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

border security, taking care of Adrian, making

for weeks, pacing beneath my skin like a

people depending on

“I’m fine.”

barely holding it together.” She

tell you something

head snapped up.

His wife is having complications with her pregnancy. They need me there.” Her

see the worry in her expression. “I’ll be gone

on

*Fuck, fuck, fuck.*

work that kept

out her phone, scrolling through something. “I’ve already

assistant.”

3060

216

“Who?”

his cousin. Emma Rodriguez. She’s been working for the Pacific Northwest Alliance

years. Excellent credentials,

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

I know this is difficult. I know

about permanently replacing her. This is about

fall apart

window at the gardens beyond. Sera used to walk there in the

She’d loved the quiet, the chance to

before the day’s

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

“Already done. Two o’clock.”

Almost noon. “I need

make sure everything’s ready for the interview when you get

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

whatever’s necessary to keep the pack strong. You

the words felt

the hospital was quiet. Adrian chattered about

Sera, practicing his numbers with the pack accountant

turn math

happy today?” he asked as we walked through the

happy to see you,” I

entered her room, propped up against pillows and staring out

dark circles under her eyes, made her skin look almost

couldn’t afford to lose, and the hospital gown made

10.00

316

she saw Adrian,

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

morning?”

announced proudly. “Lucas said

fingers combed through his dark hair, and I

effort. “You’re such a big

watching them together. This-this was

hard to protect and

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

he hugged her carefully, whispering

smile I’d seen

love you, Mama. Get better