Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

13 Chapter 13

Seraphina’s POV 1

My instinct was to refuse immediately. “I don’t have an appropriate dress for-”

“What you’re wearing now is perfect.” Damien’s voice carried that infuriatingly confident tone that made my stomach do gymnastics

routines I didn’t authorize. The way he said it-like he was commenting on the weather rather than completely upending my evening

plans-made me want to simultaneously kiss him and throttle him.

I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it, then opened it again like some kind of demented fish. “But I… Adrian needs… Ophelia will kill

me if 1…”

“Speechless omega?” One dark eyebrow arched in what I was beginning to recognize as his signature look of amused superiority. “That’s

a first.”

The smugness in his voice snapped me back to coherent thought. “Fine,” I said, trying to inject some dignity into what was clearly a

complete surrender. “But I’m not paying for dry cleaning if someone spills wine on this dress.””

The corner of his mouth twitched-not quite a smile, but close enough to make my traitorous heart do a little tap dance. “Noted. I protect what’s mine,” he said simply, and the possessive note in his voice made my knees wobble like a newborn deer’s.

The casual threat, delivered in that low, dangerous voice, made heat pool in places that had no business responding during work hours

The rest of the day passed in a whirlwind of focused intensity that felt like being caught in a very attractive, very expensive tornado.

Despite the mate bond crackling between us like a live electrical wire, Damien and I fell into a surprisingly natural rhythm. He was

demanding but fair, brilliant but not condescending, and when I anticipated his needs-sliding the northern territory reports across his

desk just as he reached for them—he looked at me like I’d just performed actual magic.

Meanwhile, Ayla had been a constant source of commentary all day, providing a running narration like the world’s most inappropriate

she’d purr when Damien moved past my desk. *Did you see the way his

he reached for that file? And that smell-God, that SMELL. It’s

Perfect Man.*

muttered under my breath during

do

those hands

“AYLA.”

wound tighter than a Swiss watch, every nerve ending hyperaware of Damien’s

much as shifted in his chair, I could feel it like a physical touch.

thing was going to be the death

particularly

09.18

712

pooled low

excused myself to the ladies’ room to touch up my makeup and attempt to calm my racing pulse. The emerald dress still looked stunning, but now I could see the flush on my cheeks, the dilated pupils that betrayed exactly

by the door like a predator who’d been stalking his prey. He looked devastatingly handsome in his perfectly tailored navy suit, the fabric molding to his broad shoulders and lean torso in ways that should be illegal. When he offered me his arm with old-fashioned gallantry, the simple gesture made

and there was something different in his voice-softer than his usual commanding

on his offered arm, biting back a gasp as electricity shot through me at the contact. His muscles were like steel beneath the expensive fabric,

warmth.

I’ll ever be,” I managed,

beauty-sleek, black, and expensive enough to fund Adrian’s college education. As he held the passenger door open for me, I caught another intoxicating whiff of his scent and had to grip the door frame to keep from swaying. God, he smelled incredible-like sandalwood and something uniquely masculine

small of my back to steady me. The simple touch sent

of curiosity that hadn’t been there

your son.”

me completely off guard. My heart stuttered, then began

carefully, studying his profile

was something in his tone-not judgment or calculation, but

warmth.

Adrian,” I began, unable to keep the fierce love from my voice, “and he’s

rich sound that made warmth spread through my chest. “Sounds like he keeps you

still

a physical blow, all the warmth draining from my chest in an instant. I stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past

his father is,” I said finally, my voice barely above