Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

118 Chapter 118

Damien’s POV 1

I rubbed my eyes, blinking at the stack of border patrol reports that seemed to mock me from across my desk. The words blurred together-rogue sightings, territory disputes, security recommendations-all demanding my immediate attention. All adding to the mountain of responsibilities that threatened to crush

My phone buzzed. A text from Dr. Morgan about Sera’s latest blood work. Good news about the baby, but her

recovery was still slow.

I pushed back from my desk and stood, my joints protesting. When was the last time I’d gotten a full night’s

sleep?

“Daddy!” Adrian’s voice echoed through the hallway before he burst through my office door, his small face

bright with excitement. “Lucas says we can visit Mama today!”

My heart clenched. God, he missed her. Every day Adrian asked when she was coming home, and every day

had to give him the same careful non-answer about her needing more time to get better.

“We’ll go see her after lunch, buddy,” I promised, kneeling down to his level. He immediately launched himself

into my arms, and I held him tight, breathing in that familiar little-boy scent of soap and adventure.

“Is she sad?” Adrian asked quietly against my shoulder. “When I visited yesterday, she seemed sad.”

*Christ.*

Of course she was sad. She’d lost everything-her wolf, her strength, her independence.

“She’s just tired from being sick,” I said carefully. “But seeing you always makes her happy. You know that,

right?”

He nodded solemnly, but those silver-blue eyes-so like my own.

A knock on the door interrupted us. Claire stepped in, her expression apologetic but determined.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, though her weathered face softened when she saw Adrian. “But we need to

discuss the staffing situation.”

I set Adrian down with a gentle pat. “Go find Lucas. Tell him I said you could help with the patrol schedules.”

Adrian perked up. He loved feeling important, helping with “grown-up work.” He scampered off, already

calling for Lucas at the top of his lungs.

“Close the door,” I told Claire once he was gone.

She did, then settled into the chair across from my desk. She’d been with my family since before I was born,

had helped raise me after my parents died. If anyone could speak freely about uncomfortable truths, it was

her.

“You look like hell, Damien.”

“Thanks for the pep talk.” I slumped back into my chair, suddenly feeling every one of my life. “What about

staffing?”

“you’re running yourself into the ground

taking care of Adrian, making sure Sera has everything

beneath my skin like a caged animal. But there

people depending on

“I’m fine.”

You’re barely holding it together.” She leaned

I need to tell you something else. I’m leaving next

snapped

wife is having complications with her pregnancy.

the worry in her expression. “I’ll be gone for at least two

on

*Fuck, fuck, fuck.*

that kept the pack running smoothly. Without

phone, scrolling through something. “I’ve

assistant.”

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“Who?”

cousin. Emma Rodriguez. She’s been working

Excellent credentials,

he’d ever mentioned her. “Why

expression softened. “Look, I know this

on without Seraphina. But this isn’t about permanently replacing her. This is

doesn’t fall apart while she

the gardens beyond. Sera

review. She’d

before the day’s chaos

an interview,” I said finally. “This afternoon if

“Already done. Two o’clock.”

checked my watch. Almost noon. “I need to take Adrian

sure everything’s ready for

stood to leave, then hesitated at the door. “Damien?

keep the pack strong. You know that,

nodded, though the words felt

the hospital was quiet. Adrian

pictures for Sera, practicing his numbers with the pack accountant who’d

enough to turn math

happy today?” he asked as

to see you,” I told him honestly. And

was awake when we entered her room, propped up

circles under her eyes,

and the hospital gown made her look

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when she saw Adrian, everything

murmured as he climbed carefully onto

morning?”

with pack stuff!” Adrian announced proudly. “Lucas said I’m getting really good at organizing

his dark hair, and I saw her hands

with the effort. “You’re such

bed, watching them together. This-this

fighting so hard to

hour, Adrian filling the silence with

he hugged her carefully, whispering something in her ear that made her

I’d

Mama. Get better