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?”

continued more gently, “you’re running yourself into the ground trying to do

care of Adrian, making sure Sera

restless for weeks, pacing beneath my skin like a caged

people

“I’m fine.”

it together.” She leaned forward, her pale blue

you something else. I’m leaving next

snapped

complications with her pregnancy. They need me

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

depending on how

*Fuck, fuck, fuck.*

half the administrative work that kept the pack running smoothly. Without

something. “I’ve already

assistant.”

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“Who?”

cousin. Emma Rodriguez. She’s been

years. Excellent credentials, very

to remember if he’d ever mentioned her. “Why haven’t I met

Seattle.” Claire’s expression softened. “Look, I know this

this isn’t about permanently replacing her. This

apart

gardens beyond. Sera used to walk there

to review. She’d loved the quiet, the

before the day’s chaos

afternoon if possible. I want to

“Already done. Two o’clock.”

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

I’ll make sure everything’s ready for the interview when you

door. “Damien? This is the right decision. Seraphina would

do whatever’s necessary to keep the pack strong. You

though the

the hospital was quiet. Adrian chattered about his

pictures for Sera, practicing his numbers with the pack

enough to turn

today?” he asked as

think she’s always happy to see you,” I told him honestly. And that much

room, propped up against

her eyes,

lose, and the hospital gown made her look impossibly

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saw Adrian, everything about her expression

brave boy,” she murmured as he climbed carefully onto the bed

morning?”

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

through his dark hair, and

with the effort. “You’re such a

beside the bed, watching them together. This-this was what mattered. This was

was fighting so hard to protect

visited for an hour, Adrian filling the silence with stories and questions and

carefully,

genuine smile I’d

love you, Mama. Get better