“Say that again.”

Serena’s throat tightened. “I didn’t—”

“No.” His tone was sharp. Commanding. “Say it again, and make sure you really mean it.”

Serena pressed her lips together, her eyes stinging.

Ryan exhaled, clearly trying to control his temper.

“You had my child growing inside you for nine months, Serena. Nine. And you were just going to have him without me ever knowing?”

Serena’s chest ached. “Ryan, you don’t understand—”

“Then make me understand!” he barked.

Serena took a deep, shaky breath. “I didn’t tell you because I was trying to protect myself.”

Ryan scoffed. “Protect yourself? From what? Me?”

Serena looked down at her swollen belly. “From the complications that come with you, Ryan.”

Ryan’s voice was quiet, almost broken.

“You really think I would have abandoned you? Abandoned him?”

Serena’s eyes burned. “I don’t know, Ryan. You did it once before.”

Silence.

Painful, suffocating silence.

Ryan’s breathing was uneven on the other end of the line.

Serena knew she had hit a nerve.

After a long moment, Ryan’s voice came through, calm but cold.

“I want to see you.”

Serena shook her head, even though he couldn’t see her. “Ryan, I don’t—”

“I’m coming,” he interrupted.

Serena’s heart stopped.

“Ryan, no. It’s Christmas Eve. You’re busy. You’re playing hockey—”

“Nothing matters more than this.”

Serena felt her resolve slipping.

Ryan exhaled sharply. “I’ll be there. I need to be there for you and our baby.”

Serena swallowed hard. “Ryan—”

“I’m meeting my son.”

The line went dead.

Serena sat there, completely stunned.

The secret she had worked so hard to keep was out.

And now, there was nothing she could do to stop Ryan from coming.