Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

54 Chapter 54

54 Chapter 54

Seraphina’s POV 1

The stranger's warm blue eyes held a familiarity that made my heart skip, though I couldn't place why.

Something about his presence

madefeel safer, but the fact that he knewwhen | didn't know him sent anxiety spiraling through my

chest.

“I'm sorry,” | said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear nervously. “You seem to know me, but I'm afraid | don’t

remember your name.”

“Caleb,” he said gently, his smile never wavering. “Caleb Morrison.”

| repeated the nsilently, waiting for sspark of recognition, but nothing came. Just the sfrustrating

blankness that had

hauntedsince the accident. My wolf stirred restlessly, sensing something important that my conscious mind

couldn't grasp.

“Caleb Morrison,” | said aloud, testing how it felt on my tongue. “I wish | could remember you. I'm so sorry-"

When Caleb first looked at me, his eyes practically sparkled with excitement, like a golden retriever who'd just

spotted their favorite

person after a long absence. But as my words sank in, | watched his expression deflate like a balloon losing air.

His shoulders dropped

slightly, and for a moment he looked exactly like a disappointed puppy who'd been told their human couldn't

play.

“Oh,” he said softly, then quickly shook his head and gavea gentle, understanding smile. “No, no, don’t

apologize, Sera. It's been so

many years, hasn't it?” His voice was patient and kind, though | could still see a flicker of wistfulness in his warm

brown eyes. “Maybe it’s

silly ofto expect you to remember a scruffy little boy from so long ago.”

The genuine care in his tone, mixed with that hint of boyish disappointment he was trying so hard to hide, made

my throat tight with

emotion. “You mentioned my family earlier. You knew about my real parents, about what happened to them. How

do you know so much

about my situation?”

Caleb's expression grew serious, though not unkind. “Why don’t we grab sfood and I'll explain everything?

There’s a diner just down

the street. We can talk properly there.”

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The diner was small and worn but clean, with red vinyl booths and the kind of fluorescent lighting that made

everyone look slightly pale.

The scents of coffee and home-cooked food filled the air, making my stomach growl despite my anxiety.

Caleb chose a corner booth and slid in across from me, his movements natural and easy. A waitress with graying

hair and kind eyes

approached our table.

“What can | get you folks?” she asked with a warm smile.

“Two coffees, please,” Caleb said. “And maybe sof that apple pie, if you have any left.”

“Coming right up, honey”

Once we were alone, Caleb leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped on the scratched tabletop. “Sera, | need to

start by telling you about what’s been happening up here in the north. It’s not the splace you might

remember.”

“Actually... | don’t remember anything. What do you mean?”

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54 Chapter 54

“Chaos. Complete chaos.” Caleb's voice dropped low despite the nearly empty diner. “Rogues moved in, testing

boundaries, picking off

isolated territories.”

The waitress returned with our coffee and pie, setting them down with practiced efficiency before retreating to

give us privacy.

He continued grimly. “Pack after pack has been heading south toward the central territories, looking for

protection with the bigger, more established Alphas. Families loading up everything they can carry and just...

leaving. This whole region is emptying out.”

“My God.” | took a shaky sip of coffee. “Caleb, if it's that dangerous here, why haven't you and your family left?

Why are you still here?”

His smile was tired but determined. “Because someone has to help the ones who can’t leave. The elderly wolves

who are too set in their

ways to start over, the families who can’t afford to relocate, the people who get caught in the middle of

territorial disputes.”

“That's incredibly dangerous.”

“Maybe. But my parents and I, we run the only repair shop for three hundred miles in any direction. When

families are trying to escape

with their lives, they need working vehicles. When isolated communities need supplies, they need reliable

transportation.” He shrugged.

“We can’t just abandon them.”

| studied his face, seeing the weight of responsibility he carried, the quiet courage that kept him here when

others fled. “You're a good

man, Caleb Morrison.”

“I'm just doing what needs to be done.” He took a sip of his coffee, then looked atintently. “But enough

about the current mess. You

said you forgot everything and wanted to know about your family.”

My heart began to race. “Yes. Please. | need to understand who | was, where | cfrom.”

“Your parents were Alpha and Luna of the Northern Ridge Pack,” he said gently. “Good people. The best, really.

Your father was known

throughout all the northern territories for his fairness and strength. Your mother had the most beautiful laugh—

you have her eyes, you

know.

Tears blurred my vision. “I don’t remember them at all.”

“I know.” His voice was soft with sympathy. “Sera, how much do you remember about us? About our friendship?”

“Us?” | looked at him in confusion. “Caleb, I'm sorry, but | don’t remember anything about knowing you before

today.”

Something flickered across his features-pain, maybe. “We were neighbors when we were children. Our fathers

were allies, close

friends.”

“We knew each other as children?”

“More than that. Caleb’s smile becgentle, nostalgic. “We were best friends, Sera. From the twe could

walk, we were practically inseparable. Every summer, our families would get together for these big barbecues by

the lake. You and | would disappear into the

woods for hours, building forts, climbing trees, getting into all kinds of trouble.”

My heart clenched. “We were that close?”

“Childhood sweethearts, my mother used to call us,” he said with a soft laugh. “You were fearless and stubborn

as hell. There was this old oak tree with branches hanging out over the water-must have been thirty feet high. All

the boys were too scared to jump from the top.

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54 Chapter 54

but not you.”

“Did | jump?”

“Every single time. And every time, your mother would lecture you about being more ladylike while your father

tried not to laugh.” His

expression grew distant with memory.

The tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over. “Caleb, I'm so sorry. | don’t remember any of it. Not you, not

my parents, not the life

we had together.”

Caleb squeezed my hand gently. “Sera, look at me.”

| raised my eyes to meet his warm gaze.

“I'm not hurt that you don’t remember,” he said firmly. “I'm just grateful you're alive. Do you understand? For

years, | thought you were

dead. | thought I'd lost my best friend forever. The fact that you're sitting here, breathing and talking and

laughing-that’s all that

matters to me.”

“Besides,” Caleb continued with a lighter tone, “maybe it's better that you don’t remember sof our

adventures. We got into some

serious trouble together. I'm pretty sure we gave both our parents gray hair before we were ten years old.” 5

Despite my tears, | found myself laughing. “That does sound like something I'd do.”

“Oh, definitely. You were the mastermind behind most of our schemes.” He grinned. “I was just along for the

ride.”

“Sera,” Caleb said, “where are you staying tonight? Please tellyou're not planning to drive back south in the

dark.”

“I was hoping to find a motel somewhere nearby, actually. | know it’s not the safest area right now, but—"

“Absolutely not.” He shook his head firmly. “You're staying with us.”

“Caleb, | couldn't impose-"

“You're not imposing. My parents still live in the shouse they did when we were kids. When | tell them

you're alive, when | bring you

home...” He smiled warmly. “My mother’s going to cry for a week.”

Caleb released my hand and pulled out his wallet to leave money for our coffee and pie. “Besides, it'll be safer

and more comfortable than

any motel in the area. And it'll give us tto talk more, to help you piece together sof those lost

memories.”