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.”

my head suddenly became a deafening siren. I tried to reach for the door handle, but

was snarling in my mind, but even her voice

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

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

almost there.”

I realized what was happening. The sweet smell-it had

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whispers about such things, black market substances used by wolves with

the car!” I tried to shout, but my voice came out weak and breathless. “Stop the

like the kind expression he’d worn when he’d

and hunger and promises of terrible

conversationally, as if he were discussing the weather instead of kidnapping me. “It’ll all be

even enjoy parts of

like it was made of cotton and lead, my limbs heavy and unresponsive. I managed to fumble for my phone, but my

my grasp to fall

a modest house on a quiet

I could see that the windows were dark-no neighbors around to hear if I

side of the car, opening the door with the same solicitous manner he’d

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

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

not going in there. Take me

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

you see the way your precious Alpha looked

words hit like physical blows, but they also sparked a flame

Ayla was fighting, lending me what

said, my voice growing

arm free, but Michael’s grip tightened painfully. His pleasant mask

something cruel and hungry.

me toward the house despite my attempts to resist. “See, here’s the thing about

what happens to them.

me up the front steps. The drug was making everything

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

approvingly as he fumbled with his keys while maintaining his grip on my wrist. “Just