Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

154 Chapter 154

Seraphina’s POV 1

The morning air was crisp and cold against my face as I stood on the Morrison’s front porch, my small duffel bag at my feet like a faithful dog waiting to follow me into the unknown.

I’d barely slept. How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Adrian’s face at the school. Felt that moment of recognition when he’d sensed me nearby. The memory made my chest tight with panic and longing in equal measure.

“You sure about this, honey?” Margaret appeared in the doorway, her weathered hands wrapped around a steaming mug of coffee. Her eyes were red-rimmed, like she’d been crying, and the sight made my throat close up.

“I’m sure,” I lied, accepting the coffee gratefully. The warmth seeped through the ceramic and into my cold fingers.

“It’s not too late to change your mind,” she said softly. “You could stay. We could figure something else out.”

I shook my head, not trusting my voice. If I spoke, if I let even one crack show in my resolve, I’d crumble completely. I’d throw my arms around this woman who’d become the mother I’d never really had and beg her to let me stay forever.

The screen door creaked open, and Robert emerged with his own coffee, his silver hair still messed up from sleep. He looked older this morning, more tired, like my leaving was aging him in real time.

“Morning, sweetheart,” he said, his voice gravelly. “Sleep at all?”

“A little.”

He nodded. “Caleb’s getting the truck warmed up,” Robert said, gesturing toward the driveway where I could hear the engine rumbling. “He’ll get you to the bus station safe.”

“Thank you.” The words felt inadequate. How do you thank people who saved your life?

Margaret set down her coffee and pulled me into one of her bone-crushing hugs. She smelled like flour and vanilla and home, and I had

to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from sobbing.

“You call us,” she whispered fiercely against my hair. “The minute you

settled somewhere, you call. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“And if you need anything-money, a place to stay, someone to talk to-you call. Day or night. You understand me?”

My voice cracked. “I understand.”

She pulled back, cupping my face in her soft hands. “You’re going to be okay, baby girl. You’re stronger than you know.”

*No, I’m not,* I wanted to tell her. *I’m the weakest person in the world. Strong people don’t abandon their children.*

But I just nodded and tried to smile.

into his own gentler embrace. “Take care of yourself out there,”

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for someone on their

“I will,” I whispered.

his pale eyes serious, “you’ll always have a home

I’d been holding back finally spilled over. “Thank you. Both of you. For

us,” Margaret said, wiping at her own

horn honked gently, and I knew it was time. No more delays.

headed down the porch steps, my legs feeling like

vast.

door, his blonde hair catching the morning sunlight. He looked

much.

asked, though his tone suggested he hoped

“Ready.”

cab of the truck, breathing in the familiar scents

porch, watching

in beside me and put the truck in drive,

around right now. Pretend

man who’d given me shelter and friendship and asked

me from the

“You know I

and heavy. “I know. Doesn’t mean I have to like

familiar landscape rolling past

it looking peaceful in the golden

Caleb said finally, his voice carefully casual, “you thought about where you want

night, trying to pick a destination that felt far enough away.

people. Easy to disappear.”

concrete building with a faded sign and a few people waiting on benches

For a moment, we just sat there

to Portland,” he said quietly. “From there you

not

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He turned to face me fully. “When you get where you’re going, when

The word came out

want to know you’re safe. Mom will

promised. “I’ll visit too,

but genuine. “I’d

before I could change my mind. The morning air bit at my cheeks as I walked