Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

16 Chapter 16

Seraphina’s POV 1

The car was warm and comfortable, a welcome relief from the cold concrete and my bleeding feet. I settled into the soft leather passenger seat with a grateful sigh, still clutching the torn fabric of my wine-stained dress around myself. My rescuer-I realized I still didn’t even know his name-seemed genuinely concerned about my wellbeing, which was more kindness than I’d experienced in the past

several hours.

“Thank you again,” I said softly, watching the city lights blur past the window. “I really appreciate this. I’m Seraphina, by the way.”

“Michael,” he replied with that same warm smile. “Michael Harrison. And don’t mention it—I couldn’t just leave you walking around

barefoot and bleeding.”

As we drove through the quieter residential streets, I found myself relaxing for the first time since the disaster at the restaurant. Michael kept up a gentle stream of conversation-asking if I was too cold, whether I needed to stop somewhere for first aid, if there was anyone I wanted to call. His voice was soothing, almost hypnotic, and I felt my earlier tension beginning to ebb away.

“Actually,” he said as we stopped at a red light, “my place is just a few blocks from here. I have a first aid kit, and you could clean up, maybe get those feet properly bandaged before heading home. It’s the least can do after what you went through tonight.”

Something in his tone made me glance over at him, but his expression remained the same-concerned, caring, genuine. Still, a tiny alarm

bell went off in the back of my mind.

“That’s very kind,” I said carefully, “but I don’t want to impose any more than I already have. If you could just drop me off at the station—”

“Nonsense,” Michael interrupted, his voice carrying a hint of something I couldn’t quite identify. “The subways aren’t running this late anyway. Just let me help you get cleaned up, and then I’ll drive you wherever you need to go.”

As we continued driving, I began to notice a strange, sweet smell in the car-something floral and cloying that seemed to grow stronger with each breath. At first, I thought it might be air freshener or cologne, but there was something odd about it, something that made my

head feel slightly fuzzy.

“Michael,” I said, pressing a hand to my temple as a wave of dizziness washed over me, “what’s that smell? It’s very… strong.”

“Oh, that?” His voice sounded different now, less warm and more calculating. “Just something to help you relax. You’ve had such a

stressful evening.”

I tried to reach for the

was snarling in my mind,

said, my words slightly slurred despite my efforts to speak clearly. “I want to get

pleasant facade dropped completely, revealing something cold and predatory beneath. “I don’t think so,

almost there.”

was happening. The sweet

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things, black market substances used by

car!” I tried to shout, but my voice

and it was nothing like the kind expression he’d worn when he’d first

and hunger and promises of

if he were discussing the

enjoy parts of

and lead, my limbs heavy and unresponsive. I managed to fumble for my phone,

from my grasp to fall

a modest house on a quiet residential street. The porch light cast everything

were dark-no

side of the car, opening the door with the same solicitous manner

reaching for my arm. “Let’s get you inside where it’s

I managed to gasp, trying to pull away from his grip. My coordination was shot, but desperation gave me just enough strength

going in there. Take me

and ugly. “Sweetheart, after tonight’s little performance at the restaurant,

a while. Did you see the way your precious Alpha looked at you? Like you were trash he wanted

a flame of

lending me what strength

of me,” I said, my voice growing stronger. “I said let

tried to wrench my arm free, but Michael’s grip tightened

something cruel and hungry.

the house despite

really cares what happens to them. Especially when they’ve already

pulled me up the front steps. The

clear. I tried to scream, but the sound that came out was

fumbled with his keys while maintaining