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.

Ayla to protect

I could protect myself.

have made me feel strong. Empowered.

still missed

in the road,

in the quiet afternoon. Before I could even turn off the engine, the front

burst open.

“SERA!”

force of nature, already halfway down the porch steps before I’d even

familiar messy bun, flour dusting her apron, her face

me look at you!” She grabbed me the second I stood up, pulling me into one of those hugs that squeezed

your lungs. “You’re here! You’re really

breathe…” I gasped, but I

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

thin! Don’t they have food

three seconds ago. Let

feeding her.”

back, giving me room to breathe. “Though

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

“Come inside! Robert’s been pacing for an hour waiting

smelled exactly like I remembered. Vanilla and cinnamon and

feel welcome the second

wiping his hands on a

as warm.

let him pull me into a gentler hug. “Sorry it took so

matters.” He stepped back,

good. City life agrees

through mine. “Come on, you’re helping with dinner. I won’t

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zone of ingredients and cooking

the oven smelled incredible. A massive salad

“This is…

at the counter beside Caleb, who was wrestling with

cooking since dawn,” he muttered. “I tried to tell her you probably weren’t that hungry, but she gave

starting on the

me. “So how

Smooth sailing.” I focused on my chopping. “Nice to see the

me from my thoughts. “Tell us

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

doorman.”

Margaret sounded

fancy. He mostly just nods at me.” I smiled. “But it’s safe. Quiet.

work?” Robert asked from where he was

about how dangerous it was. “Still

Robert just nodded.

Build up a cushion.” I set down the knife, turning to face them. “I’m doing okay. Better than

good,” Margaret said softly. “Stable is very

table that