Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

175 Chapter 175

175 Chapter 175

Seraphina’s POV 1

The question hung in the air like a guillotine blade.

*Are you still in love with Damien?*

My fork clattered onto my plate. Lasagna suddenly tasted like cardboard. Like ashes. Like every mistake I’d ever made.

“I-” My voice cracked. “That’s not-”

“Mom.” Caleb’s voice carried a warning. “Don’t.”

But Margaret wasn’t looking at him. She was looking at me with those kind, knowing eyes that saw right through every wall I’d built.

“Honey,” she said softly. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. But I think maybe you need to.”

My hands were shaking. I pressed them flat against the table, trying to stop the tremors. Trying to stop the flood of memories that

threatened to drown me.

*Damien’s voice. Adrian’s laugh. Lily’s tiny hand wrapped around my finger.*

“I can’t think about them,” I whispered. The words barely made it past my lips. “If I think about them, I’ll—”

Break. Fall apart. Run back and beg them to take me even though I’m not good enough. 1

I closed my eyes.

Three years of discipline. Three years of forcing myself not to wonder. Not to imagine. Not to *feel*.

But Margaret had cracked that door open, and everything came flooding through.

“Lily’s three now,” I said, my voice breaking. “Three years old. She was just a baby when I left. She probably doesn’t even remember me.”

The tears came hot and fast. I couldn’t stop them.

“And Adrian–Adrian’s eight. He’s probably lost teeth. Learned to read chapter books. Made new friends. Grown so tall I wouldn’t

recognize him.”

My chest felt like it was splitting open. All the pain I’d been holding back for three years, all the longing and guilt and desperate love, it

all came pouring out.

of me. “Do they wake up

sweetheart.” Margaret was around the table in seconds, pulling me into her arms. “No.

I sobbed into her shoulder like a child. “I abandoned them.

to Margaret’s side,

he said quietly. “That takes more

pulled back, wiping my face with my hands. My eyes were probably swollen

18.JA

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175 Chapter 175

for three years, I woke up and told myself I couldn’t let myself wonder.. Couldn’t let myself imagine what they were doing. Because if I

“You’d break,” Margaret finished.

“Yeah.”

Just

pointed out. “You’ve built

back up? ‘Hey kids, sorry I abandoned you for three years,

now!‘”

not what

“I miss Damien so much it feels like I’m missing a limb. Like part

“Then maybe-”

back, my walls slamming back up. “No. I can’t think like that. I left for good

Margaret said softly.

23

now. Dead. “I’m still human. Still weak. Still not good enough for an Alpha and his pack.”

followed was broken only by the sound of my ragged breathing and the tick of the kitchen

cleared her throat, changing gears with obvious

voice taking on that forced brightness people used when trying to move past heavy topics.

have you thought about dating? Maybe meeting someone

God. Here

“Mom,” Caleb warned again.

I’m just saying! Three years is a long time to be alone. And you’re

“Margaret, please-”

not looking at anyone. “The guys at the gym are…” I searched for words. “Not really dating

Brutal. Most of them have more scars than

the gym?” Margaret pressed. “Coffee

don’t really go

“Why not?”

just not interested in dating right now,” I said finally. “Maybe someday. But

a look

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