Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother (Seraphina and Damien) novel Chapter 223

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Seraphina’s POV

I needed to get away from him.

Gabriel’s voice grated against my ears like nails on a chalkboard. Every word he spoke made my skin crawl.

“Don’t walk away,” he said behind me. That wheedling tone he used to use when he wanted something. “Come on. Just one more minute. Let me show you something.”

I kept walking. Faster now. My bag hitting my hip with each step.

“Sera, seriously.” Footsteps quickening. “You’re going to want to see this.”

“I don’t want to see anything from you.”

“Not even proof?” His voice got closer. “Not even the truth about where your precious husband was last night?”

My feet slowed. Just for a second.

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That was all he needed.

His hand clamped around my arm. Firm. Proprietary. Like he had any right to touch me.

“Let go.” I tried to yank free.

“Just look.” His other hand came up. Phone in his grip. Screen glowing. “One picture. That’s all.”

“I don’t want to–”

He shoved the phone in front of my face.

And my world stopped.

The image was crystal clear. High quality. Probably taken on a good camera.

A bed. Expensive sheets. Morning light filtering through blinds.

And in that bed…

Damien.

His arm draped across someone. Dark hair splayed across the pillow next to him.

Emma.

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They were sleeping. Both of them. Peaceful. Like they belonged there together.

My brain tried to process it. Tried to make sense of the pixels on that screen.

But it couldn’t. Wouldn’t.

Because that was my husband. In bed. With another

woman.

“See?” Gabriel’s voice came from somewhere far away. “I told you. Interesting, right?”

I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t do anything except stare at that image.

Damien’s face was relaxed. Unguarded. The way he used to look when he slept next to me.

Emma’s hand rested on his chest. Possessive.

Comfortable.

Like they’d done this before.

Like this was normal.

“So.” Gabriel’s breath hit my ear. “Still think I’m lying?”

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The phone disappeared. He pulled it back. But the image was burned into my retinas.

I could still see it. Every detail. Every damning piece of evidence.

“Where did you get that?” My voice came out strange.

Hollow.

“Does it matter?” He pocketed his phone. “The point is, it exists. Your husband. Her bed. Or maybe his bed. Hard to tell.”

My legs felt weak. The ground tilted slightly.

“You know what I think?” Gabriel continued. His voice taking on that mock–sympathetic tone. “I think you came back for nothing. I think dear brother moved on. Found someone better. Someone who didn’t abandon

him.”

Each word was a knife. Precise. Aimed to hit exactly

where it hurt most.

“Someone who was here,” he pressed. “Taking care of his kids. Running his pack. Being everything yoù

weren’t.”

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“Stop.” The word barely made it past my lips.

“Why? Because the truth hurts?” He laughed. “Come on, Sera. You had to know this would happen. Three years is a long time. Men have needs.”

My stomach churned. Bile rose in my throat.

“And Emma…” He whistled low. “She’s perfect, isn’t she? Beautiful. Capable. Actually present. Everything a Luna should be.”

The images flashed through my mind–Emma

bringing cookies. Emma playing with the kids. Emma smiling at Damien. Emma in his bed.

“But hey.” Gabriel’s hand patted my shoulder. I flinched away. “Look on the bright side. You’re free now. No more pretending. No more playing happy family.”

He stepped back. I could feel his eyes on me. Watching. Enjoying this.

“You know what’s funny?” His voice was lighter now. Almost cheerful. “I actually feel bad for you. Despite everything. Despite you choosing him over me. I never wanted to see you like this.”

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Liar. He was loving every second of this.

“So here’s what I’m thinking.” He moved around to face me. Forced me to look at him. “When you and Damien finally call it quits, when this whole charade falls apart… you could come find me.”

My eyes focused on his face. On that smug expression. That satisfied smile.

“I’m serious,” he said. “I don’t hold grudges. Water under the bridge and all that. And honestly? I always thought we had something special.”

The audacity. The absolute fucking audacity.

“I mean, sure, things ended badly.” He shrugged. “But that was years ago. We’re different people now. Mature. Ready to try again.”

“You cheated on me.” The words came out flat. “With my sister.”

“Ancient history.” He waved it off. “Besides, you clearly weren’t meant for my brother either. So maybe we

were both wrong. Maybe we’re meant to be together

after all.”

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He reached out. Tucked a strand of hair behind my

ear.

I jerked back like he’d burned me.

“Just think about it,” he said. His voice dropping lower. More intimate. “When this all falls apart. When

Damien officially chooses Emma. When you’re alone again… I’ll be here.”

He pulled a card from his pocket. Held it out.

“My number. In case you lose the old one.”

I didn’t take it. Didn’t move.

He tucked it into my bag anyway.

“Take care of yourself, Sera.” He stepped back. “You’re going to need to.”

Then he walked away.

Just like that. Dropped a bomb and walked away.

I stood there in the parking lot. The morning sun too bright. The air too thin.

My phone felt heavy in my pocket. All those unanswered calls. All those ignored texts.

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Because Damien was with her.

In her bed. Or his bed. Did it even matter whose bed it

was?

The point was he’d been there. All night. While I sat on the couch waiting. While the kids asked about him. While I worried something terrible had happened.

He’d been with Emma.

My legs finally moved. Carrying me toward… somewhere. Anywhere.

I ended up leaning against my car. My hands shaking so badly I couldn’t get the keys out.

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