Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

64 Chapter 64

64 Chapter 64

Seraphina’s POV 1

Caleb immediately shifted his attention from Damien’s death glare to Ophelia, and his entire demeanor

transformed. The polite but guarded expression he’d been wearing melted into genuine warmth as he stepped

forward with that easy smile that had charmed half

the pack.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Ophelia,” he said, offering his hand with old-fashioned courtesy. “Sera has told me

so much about you during our drive. She's incredibly lucky to have such a devoted friend.”

Ophelia practically glowed under the attention, her cheeks pinking with delight as she accepted his handshake

and held it just a beat

longer than strictly necessary.

“Has she now?” she said, her voice taking on that slightly breathless quality it got when she encountered an

attractive male. “And here |

thought she was keeping all the good-looking men to herself. Though | can see why,” she added, glancing

meaningfully at Damien before

turning back to Caleb with renewed interest. “You have the most incredible eyes.”

| watched in fascination as Caleb’s smile beceven more genuine, crinkling the corners of those ice-colored

eyes Ophelia was

admiring.

“You're very kind,” he said with just the right amount of modest charm. “Though | have to say, yours are

absolutely stunning. That shade

of brown is extraordinary.”

Damien made a sound that might have been a growl, but Caleb and Ophelia were too busy gazing at each other

to notice. | could

practically see Ophelia melting under the compliment, her whole face lighting up with pleasure.

“Oh, you flatter me,” she said, but she was clearly eating up every word. “Tell me, Caleb, what do you do up in

the northern territories?

Besides rescuing damsels in distress and driving them safely home, of course.”

“I work in repair shop,” Caleb replied, his voice taking on an enthusiastic note as he spoke about something he

clearly loved. “My family

has been stewarding the northern territories. It’s challenging work, but incredibly rewarding.”

That sounds fascinating,” Ophelia breathed, and | could tell she actually meant it. “You must be incredibly strong

to do that kind of

physical labor.”

| bit back a smile as | watched my best friend work her magic. Within minutes, she had Caleb describing his work

with passionate

enthusiasm while she hung on his every word, asking intelligent questions and making appropriately impressed

sounds at all the right

moments.

Meanwhile, Damien was standing besidelike a barely contained storm cloud, his jaw clenched so tight | was

surprised his teeth didn’t

crack.

“So, Caleb said eventually, his gaze reluctantly leaving Ophelia to include the rest of us, “I hate to interrupt such

lovely company, but 1 should probably start thinking about finding a place to stay for the night. I'll need to head

back north first thing in the morning.”

“You're staying in the city overnight?” Ophelia asked, her disappointment clear in her voice.

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64 Chapter 64

“Just tonight,” Caleb confirmed with what looked like genuine regret. “I have meetings with suppliers first thing

tomorrow morning

before | head home.”

That's when the idea struck me. Caleb and his family had welcomedinto their hwhen | was a stranger in

need. They'd fed me,

sheltered me, and helpeddiscover truths about my heritage that | might never have learned otherwise. The

least | could do was

return the favor.

“Caleb,” | said, stepping forward before | could second-guess myself, “you should stay here tonight. It’s the least

| can do after everything your family did forup north.”

The effect was immediate and tic. Both Damien and Caleb spoke at exactly the stime, their voices

overlapping in perfect synchronization:

“No.”

The unified rejection was so emphatic and so perfectly timed that it would have been comical under different

circumstances. As it was, |

found myself staring at both men in confusion.

Caleb was the first to recover, his expression smoothing into polite refusal. “That's very generous of you, Sera,

but | wouldn't want to

impose. You've already dealt with enough disruption, and I’m sure you just want to get back to your normal

routine.”

His smile was warm and genuine, the kind that made it clear he truly didn’t want to be a burden. But beside him,

Damien's reaction was

entirely different. Where Caleb was politely declining, Damien looked like he was about thirty seconds away from

bodily throwing his

perceived rival out the nearest window.

“Absolutely not,” Damien said, his voice carrying that dangerous alpha authority that made my wolf want to bare

her throat in

submission. “If Caleb needs accommodations, I'm sure there are plenty of hotels in the city.”

“But that's so impersonal,” | protested, looking between them in bewilderment. “Caleb, your parents opened

their htowhen |

was a complete stranger. Letting you sleep in our hfor one night is nothing compared to that kindness.”

“If Caleb is staying,” Damien said, his silver-blue eyes never leaving the other man’s face, “then so am I.”

“Damien,” | said carefully, “my apartment is tiny. We can’t possibly fit everyone-"

“Then perhaps we should reconsider the entire arrangement,” he said smoothly, though I could hear the steel

beneath his polite tone.

“I'm sure Caleb would be more comfortable in a hotel,”

“Actually,” | said, warming to the idea despite the obvious complications, “it could work. Caleb could share

Adrian’s room-there’s a trundle bed we never use. And Ophelia could stay within my room. It would be like a

sleepover.”

“You know what, Damien said, his voice taking on a suspiciously reasonable tone that immediately puton

high alert, “if space is such an issue, why don't | offer an alternative solution?”

He turned to Caleb with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, all sharp edges and dangerous charm.

“My house has six bedrooms and more guest space than | know what to do with,” he said with mock generosity.

“Plenty of room for a weary traveler to stretch out and get a good night's rest before his long journey home, |

insist.”

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