Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 84

Lisa's POV

I slammed the heavy book shut, my fingers tingling from the weight of flipping through so many pages. My eyes burned, not just from staring at ink for too long, but from the fire of triumph rushing through me. I had done it. I had read all of them—the very same books Enzo had marked, the ones he had teased me about, the ones he said would never hold my interest for long. Every word was carved into my mind like scratches on stone.

The moment the realization struck me, I leapt to my feet, the chair screeching behind me. I didn’t even bother tidying up the mess of papers and notes scattered across my desk. Excitement flooded through me like wildfire, and I couldn’t stop the grin that spread across my lips. My heart thudded in my chest, faster and faster, urging me forward.

“I’m going to prove him wrong,” I muttered to myself breathlessly, clutching one of the smaller books to my chest as if it was a trophy. “I’ll wipe that smug look off his face.”

Without thinking, I bolted for the door. My steps echoed against the long hallway as I darted past the windows where sunlight filtered in, turning the dust in the air to golden flecks. I didn’t even realize how fast I was going until I nearly crashed into a maid who gasped and stepped aside just in time.

“Sorry!” I yelled over my shoulder, though I didn’t slow down.

All I could see was Enzo’s smirk, the way his voice had dripped with mockery when he said no one had ever beaten his score in the library quizzes. His words had stuck in my head like a thorn, pushing me, taunting me. But now—now I would shove the truth right back at him.

When I finally reached his study, I didn’t hesitate. I pushed the heavy doors open with a loud bang that echoed across the room. My chest heaved with the effort, my cheeks flushed, and my hair clung to my temples with sweat.

“Enzo—”

But the moment I stepped inside, my words caught in my throat.

Because Enzo wasn’t alone.

Atlas was standing near the window with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze flicking to me instantly. Kael leaned against one of the chairs, his posture deceptively relaxed, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity. And Ash—Ash was seated near the desk, his face unreadable, though one corner of his mouth curved as if he was holding back a smile.

Their expressions were all serious, like they had been in the middle of some grave discussion. My stomach twisted, and heat rushed to my cheeks. I had barged in like a wild storm, and now all three of them were staring at me like I’d grown a second head.

“I—I’m so sorry!” I stammered, my hands flailing uselessly. “I didn’t mean to— I didn’t know— I just—”

My eyes darted to Enzo behind the desk. He had been leaning forward, deep in thought, but now he leaned back, regarding me with an unreadable expression. The room felt heavy, like I had interrupted something important. My throat went dry, and for a moment I considered fleeing back the way I came.

Enzo’s brow arched slightly, and his voice, calm but edged with curiosity, broke through the silence. “What brought you storming into my office like that, Lisa?”

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the book I still clutched to my chest. My pulse raced, but the fire that had pushed me here refused to die out.

“I—I came to prove you wrong,” I blurted out, my voice cracking halfway through. “And to beat your library score.”

For a second, silence stretched in the room. Then, as if on cue, Ash chuckled. It wasn’t a loud laugh—it was more of a smug, condescending smirk that curved into sound.

“Beat his score?” Ash drawled, tilting his head toward me. “No one has ever succeeded in doing that. You should give up now, Lisa, before you embarrass yourself.”

The embarrassment already burned hot in my chest, but my stubbornness flared even brighter. I tightened my jaw, glaring at him. “We’ll see about that.”

Atlas, leaning lazily against the wall, let out a low chuckle. “I’ll admit,” he said smoothly, “your courage is impressive. But if you think you can topple Enzo in his own game, you might just be a little delusional.”

His words stung, but before I could fire back, Kael spoke up. His voice was calm, steady, and surprisingly warm.

“Don’t underestimate her,” Kael said, his eyes flicking from me to Enzo. “She’s been… dedicated these past few weeks. More than I’ve seen in a while. If anyone has a shot, it might just be her.”

My head whipped toward him, my chest swelling at his words. The way he believed in me—when no one else did—lit something inside me.

Enzo, however, remained silent. He was watching me with those sharp eyes of his, like he was trying to read every thought that flashed across my face.

Suddenly, I realized how tense the room was. I cleared my throat awkwardly, shifting my weight. “I—I can come back later,” I muttered. “You seem busy with… whatever this is.”

Enzo’s lips twitched, but not into a smile. More like… amusement. “No,” he said finally, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. “I could make use of some break.”

My heart skipped a beat, and before I could process his words, he stood, brushing past the desk. His tall figure loomed as he moved toward me, his presence overwhelming as always.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Atlas smirked knowingly, Ash rolled his eyes, and Kael straightened with a small grin.

The next thing I knew, we were heading down the long corridor toward the library. My nerves threatened to choke me, but my determination burned hotter with every step.

The head of the library was called in—a thin, older man with spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose. He looked baffled at first, then flustered when Enzo explained the situation. Soon enough, the atmosphere shifted, the library filled with tension as books were laid out, questions were drawn, and the challenge began.

Question after question was fired at us. The air grew heavier with each passing round.

Enzo was fast. Too fast. His answers rolled off his tongue like he had swallowed the books whole, like knowledge was his second nature. Every time I got one right, he got one too—sometimes even quicker. My palms grew sweaty, but I refused to back down.

I remembered every long night, every cramped finger scribbling notes, every word that had kept me awake. I wasn’t going to waste it all.

Atlas teased from the sidelines. “You’re slipping, Lisa. Are you sure you can handle the pressure?”

Ash smirked cruelly. “She’ll crash soon enough.”

But Kael… Kael’s voice broke through the noise. “Stay focused, Lisa. You’ve got this.”

And somehow, I did.

Round after round, my mind sharpened, my answers came quicker, clearer. The points tallied up, closer and closer. I saw Enzo’s jaw tighten, his brow crease ever so slightly.

And then—

The final question.

I held my breath, my mind racing as the head librarian read it aloud. It was tough, the kind of question that demanded every ounce of memory. My hands trembled, but my mouth opened, and the answer spilled out.

The librarian’s eyes widened. “Correct.”

And just like that—the tally stood.

I had beaten Enzo. By a single point.

For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then Kael let out a laugh, grabbing me by the shoulders. “You did it! You actually did it!”

Before I knew it, I was jumping up and down with him, the two of us hugging tightly, giddy with the thrill of victory. My laughter echoed through the room, breathless and loud, as Kael spun me around in celebration.

“Impossible,” Ash muttered under his breath, though his smirk faltered.

Atlas chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

Enzo, however, stood frozen. His face was unreadable, but his eyes burned into me, sharp and fierce.

Kael grinned wickedly at him, his arm still draped around me. “Looks like your reign has ended, Enzo.”

“Unbelievable,” I teased breathlessly, looking straight at him. “I told you I’d prove you wrong.”

Enzo’s jaw clenched. “That game was rigged.” His voice thundered across the room, making even the librarian flinch. “Kael was the scorer—of course he’d tilt it in your favor!”

Kael burst out laughing, dragging me toward the door before Enzo could hurl another word. “Oh, come on. A win is a win. And this—this calls for a celebration.”

“Get back here, both of you!” Enzo’s voice rang behind us, sharp with frustration. “I’m not finished—”

But Kael only laughed harder, his grip on my hand tightening as he pulled me out into the hall. My heart raced with exhilaration, laughter bubbling out of me uncontrollably.

For the first time in a long time, I felt untouchable.