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.

strong. Empowered. Instead, it just made

missed her.

a bend in the road,

into the gravel driveway, my tires crunching loud in the quiet afternoon. Before I

burst open.

“SERA!”

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

flour dusting her apron, her

me the second I

your lungs. “You’re here!

I gasped,

You need to breathe less and eat more!” She pulled back, her hands on my shoulders, eyes scanning my

at you! You’re so thin! Don’t they have food in the

her, grinning. “You saw her three seconds ago. Let her actually get in the house before you start

feeding her.”

back, giving me room to breathe. “Though

my face self–consciously. The fighting had changed

course.” She squeezed my hand. “Come inside! Robert’s been

smelled exactly like I remembered. Vanilla and cinnamon and something baking

warmth that made you feel welcome the second you walked

from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dish towel. His hair was grayer than I

as warm. “Our prodigal daughter

I let him pull me into a gentler hug.

now. That’s what matters.” He stepped back, studying

good. City life agrees

you’re helping with dinner. I won’t take

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of ingredients and cooking utensils. Three different

the oven smelled incredible. A massive salad

it all in. “This is… a lot of

stationed at the counter beside Caleb, who was wrestling with what looked like

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

on the carrots. “I wouldn’t risk it

me. “So

focused on my chopping. “Nice to see the old

my thoughts. “Tell us everything. How’s city life treating you?

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

doorman.”

Margaret sounded delighted.

me.” I smiled. “But it’s safe. Quiet. Good

work?” Robert asked from where he was setting the table. “Still doing that

I braced for the lecture about how dangerous it was. “Still

just nodded. “Making

Enough to save. Build up a cushion.” I set down the knife, turning to face them. “I’m

said softly.

cozy space with a table that had definitely seen better days