Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

178 Chapter 178

178 Chapter 178

Seraphina’s POV 1

The truck rattled down Main Street, and I couldn’t stop laughing.

“I’m serious!” Caleb protested, but he was grinning too. “She asked if you were single, like, three times before you even got out of the car.

I saw her rehearsing questions in the kitchen mirror this morning.”

“Oh my god.” I pressed my hands to my face. “That’s so embarrassing”

“For you or for her?”

“Both! Definitely both.” I peeked at him through my fingers. “Does she do this to everyone?”

He turned onto Oak Street, the bakery coming into view. “Last month she tried to set me up with the new librarian. The month before

that, it was the girl who works at the post office. Before that-”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” I dropped my hands. “Your mom is determined.”

“Determined is putting it lightly.” He pulled into a parking spot. “She has a notebook.”

I stared at him. “You’re joking”

“I wish I was joking.” He killed the engine. “She color–codes them. Green for ‘highly suitable, yellow for ‘potential, red for ‘absolutely not.”

“What color am I?”

He shot me a look. “You really want to know?”

“Now I have to know.”

“Purple.”

“Purple? What does purple mean?”

“It means ‘absolutely the only one.“” He said it in a perfect imitation of Margaret’s voice. “With a star next to it.” 2

Despite everything–despite the awkwardness at dinner, despite the weight of three years pressing on my chest–I burst out laughing.

Real, genuine laughter that made my ribs hurt.

“Your mom is insane,” I managed between giggles.

“Clinically.” But he was smiling. “Come on. Let’s get this cake before she sends out a search party.”

We climbed out of the truck, the late afternoon sun warm on my face. The street was quiet. Peaceful.

“For what it’s worth,” Caleb said as we walked, “I told her to back off. Multiple times.”

“It’s fine.” I meant it.

have brought up-” He stopped

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178 Chapter 178

could. Before the name could hang unspoken between us. “It’s okay. You can say

shatter

I saw Adrian in every dark–haired boy, that I wondered if Lily had my eyes or his smile–then everything I’d built would

to date anyone,” I said instead. “Not now.

a long moment. Then he nodded. “Okay, But you deserve the

why you need to

He bumped my shoulder with his. “City girl’s

tears threatening to fall. “Shut

“Make me.”

“You’re twelve years old.”

more mature

trading

Then I saw it.

Betty’s Bakery.

painted sign. The same window display I’d stared through a

turned to

the laughter died in my throat. My

seemed far away.

do was stare at that

Because it was.

face. The smell of

get frosting

came out strangled.

“Your what?”

to come here.” The words hurt coming out. “Every Sunday. With Adrian. It was our thing. Our

my gaze.

can’t-” Panic clawed at my chest. “I can’t

forcing me to look

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178 Chapter 178

rising. Getting higher. More desperate. “We need to

Grounding. “We’re not going to Betty’s. The cake we’re picking up? It’s from Miller’s

over. Completely

stared at him.

clearly. “That’s where Mom ordered from. We’re not going to

so hard

I promise.” His hands squeezed my shoulders gently. “You’re safe. Okay? You’re

My heart was still hammering. My hands were still

Caleb’s voice was gentle now. “Miller’s is just

myself to breathe. “Okay. I

Betty’s. Away from those Sunday morning

felt tight. My throat still ached. Because even just seeing that

thought were

turned the corner onto

that’s when I

sidewalk. Maybe three years old. Dark