Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

66 Chapter 66

Damien’s POV 1

The silence in the car was suffocating. Caleb sat on the opposite side of the leather bench seat, staring out the window at the passing city lights with what appeared to be studied nonchalance. But I could smell the tension radiating from him.

My driver navigated through the evening traffic with his usual professionalism, but I caught his eyes in the rearview mirror more than

once.

*This is ridiculous,* I told myself, forcing my hands to relax where they were clenched on my thighs. *You’re behaving like a teenager who caught his girlfriend talking to another boy.*

But that was exactly how I felt, and the rational part of my brain seemed to have completely abandoned ship. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see Caleb standing in Sera’s kitchen, moving around with familiar ease while she smiled at him.

Lucas’s voice filled my mind through the pack link, cutting through my brooding thoughts like a knife through butter.

*Damien, I need you at the office. There are some contracts that came in after you left-time-sensitive stuff that needs your signature

tonight.*

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache building behind my temples. *How time-sensitive are we

talking?*

*If we don’t get the paperwork back to them by nine tomorrow morning, they’re walking away from the table. Twelve million dollars,

gone.*

*Fuck.* I glanced at Caleb, who was still studiously ignoring my existence. *Fine. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.*

*Thanks.*

I said aloud, leaning forward slightly. “Change of plans. We need to stop by the office first.”

“Of course, sir.” Driver responded.

Caleb finally looked at me, one eyebrow raised in polite inquiry. “Business emergency?”

His voice was carefully neutral, but there was something in his expression that suggested he wasn’t entirely surprised by this

development. Maybe he was expecting me to find an excuse to cut this awkward situation short.

“Time-sensitive contracts,” I explained, attempting to match his reasonable tone. “It shouldn’t take long-maybe thirty minutes at most.

You’re welcome to wait in the car, or if you prefer, I can have driver drop you at a hotel first.”

car is fine,” he said finally. “I

drive passed in that same strained silence,

elevator ride to the executive floor felt longer than usual, my reflection in the polished steel doors showing a man

heading to a funeral rather than signing business contracts. My dark hair was disheveled from running

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see him through the glass walls of his office, surrounded by

said, looking up

need to sign,” I interrupted,

moment, then wisely decided not

click of high heels on marble, accompanied by a voice that

skin crawl.

a lovely surprise to see you here so

I said curtly, not looking up from the contracts. “What are you

exaggerated hip movement that was probably meant to be seductive but

board meeting.”

board meeting preparation was completed this afternoon,” I said flatly, still focused on the

the mention of Sera’s name, but she recovered quickly. “Well, I just wanted to

get these things right.” She moved closer, close

time for a late dinner? I know this wonderful

time,” I said firmly, signing the last contract with perhaps more force than necessary. “I need

sultry whisper. “Are you taking someone

That woman is clearly not

Damien.”

life is none of your

signed contracts and handed

said coldly, moving toward the door. “And now

She followed me out of the office and toward the elevators,

to keep up with my longer

opened with a soft ding, and I stepped inside, hoping she would take the hint and leave me alone. Instead, she followed me into the small space, her presence making the air feel thick and

to touch my arm with her perfectly manicured fingers. “You’ve been different lately. Distracted. And I

numbers on the display counting down like a timer on a bomb. When the doors finally opened on the ground floor, I strode out with relief, heading for the private entrance where Marcus was waiting

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behind me like gunshots on the

could see the car through the glass doors,

to get this nightmare of an

what felt like hours. But