Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother (Seraphina and Damien) novel Chapter 249

Damien’s Perspective

The phone vibrated sharply in my palm.

Lucas. At last.

“Tell me you found her,” I demanded, my voice taut with anticipation.

“We’ve got her,” he replied, his tone clipped and professional. “Caught her on Highway 9. She was heading north—probably trying to get back to Millbrook.”

My fingers clenched tighter around the phone. “Where is she now?”

“She’s being brought in. Should reach the pack house within twenty minutes.”

“Good.” I rose from my chair, beginning to pace the room. “Put her in the secure holding cells. The ones no one can access. I don’t want anyone seeing her. No one speaks to her. No one gets close. Do you understand?”

A heavy silence answered me.

“Lucas?”

21:04

January 11

“Yes,” he finally said, his voice strained. “I understand.”

“Is there a problem with this?” I pressed.

“She’s my cousin, Damien.”

I halted mid-step. “I know who she is.”

“Do you?” His voice hardened. “Because you’re ordering me to lock up family like a common criminal.”

“She is a criminal,” I stated coldly, my words final. “She’s done things you don’t know about. Things that—”

“Then tell me!” His voice rose in frustration. “Explain what’s really going on! Because right now, I’m just following orders blindly, and I hate it!”

I took a steadying breath, forcing calm into my voice. Lucas deserved the truth. He deserved better.

But not yet. Not until I had proof. Not until Emma broke and confirmed everything.

“Trust me,” I said evenly. “When this is all over, you’ll understand. But for now, I need you to do exactly what I say. Can you do that?”

21:04

Another long pause.

“Yeah,” he said reluctantly. “Yeah, I can do that.”

“Thank you.”

“But Damien?” His tone grew serious. “If you’re wrong about this. If you’re making a mistake—”

“I’m not wrong.” I resumed pacing. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

He hung up without another word.

I set the phone down and glanced at the clock. Twenty minutes.

Twenty minutes until I faced the woman who’d helped shatter my marriage. Who’d lied about carrying my child. Who’d conspired with my own brother to tear apart everything I held dear.

My fists clenched tightly.

I needed to keep my emotions in check. Stay controlled. Couldn’t let anger cloud my judgment.

But God, the urge to break something was overwhelming. To punch a hole in the wall. To scream until my throat burned raw.

Instead, I moved to the window and gazed out over the grounds. Beyond, the forest loomed dark and silent beneath the rising moon.

Sera was out there somewhere, in her small apartment. Probably crying. Probably hating me. Probably signing those divorce papers at this very moment.

The thought squeezed my chest painfully.

But I couldn’t dwell on that now. Not yet. First, I had to confront Emma. Get the truth from her. Find Gabriel.

Only then could I figure out if my marriage was even salvageable.

The holding cells were below ground—cold, damp, designed to hold dangerous rogues and criminals awaiting trial.

I descended the concrete steps, my footsteps echoing against the bare walls. The security guard stationed at the bottom straightened when he saw me.

“Alpha,” he greeted, nodding. “She’s in cell three. My men are ready if you need backup.”

“Clear the area,” I ordered without slowing. “No one comes down here. No matter what noises they hear. Understood?”

He paled slightly. “Yes, Alpha.”

The guard disappeared up the stairs, the heavy door thudding shut behind him.

Now, it was just me and the woman who had betrayed me.

Cell three was at the far end of the corridor. The door was solid steel, with a small window. I peered through it.

Emma sat on the cold concrete bench, hands folded neatly in her lap. Her pregnant belly was unmistakable even under the loose clothing. Her face was pale, eyes wide with fear.

Good. She should be scared.

Her sobs wracked her body, barely able to draw breath. Her hands pressed protectively against her stomach.

Desperate.

“I don’t want to die,” she whispered brokenly. “Please. I don’t want my baby to die.”

“Then talk.”

She opened her mouth, hesitated, then closed it again.

“I—I can’t—”

My patience snapped.

I stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly across the concrete floor. Emma flinched back, pressing herself against the wall, trapped with nowhere to run.

“Please—”

“Tell me,” I demanded, stopping right before her. “Where—”

She flinched.

“—is—”

Her eyes widened in terror.

“—Gabriel?”

Her entire body trembled, tears streaming down her face, on the verge of breaking completely.

“I don’t know!” she burst out. “I don’t know! He stopped answering!”

I grabbed her collar, yanking her to her feet. She cried out, hands clawing at mine, trying to break free.

“Tell me!” I roared, my voice bouncing off the walls.

Then I saw it—the flicker in her eyes, the calculation beneath the tears, the lie forming before she even spoke.

My hand moved faster than thought.

The slap rang out like a gunshot.

Emma’s head snapped to the side, a red mark blossoming across her cheek. She stared at me, shocked, horrified.

I grabbed her collar again, pulling her close—close enough to see the fear swimming in her eyes, close enough to smell the mix of her perfume, sweat, and tears.

“Where—” My voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “—is—Gabriel?”