Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 93

Lisa's POV

I adjusted the hem of my dress for what felt like the hundredth time as I walked along the long hall with Kael. The entire estate was bustling with people getting the final touches done for the annual pack celebration. Servants ran about, decorators hung the last of the drapes, and the kitchen was full of frantic movement. It looked perfect to me already, but Kael wasn’t satisfied until every last detail was locked into place.

“Check the list again,” he said, his eyes sharp as ever as he flipped through the papers in his hand.

“I’ve checked it three times already,” I muttered, brushing hair from my face. “The lighting is done, the tables are set, the decorations are in place, the musicians confirmed their arrival. Everything is in order.”

He hummed, unconvinced. That was Kael for you—perfectionist to the bone. I rolled my eyes slightly but didn’t let him catch it.

We walked out into the open courtyard where pack members were arranging seating for the guests. The banners fluttered in the breeze, golden against the blue sky, and I had to admit it all looked stunning.

Kael stopped, scanning every corner like a hawk. “Good. But I’ll check the patrols again just to be sure. The last thing we need is a breach during the celebration.”

I glanced at him. “Again? You checked them yesterday. And this morning.”

“And I’ll check them tonight if I have to,” he said firmly. Then, his eyes slid to me, and I felt the weight of his stare. “Lisa, I’ll need you to take these documents to Enzo. It’s the final preparation paperwork. He should approve them.”

My stomach tightened. I shook my head quickly. “No, Kael. Why don’t you do it? You’re already handling everything else—just add this to your perfectionist duties.”

His brows furrowed. “Lisa.”

“What?” I asked, crossing my arms. “It doesn’t have to be me.”

“Yes, it does,” he said, holding out the folder of documents toward me. “I need to check the patrols. You’re my second in command on this. Don’t make excuses.”

I swallowed hard, not moving to take the folder. “Kael, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Enzo and I… we don’t exactly have the best dynamic right now.”

His expression softened a little, but he still didn’t let up. “You’re overthinking it. Look, don’t feel bad for what happened that night. Breaking his head wasn’t your fault. He was reckless. You did what you had to.”

My hands clenched at my sides. He had no idea. No clue what really happened that night. If only he knew the truth, he wouldn’t look at me the same way. He wouldn’t call it an accident.

I forced a small laugh, masking the twist in my chest. “Right. Not my fault.”

Kael nodded firmly. “Exactly. So quit dodging him like he’s some sort of monster. Take the papers, hand them to him, and that’s it. It’s not a war.”

I bit my lip, staring at the folder he held out to me. My mind screamed to refuse, but my body betrayed me—I reached out and took it.

“Fine,” I muttered, hugging the folder to my chest.

“Good girl,” he said, already turning away. “I’ll be back after I sweep the patrols. Don’t worry, he won’t bite.”

Easy for him to say.

I walked alone down the hall, my steps slow, deliberate, as if I could stall time itself. Every turn brought me closer to Enzo’s quarters, and every step made my heart pound heavier.

The last time I saw him properly… his head had been bleeding because of me. I hadn’t meant it to go that far, but things had spiraled. The memory was a wound that refused to heal.

I reached his door and stopped. For a full minute, I just stood there, staring at the polished wood, trying to gather my courage.

“You’re not pressured, Lisa,” I whispered to myself. “You’re just doing your duty.”

Taking a deep breath, I raised my hand and knocked.

There was a pause. Then, a voice—calm, steady, with that underlying roughness that always made me tense.

“Come in.”

I pushed the door open.

Enzo was inside, reclining against the pillows on his bed. His shirt was loose, his hair slightly damp like he’d just bathed, and for once, he didn’t look like the iron-willed alpha everyone feared. He looked… relaxed. Human.

His eyes lifted to mine, and for a second, the room felt too small.

“Lisa,” he said evenly, no emotion in his voice.

I swallowed, stepping in. “I brought the final preparation paperwork.”

He gestured toward the table near him. “Leave it there.”

I crossed the room, set the folder down, and straightened quickly, eager to leave. But his voice stopped me before I could take a step back.

“Wait.”

I froze, my fingers twitching at my side. Slowly, I turned. “Yes?”

He was studying me now, his dark eyes calm but unreadable. “You seem nervous.”

I forced a laugh. “I’m not nervous. Just busy.”

“Busy,” he repeated, almost like he was testing the word. Then he tilted his head slightly. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

My throat tightened. I shook my head too quickly. “No, I haven’t. I’ve just been working with Kael. You know how he is.”

“Mm.” He didn’t look convinced. He sat up straighter, swinging his legs off the bed. “Still… I’d say it’s more than that.”

His gaze lingered on me, sharp but not unkind, and it made me feel exposed.

I crossed my arms, needing a shield. “Enzo, I didn’t come here for small talk. I came to deliver the paperwork. That’s it.”

“And yet you’re still here,” he said quietly.

The words sank into me, pulling out a reaction I didn’t want to admit. I pressed my lips together, trying to fight the heat rising in my cheeks.

He stood, moving closer—not threatening, but enough to make my heartbeat spike.

“I don’t hold grudges, Lisa,” he said softly. “That night… it’s in the past. Let’s not drag it into today.”

I blinked at him, unsure what to say. If only he knew. If only he understood that forgetting wasn’t so easy for me.

He reached the table, picked up the folder, and flipped it open, skimming through the documents. “Everything looks good. You did well.”

I frowned. “Kael organized most of it.”

“You’re still part of it,” he said without looking up. “Don’t downplay your work.”

I shifted on my feet, uncomfortable with the unexpected praise.

Silence stretched between us, heavy and awkward. I hated it. I hated how my mind wouldn’t stop replaying that night, how his calmness felt almost unbearable compared to the storm inside me.

I cleared my throat. “Well, if that’s all, I should go—”

“Lisa.”

I froze again. His voice was firmer this time, pulling me back like a leash.

“Don’t avoid me anymore,” he said. “It’s unnecessary. Whatever happened, it’s done. I’d rather we move forward.”

I stared at him, my lips parting slightly, but no words came out.

He closed the folder, set it down, and gave me a look that was steady, almost disarming.

“Fair?” he asked simply.

I swallowed hard, nodding once. “Fair.”

He nodded back, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Good. Then we’ll start there.”

I forced a tight smile, my chest aching in ways I couldn’t explain.

“Alright,” I whispered.

And then, finally, I was able to step out of his room, my heart pounding like I had just run miles.