Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

174 Chapter 174

174 Chapter 174

Seraphina’s POV 1

The highway stretched out before me like a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep.

My hands gripped the steering wheel of my Honda Accord–two years old, cherry red, bought with fight money and pride. This car had working air conditioning. A sound system that didn’t randomly cut out. Seats that weren’t held together with duct tape.

This car was proof that I’d made it. 2

I glanced at the GPS. Two hours to the Morrison house. Two hours to face the people I’d been avoiding. Two hours until I had to pretend I had my shit together.

The city disappeared behind me, replaced by stretches of empty highway and rolling hills. The landscape got greener, wilder. More like the territory I’d left behind.

My chest got tighter with every mile.

I turned up the music, letting the bass drown out my thoughts. But it didn’t work. Nothing ever worked when I was trying not to think about things.

Three years of fighting had taught me a lot. How to take a punch. How to give one back harder. How to walk into a ring full of people

screaming for my blood and walk out victorious.

But it hadn’t taught me how to stop feeling like I was constantly running from something.

My phone buzzed in the cup holder. I glanced down at the screen.

*Caleb: Mom’s vibrating with excitement. Fair warning.*

I smiled despite myself. Texted back at the next red light: *Tell her to save some energy for the party.*

*Caleb: Impossible. She’s been cooking since 6 AM. The kitchen looks like a war zone.*

*Me: Should I be scared?*

The highway gave way to smaller roads. I’d forgotten how quiet it was out here, How the silence felt almost alive.

My thoughts drifted to Ayla. They always did when I got too close to wolf territory. Like some part of me still expected her to be there, just under my skin, ready to surface and protect me.

But she was gone.

Three

years gone, and sometimes I still reached for her in moments of panic. Still expected to feel her presence, her strength, her fierce certainty that we could handle anything.

Instead, there was just… me.

Except I wasn’t as fragile as I used to be.

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I flexed my hands on the steering wheel, feeling the calluses from years of training. My arms were lean and muscled now. My core was

solid. My reflexes sharp.

didn’t need Ayla

I could protect myself.

me feel strong. Empowered.

missed

a bend in the road, exactly as I remembered

driveway, my tires crunching loud in the quiet afternoon. Before I could even turn off the

burst open.

“SERA!”

halfway down the porch steps before I’d even opened

flour dusting her apron, her

second I stood up, pulling me into one of those hugs that squeezed all

your lungs. “You’re here!

breathe…” I gasped,

to breathe less and eat more!” She pulled back, her hands on my

so thin! Don’t they have food in

saw her three seconds ago. Let her actually

feeding her.”

back, giving me room to breathe. “Though you do look wonderful,

face self–consciously. The fighting had changed me. Leaner. Harder. More

squeezed my hand. “Come inside! Robert’s been pacing for an hour waiting

cinnamon and something baking that made my mouth water. The

made you feel welcome

on a dish towel. His hair

as warm. “Our prodigal daughter

him pull me into a

what matters.” He stepped back, studying me the same way Margaret

good. City life agrees

helping with dinner. I won’t take

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warned–a war zone of

A massive salad sat half–assembled on the

it all in. “This is… a lot of food for four

the counter beside Caleb, who was wrestling with what looked

“I tried to tell her you probably weren’t that

starting on the

me. “So

chopping. “Nice to

voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Tell us everything. How’s city life

eyes on the carrots. “I moved to a better apartment last year. Nicer neighborhood. Actually has

doorman.”

Margaret sounded delighted. “How

at me.” I smiled. “But it’s safe.

work?” Robert asked from where he was

lecture about how dangerous it was. “Still

nodded. “Making good

cushion.” I set down the knife,

good,” Margaret said

everything to the dining room–a cozy space with a table that