Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 94

Alpha Enzo's POV

I woke up before dawn, long before the first streaks of pale light touched the curtains of my chamber. Sleep had abandoned me the moment I closed my eyes, leaving me restless, haunted, and more agitated than usual. My wolf was restless too, pacing and growling deep in my chest. The more I tried to ignore it, the louder it became, until I finally gave in and pushed myself off the bed.

A quick shower didn’t do much to cool the fire crawling under my skin, but at least it cleared my head enough to move. I dressed, not in the ceremonial clothing set aside for the celebration later today, but in plain black trousers and a loose shirt. Something easy to move in. Something I could fight in.

I wasn’t going to sit still and let my thoughts devour me. Not today.

My legs carried me down the silent hallway almost on instinct, to a door I knew all too well. I raised my hand and knocked twice, sharp and deliberate.

The sound of footsteps came from inside, followed by the scrape of a chair and then the creak of hinges. I pushed the door open without waiting for permission.

Ash stood in front of his mirror, shirtless, a pair of dark trousers hanging low on his hips. He was tugging a clean shirt over his head, his damp hair clinging to his forehead. His eyes lifted to mine through the reflection, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

“Up already?” he asked, voice amused as he slid the shirt down. “And here I thought I was the only restless one. Big day ahead. You ready?”

I rolled my eyes, stepping fully into his room and shutting the door behind me. “Don’t start with me, Ash. I didn’t come here to exchange pleasantries. Get dressed quickly—I want us to spar.”

His brows lifted, and he turned, facing me fully now. “Spar? At this hour? Enzo, the sun hasn’t even thought about rising yet.”

“I don’t care,” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair, frustrated. “My head is a mess. I need to clear it before the day begins, or I’ll lose it before the celebration even starts.”

Ash studied me for a moment, his sharp eyes narrowing in thought. Then he pulled his shirt fully into place, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves. “Alright then. If that’s what you want.”

We made our way down to the training hall, our footsteps echoing against the polished stone floors of the estate. The place was quiet, the kind of silence that only came before dawn. No guards sparring. No servants rushing about. Just the two of us.

As we stepped inside, the familiar scent of leather, sweat, and steel filled my nose. The sight of the wide sparring arena calmed something deep inside me, even before I threw a single punch. This was my domain. Here, I was in control.

Ash flexed his wrists and cracked his neck, a teasing grin curving his lips. “So tell me, brother—what’s gnawing at you so badly you dragged me down here in the middle of the night?”

I dropped into a fighting stance, fists raised, but my voice came out rougher than I intended. “It’s Lisa.”

Ash stilled, his grin faltering slightly. He didn’t move forward yet, just studied me. “Lisa?”

“Yes.” My jaw tightened. I threw a punch at him to force him into motion. He blocked, but his eyes never left mine.

“She’s my mate, Ash. I feel it every time I’m near her. The pull. The bond. It’s unlike anything I’ve felt before.”

Ash’s eyes flickered, something unreadable passing through them as he countered with a swift jab. I blocked easily, but my chest heaved as the words left me. “The problem is… we’re not ordinary men. We’re quadruplets. I need to know if she feels that bond with you too. With Atlas. With Kael. Or if it’s just me.”

Ash ducked under my swing and shoved me back, his smirk returning though his tone had grown heavier. “So that’s it. You’re afraid she might not just be yours. That the bond might tie her to all of us.”

“Don’t twist my words,” I snapped, slamming my fist into his guard. The impact rattled his arms, but he stood firm.

“I’m not twisting them,” he shot back. “I’m just saying out loud what you’re too proud to admit. You’re terrified of sharing her, Enzo.”

My glare could have burned holes through steel. “She’s mine.”

Ash’s smile faded then, and for once he looked serious. “Funny. Because there’s something you don’t know.”

Before I could demand what, the sound of footsteps echoed across the training room. Kael’s voice carried before his figure even appeared.

“Well, isn’t this just perfect?” he drawled, his tone full of mock offense. “You two were going to spar without me? Without Atlas? Now that’s just rude.”

I shot him a glare so sharp it could cut him in half. Kael slowed, lifting his hands in surrender, his grin never fading. “Fine, fine. Don’t bite my head off. I’m just saying—it’s unusual to see the two of you sneaking off for some alone time.”

Ash looked between us, then exhaled as if bracing himself. “Actually, Kael… maybe you should hear this too. Both you and Atlas.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Ash—”

“No,” he interrupted firmly, his tone carrying a weight I didn’t often hear from him. “It’s time I told you the truth. About Lisa.”

Kael’s smirk faltered, and he stepped closer, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “Go on.”

Ash raked a hand through his hair, then looked me dead in the eyes before speaking. “That night I told you about—the one-night stand at the bar? The woman I said didn’t matter?”

My stomach dropped before he even finished.

“It was Lisa,” Ash confessed, his voice steady despite the storm raging in the air. “She was my mate. I knew it the moment I touched her. But she didn’t recognize me because I wasn’t wearing my real face.”

Kael sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes flicking to me, then back at Ash. “You’re serious.”

Ash nodded once.

I felt the heat surge through me, anger and jealousy so violent I nearly lost control. My fists clenched, my wolf snarling inside me. “You’re telling me you touched her? You—”

“She didn’t know,” Ash cut in, his tone harder now. “I wore a different mask that night. You know how it is, Enzo. You’re the only one who walks around barefaced, flaunting your true identity. The rest of us—we hide behind the skins we wear. That’s why she didn’t recognize me. To her, I was just some stranger.”

Kael let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Well, that explains the tension I’ve been sensing.” He folded his arms across his chest, his gaze sharp. “But let’s not pretend Enzo’s the only one drawn to her. Atlas felt it too. He told me he could feel the mate bond pulling at him, but he didn’t want to scare her by bringing it up. Didn’t want to pressure her.”

I froze, staring at him in disbelief. “Atlas—what?”

Kael shrugged. “He didn’t want to make things awkward. Said he’d rather let her come to it on her own than force the bond down her throat. Smart, if you ask me.”

My chest burned, a mixture of rage, confusion, and a strange hollow ache. “So all of you… you feel it too.”

Ash’s voice softened slightly, though it still carried steel. “We may all feel it, but you’re the only one who can claim her openly. You’re the face everyone knows. The Alpha. The leader. We hide behind masks, Enzo—you don’t.”

Kael smirked again, though it was laced with tension now. “Exactly. You’re the ‘real one,’ brother. The one everyone sees. That makes a difference, whether you like it or not.”

I stared at both of them, my hands trembling with the effort of holding myself back. Then, finally, a slow smirk curved my lips, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “So that’s how it is. She may feel the bond with all of you… but I’m the one standing barefaced before her. The one she’ll truly recognize.”

Kael tilted his head, amused. “Careful, Enzo. Confidence is good. Arrogance? Not so much.”

Ash’s eyes lingered on me, sharp and challenging. “So what now? You want to tear each other apart over her? Or do we focus on what’s actually important—today?”

Kael clapped his hands once, loud and final. “I vote we spar. Knock the confusion out of our heads before the sun rises. Once day breaks, we start welcoming guests for the celebration. Can’t have us distracted then.”

I let out a sharp breath, stepping back into the ring. My smirk turned into something darker. “Fine. Let’s spar. And don’t hold back.”

Ash grinned, Kael’s eyes gleamed, and the tension between us crackled like lightning as we squared off, fists raised, brothers bound by blood, secrets, and the same impossible bond to one woman.