Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 64

Alpha Enzo's POV

I pushed the heavy doors of the meeting hall open, the echo of my boots loud against the marble floor as I stepped out into the afternoon air. The discussions inside had left my mind pounding, but I didn’t slow my pace. I needed to clear my head, and walking toward the pack gates seemed like the perfect excuse to put some distance between myself and the mess brewing inside.

Behind me, hurried footsteps broke the rhythm of my own.

“Enzo—wait!” Beta Ash’s voice carried over the open space.

I didn’t bother turning. “If you’ve got something to say, Ash, you can say it while walking.”

Apparently, that was enough invitation for both him and Rowland, because I heard two sets of heavier footsteps catching up. Rowland’s voice was sharp, breathless from running.

“You couldn’t just storm off without us, you know.”

“I wasn’t storming off,” I replied, eyes fixed ahead. “I’m going to the gates. You two are the ones chasing me like I’m running away from home.”

Ash snorted. “Feels like it.”

I ignored the comment. My focus was already pulled toward the distant commotion spilling in from the gates—raised voices, angry shouts, the kind of noise that didn’t belong near pack borders unless there was trouble.

When we got closer, the source became painfully obvious. Irene.

She was standing right in front of the guards, her hair a wild mess from the way she’d been shaking her head and pointing fingers. Her voice carried sharp and shrill as she jabbed at one of the sentries.

“Why the hell won’t you let me in? Who do you think you are, standing in my way?!”

One of the younger guards shifted uncomfortably but didn’t move from his position. “Orders, ma’am.”

“Orders?!” she screamed, and before I could take another step, she shoved at the guard’s chest. “Do you know who I am? I’m—”

Before she could finish, Rowland surged forward, his face twisted in fury. His voice was a roar that cut through her rant.

“Irene!”

She froze for half a heartbeat before turning toward him, eyes wide. “Father—”

The rest of her sentence was swallowed by the sharp crack of his palm meeting her cheek. The slap echoed against the gate walls, and the nearby guards stiffened.

“What in the moon’s name is the meaning of this rubbish you’re doing?!” Rowland’s voice was as dangerous as I’d ever heard it. “Throwing tantrums at our gates like a spoilt child? Have you completely lost your mind?”

Her hand flew to her cheek, her lips trembling. “I just wanted—”

“Shut your mouth,” Rowland snapped.

I’d had enough. I stepped forward, my voice carrying over both of them. “Guards, take her to the holding cells.”

“What?!” Irene gasped, her voice breaking into disbelief. “You can’t just—”

“I can, and I am,” I cut her off coldly. “You’ve disrupted order at the pack gates, disrespected my men, and embarrassed your Alpha in broad daylight. Lock her up until I decide what to do with her.”

Two guards moved forward instantly, one taking her by the arm. She started thrashing in their grip. “You can’t do this to me! Father! Tell him—”

Rowland’s face was tight, his jaw working. “Enzo—”

“She’ll stay there until I say otherwise,” I said without looking at him. My tone wasn’t loud, but the finality in it silenced any further protest.

The guards dragged her away, her shouting fading into the distance.

Rowland turned to me, frustration etched deep in his features. “I didn’t train her enough. That’s on me. She’s been… stubborn since she was a child, but she’s never—”

“This isn’t about training, Rowland,” I said sharply. “This is about respect. And today, she had none for anyone standing here.”

“She’s still my daughter,” he said, his voice tight. “You could have handled that differently.”

“And you could have handled her before she walked up to the gates screaming at my guards,” I replied. My patience was wearing thin, but I forced my voice to stay level. “Do you think the rogues at our borders will stop to consider that she’s your daughter before they tear her apart for being reckless? No. And neither will I when she jeopardizes the security of this pack.”

Ash stepped in then, his voice calmer. “Let’s not escalate this any more than it already has. She’s not going anywhere. She’s just being… contained.”

“Contained?” Rowland’s glare shifted to him. “She’s in a cell.”

“Because she put herself there,” I said. “She knew the rules. She broke them. The moment she laid hands on my guards, this stopped being about family and became about discipline.”

Rowland’s shoulders rose and fell, his breathing heavy. “You’re harsh.”

I met his gaze. “I’m Alpha. Harsh keeps us alive.”

For a moment, no one spoke. The only sounds were the distant voices from the watchtowers and the creak of the gate as a patrol came through. I could see the way Rowland’s jaw clenched, like he was fighting the urge to argue further, but the reality was clear—his daughter had crossed a line, and there were consequences.

“Enzo,” Ash said quietly, “maybe after the council meeting tomorrow, you can decide if she’s learned her lesson.”

“Maybe,” I muttered, already turning back toward the path. “Right now, I have other matters to deal with.”

As we walked away from the gates, Rowland fell into step beside me. His voice was lower this time, almost weary. “She’s headstrong. Always has been. But she’s not a bad person.”

“Neither are half the warriors who’ve died because they thought their pride mattered more than protocol,” I said without slowing down. “You want me to be softer with her? Then make sure she doesn’t give me a reason to be hard.”

Rowland didn’t answer, but I felt his gaze on me the whole way back. Ash rushed to catch up with me.

“Aren't you too harsh on him?” Ash asked slowly.

“I can't put up with anymore insolence from that brat” I muttered walking back to the meeting hall. If he fails in training his daughter, he should bear the consequences.