Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

61 Chapter 61

Seraphina’s POV 1

Caleb crouched down to Adrian’s eye level with natural ease. “You have excellent manners, Adrian. Your mom has told me so many wonderful things about you.”

That was all the encouragement Adrian needed. His shyness evaporated like morning mist as his face lit up with delight.

“Do you want to see my room?” he asked with the kind of immediate trust that only children possessed. “I have a really cool dinosaur collection, and Mr. Damien helped me organize it by time periods. The T-Rex is my favorite, but the Triceratops is pretty cool too because it has three horns and-”

“Adrian,” I interrupted gently, laughing at his rapid-fire enthusiasm. “Maybe Caleb needs to get going. He has business in the city, and-”

“Actually,” Caleb said, standing up but keeping his attention focused on Adrian, “I’d love to see your dinosaur collection. I’m something of a paleontology enthusiast myself.”

Adrian’s eyes went wide with excitement. “Really? Do you know about the Cretaceous period?”

“I do indeed,” Caleb replied with genuine interest. “Did you know that not all dinosaurs went extinct? Birds are actually direct descendants of theropod dinosaurs.”

“Whoa!” Adrian grabbed Caleb’s hand without hesitation. “Come on, I have to show you my Velociraptor! Mr. Damien said they were really smart hunters, and they had these really sharp claws-”

I followed behind as Adrian dragged Caleb toward our apartment building, chattering nonstop about dinosaurs and fossils and everything he’d apparently learned during his time with Damien. Watching Caleb patiently answer every question and respond to Adrian’s excitement with genuine enthusiasm, I felt a warmth spread through my chest.

Once we reached my apartment, Adrian immediately launched into the grand tour, pulling Caleb from room to room with the kind of

boundless energy that only five-year-olds possessed. I trailed behind.

Adrian announced, throwing open

small hands moving animatedly

my throat tight

brightening with inspiration. “You should stay for dinner! Mommy makes the

we could watch a dinosaur

that might not be possible, but Caleb looked up at me

died in my

said simply. “If your

eager hope in Adrian’s eyes was impossible to resist. “Of course,” I heard myself saying. “I’d love to

10.36

1/3

<

61 Chapter 61

how I found myself in my small kitchen an hour later, stirring sauce while listening to Adrian and Caleb debate the merits of different dinosaurs. Adrian had attached himself to Caleb like a barnacle, following him around the apartment and chattering nonstop about everything from his favorite books to his all kinds

Adrian asked, appearing in the kitchen doorway with Caleb close

handy in the kitchen,” Caleb offered with that easy smile. “I

his most persuasive five-year-old expression.

the kitchen, Adrian standing on a chair to help mix the salad while

managed the sauce. It felt surprisingly natural,

with typical childhood

heat rise in my cheeks. “That’s a