Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

5163 Chapter 63

Seraphina’s POV 1

The words hitlike a physical blow, stealing the breath from my lungs. Adrian’s father. Damien had just

claimed to be Adrian's father, with that commanding alpha authority that brooked no argument.

My hands trembled as | gripped the wooden spoon, the pasta sauce forgotten as | stared at Damien in shock. His

silver-blue eyes met mine across the suddenly silent kitchen, and in them | saw absolute certainty, possessive

determination, and something else-a

challenge.

Caleb's face went pale, his eyes darting between Damien andwith growing understanding.

“I...” The words stuck in my throat. How could | explain this?

Adrian, bless his innocent heart, seemed completely oblivious to the earth-shattering revelation that had just

been dropped. He was still

holding Damien's hand, looking up at him with those bright eyes.

“You're my daddy?” Adrian asked with the kind of simple directness that only children possessed. There was no

confusion in his voice, no

doubt-just acceptance and a kind of wondering joy.

“This is...” Caleb's voice was hoarse. He cleared his throat and tried again. “This is Adrian's father?”

Heat flooded my cheeks. There was no way to make this less awkward. “Caleb,” | said quietly, “this is Damien

Nightshadow. He's... he’s

my...”

The words caught in my throat again. What was Damien to me? My mate? My boss? All of the above?

Damien rose to his full height, keeping one protective hand on Adrian's shoulder. When he spoke, his voice

carried that alpha authority

that made my knees weak.

“I'm Sera’s mate,” he said simply, and the possessive way he said it made my stomach flip.

“I see,” Caleb said stiffly. His friendly demeanor had completely disappeared, replaced by something cooler,

more distant. “I wasn’t aware

that Sera was in a relationship.”

“I actually wanted to tell you,” | said, relief flooding throughas I found the right words. “About Damien and

me, | mean. But every time

| tried to bring it up while | was here, something would interrupt us.”

Caleb's expression softened immediately, the hurt fading from his eyes as understanding took its place. A gentle

smile curved his lips as

he nodded.

“That sounds about right,” he said with a quiet chuckle.

“We just found each other, Damien said smoothly, stepping closer to me. The heat of his body at my back was

both comforting and overwhelming. “It's been a... surprising discovery for both of us.”

Damien’s hand settled on my shoulder, a warm, possessive weight that made Ayla practically purr with

satisfaction. “Sera has had to deal

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63 Chapter 63

with a lot recently,” he said, and there was warning in his voice. “Family issues. Dangerous situations. I've been

helping her navigate

them.”

| could feel the alpha dominance radiating from Damien, could see how it made Caleb stiffen with instinctive

submission. But to Caleb’s

credit, he didn’t back down entirely.

“Yes,” Caleb said carefully, “she mentioned sfamily trouble. I'm glad she has... support.”

The word ‘support’ cout like he was chewing glass.

“Mommy,” Adrian piped up, apparently deciding the grown-ups were being boring, “can we eat now? I'm really

hungry!”

“Of course, sweetheart,” | said, my voice only slightly shaky. “Letjust finish the sauce.”

| turned back to the stove, determined to focus on something-anything-other than the suffocating tension that

had settled over my

kitchen like a thick fog.

Damien appeared at my left elbow, wordlessly taking over chopping vegetables. Caleb materialized at my right

side, silently washing

dishes with the kind of focused intensity usually reserved for defusing bombs.

The silence was deafening.

| stirred the pasta sauce with perhaps more vigor than strictly necessary, hyperaware of the two large males

flankinglike awkwardly

helpful bookends. Damien reached acrossfor the salt at the exact smoment Caleb moved to grab a dish

towel. It would have

been comical if it weren't so painfully uncomfortable.

“Salt, Damien said curtly.

“Towel,” Caleb replied with equal brevity.

Adrian, blissfully oblivious to the adult weirdness surrounding him. He zoomed between our legs, nearly tripping

Damien, who steadied

himself with a hand on my shoulder. Caleb stepped sideways to avoid the small missile that was my son,

bumping intoin the process.

“Sorry,” both men mumbled simultaneously, then glared at each other for the synchronized apology.

| gritted my teeth and continued stirring, while Adrian launched into what appeared to be an interpretive dance

routine in the three-

square-foot space between the refrigerator and the counter

The pasta was starting to stick to the bottom of the pan. The sauce was bubbling ominously. Adrian had

progressed to ssort of

acrobatic routine that involved jumping from chair to chair while making sound effects that could probably be

heard three apartments

over.

| was approximately thirty seconds away from throwing down my wooden spoon and shouting at all three of

them to GET OUT when the blessed sound of a key turning in the lock echoed through the apartment.

“Sera! I'm back! How did the trip to the mysterious northern territories go? Did you find what you were looking

for, or-" Ophelia’s voice called out, and | swear | heard angels singing. 1

Her words cut off abruptly as she appeared in the kitchen doorway and took in the scene:standing at the

stove, Adrian bouncing excitedly next to Damien, Caleb looking like he'd rather be anywhere else, and an

atmosphere thick enough to cut with a knife.

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63 Chapter 63

But Ophelia, being Ophelia, didn’t miss a beat. Her eyes immediately zeroed in on Caleb with laser-sharp focus,

and a slow, appreciative

smile spread across her face.

“Well, well, well,” she said, her voice rich with amusement. “And who is this handsnew addition to our little

gathering?”

| groaned internally. Trust Ophelia to make an already awkward situation infinitely more complicated.

“Ophelia,” | said quickly, “this is Caleb Morrison. He gavea ride back from the northern territories. Caleb, this

is my best friend,

Ophelia.”

Caleb, looking grateful for a friendly face, stepped forward with a genuine smile.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Ophelia,” he said, offering his hand. “Sera has toldso much about you.”

“Has she now?” Ophelia’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she shook his hand, holding on just a beat longer than

strictly necessary. “And

here | thought she was keeping all the good-looking men to herself.”

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