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.”

And there it was. That worried tone. “You know that

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slammed up instantly.

“Don’t what?”

worry thing.” The words came out sharper than I meant. “I can take care of

“I know you can-

that scared mess who showed up at your door with nothing. But

anymore, Caleb. I’m not.”

that made

that? Why did I always bite people’s heads

quickly. “That came out wrong.

worse. “You worked your ass off

tough as hell

got

Sera? Just because you’re strong doesn’t mean people can’t worry about you. You know

the ceiling. “Yeah. I

“Do you though?”

please change the

of why I’m calling.

tried to sound

sixty next

a truck. Just birthday stuff. Normal stuff.

her happy birthday for

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

The room tilted.

“Caleb, I don’t-”

Before you say no, just

couldn’t talk. My mouth

years. Built this whole new life where nobody knew me, where I could just be… whoever. Where the

now he wanted me to go back.

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“You still there?”

I whispered.

you left for reasons. Good reasons. His voice got all soft and

time. ‘I hope Sera’s cating enough.

always come home.“”

started falling. Hot and

not fair,” I

“I know.”

expect me to-” I couldn’t finish.

all. “We miss you. It’s been three years, Sera. Don’t

My voice broke completely. “To face everyone I ditched? To

not to completely lose it. When did I

party,” he said gently. “One weekend. Saturday to Sunday. Drive up Saturday morning, party that night, leave

That’s it. Easy.”