Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

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Seraphina’s POV 1

**Three years later.**

The afternoon sun painted golden squares across my living room floor, and I was sprawled on the couch eating cereal straight from the

box like the sophisticated adult I’d become.

My phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and nearly choked on a mouthful of Cheerios.

*Caleb Morrison*

My heart did a weird flippy thing. Hope, panic, and guilt all mixed up like a bad cocktail.

I let it ring twice more. Playing it cool. Totally casual. Like my palms weren’t suddenly sweaty.

“Hey!” Way too enthusiastic. Tone it down, Sera. “What’s up?”

“There she is!” Caleb sounded way too cheerful. “My favorite city girl who’s apparently too busy being badass to call her favorite border

family.”

“I’m not too busy,” I said, sitting up. Cheerios went everywhere. Great. “I’m just… you know. Doing stuff.”

“Stuff. Right.” He laughed. “What kind of stuff?”

“Actually, I was eating cereal in my pajamas and debating if I need to be a real adult today.”

“It’s three–thirty, Sera.”

“Exactly. I’m winning at life.”

“So for real though,” Caleb said, voice getting softer. “How are you doing? And don’t say ‘fine‘ because I can hear when you’re lying.”

I hugged my knees to my chest. Suddenly felt small. “I’m doing… actually pretty good. Not fake good. Like, real good.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Got a nice place. Work’s steady. I even have money saved up. And get this–I bought furniture. Real furniture. Not stuff I found on

the street.”

“Look at you! All grown up and responsible!”

“I know, right? Though I did kill a cactus last month. So maybe I’m not that grown up.”

“You’re such a weirdo.”

“Thanks. I try.” I picked at my pajama pants. “But yeah, seriously. Things are good. Still fighting. Making decent money. Can’t really

complain.”

there it was. That worried tone. “You know that scares the crap out of

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walls slammed

“Don’t what?”

the worry thing.” The words came out sharper

“I know you can-

sounds like you think I’m still that scared mess who showed up at your door with

Caleb.

bad kind. The kind that made me feel like

did I do that? Why did I always bite

said quickly. “That came

sounded understanding, which made it worse. “You worked your ass off to get where you are.

You’re tough as hell now. Total

got tight.

because you’re strong doesn’t mean people

at the ceiling.

“Do you though?”

please change the

cleared his throat. “Actually, that’s kind of why I’m calling. I need to

I tried to sound normal. Failed

turning sixty

Just

That’s awesome! Tell her happy birthday for

But the thing is…” He paused. “We’re throwing her a party. Saturday night. And she really

The room tilted.

“Caleb, I don’t-”

you say no, just hear me

mouth went totally dry. Hands

whole years. Built this whole new life where nobody knew me, where I could just be… whoever. Where the past couldn’t

me to go back.

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“You still there?”

whispered. “I’m

to ask. I know you left for reasons. Good reasons. His voice got

all the time. Like, all the time. ‘I hope Sera’s cating enough.

always come home.“”

falling. Hot and stupid and I couldn’t stop

not fair,”

“I know.”

just–you can’t say stuff like that and expect me to-” I couldn’t finish. The words got

all. “We miss

everyone I ditched? To pretend I didn’t run away

over my mouth. Trying not to completely lose it. When did I start shaking

Saturday to Sunday. Drive up Saturday morning, party

That’s it. Easy.”