Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

120 Chapter 120

Seraphina’s POV 1

The soft morning light filtered through the hospital window as | adjusted our daughter in my arms, still marveling

at how perfect she was. Her tiny fingers were curled into little fists, and her breathing was so peaceful it made

my chest ache with love.

“Mama!” Adrian's excited voice preceded him through the door as he burst into the room, practically

vibrating with energy. “Is she awake? Can | see her again?”

“Shh, sweetheart,” | whispered, smiling at his enthusiasm. “She’s sleeping, but you can clook.”

Adrian climbed onto the chair beside my bed with the careful precision of a child who'd been repeatedly

reminded to be gentle. His silver-blue eyes-so much like Damien’s-went wide with wonder as he peered at

his baby sister.

“She's so tiny,” he breathed, reaching out one finger to gently touch her hand. “Look! She's holding onto me!”

My heart melted as our daughter's fingers instinctively wrapped around Adrian’s finger. The sight of my

children together, this perfect moment of sibling connection, made tears spring to my eyes.

“She knows you're her big brother,” | told him softly.

“What's her ngonna be?” Adrian asked, his voice hushed with reverence. “Daddy said you haven't picked

one yet.”

“We're still deciding,” | admitted. “Do you have any ideas?”

“Oh.” Adrian looked confused but suggested immediately. “How about... Lily? Or Rose? | like flower names.”

“Lily,” | repeated, looking down at our daughter's peaceful face. “I like that. What do you think, little one? Do

you like the nLily?”

As if responding to my voice, the baby made a soft cooing sound that made both Adrian andsmile.

“She likes it!” Adrian declared triumphantly. “Hi, Lily. I'm your big brother Adrian.”

The door opened, and Damien entered carrying a cup of coffee and what looked like discharge papers. He

looked better than he had in months-there was actually color in his face, and the tension around his eyes

had eased.

“How are my girls this morning?” he asked, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead before settling into the

chair on the other side of the bed.

“Adrian thinks we should nher Lily,” | told him.

“Lily,” Damien repeated thoughtfully, reaching out to stroke our daughter's dark hair. “Lily Nightshadow. I like

ie.”

“It's decided then,” | said, smiling despite the ache in my chest. “Welcto the world, Lily.”

For a few minutes, we existed in that perfect bubble of new family bliss. Adrian chattered about all the things he

wanted to show Lily when she got bigger. Damien talked about setting up the nursery. | just held our

daughter and tried to memorize every detail of her perfect little face.

But then Adrian said something that shattered the illusion completely.

“Mama,” he said, his small face scrunched up in confusion. “You smell different.”

My blood turned to ice. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”

“Before, you smelled like... like warm cookies and flowers and something else that madefeel safe.” His

little brow furrowed as he tried to find the words. “But now you just smell like... like nothing special. And it

feels empty when I'm near you.”

All | could focus on was the innocent confusion on my son’s face as he tried to understand why his mother

felt wrong to him.

“I'm still your mama, Adrian,” | whispered, my voice cracking. “I'm still the sperson.”

“I know,” he said quickly, scrambling closer to givea careful hug. “I love you the same. It’s just... different.”

Different. That one word summed up everything I'd lost, everything I'd never get back. Even my own son

could sense that something fundamental was missing from me.

Damien cleared his throat. “Adrian, why don’t you go find Uncle Lucas? Tell him we'll be ready to go home

soon.”

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“Okay!” Adrian bounced off the chair, apparently unaware of the emotional devastation he'd just caused. “I'll

tell him about Lily’s ntoo!”

Once he was gone, the silence in the room becsuffocating.

“Sera-" Damien started.

“Don’t,” | said quietly, not looking at him. “Just... don’t.”

| couldn’t handle sympathy right now. Couldn't handle being reminded again of everything I'd lost. If a five- year-

old could sense it, what did that mean for everyone else?

Three days later, | was finally settling into life outside the hospital walls. Lily was thriving, eating well and

sleeping in manageable stretches. Adrian was over the moon about being a big brother, constantly wanting to

help with everything from diaper changes to bath time.

“Con,” Ophelia said, practically draggingtoward the front door. “You need to get out of this house.

Fresh air, sunshine, normal human interaction.”

“I'm fine staying in,” | protested, adjusting Lily in her carrier. “She's still so little, and-"

“And you're going stir-crazy,” Ophelia interrupted firmly. “We're just going to the baby store in town. Nothing

strenuous. Plus, Lily needs more clothes, and you know Damien has no idea what to buy.”

She was right, of course. Damien had tried his best, but his idea of baby clothes ran toward expensive

designer outfits that were completely impractical. We needed simple, comfortable things that could handle

the reality of infant life.

The drive into town was pleasant enough. Ophelia chattered about pack gossip. The baby store was busy,

filled with the sounds of crying infants and frazzled parents trying to navigate the overwhelming array of

choices. | found myself relaxing slightly as we browsed through the racks of tiny clothes.

“These are adorable,” Ophelia said, holding up a set of pink onesies covered in little moons and stars. “Very

appropriate for an alpha’s daughter.”

| picked out several practical items-soft cotton sleepers, burp cloths, tiny socks that seemed impossibly

small. Normal mom things. For a few minutes, | could almost pretend | was just like any other new mother

shopping for her baby.

The young woman behind the register didn’t even bother looking up from her phone when we approached. She

was maybe nineteen, with badly bleached hair and cheap makeup caked on thick. When she finally glanced at

me, her face twisted into an expression of pure disgust.

“What do you want?” she snapped, like we were personally ruining her day just by existing.

“We'd like to check out, please,” | said politely, setting our items on the counter.

The girl-her ntag read “Brittany”-rolled her eyes tically and started scanning our items with the

speed of molasses. She picked up each piece of clothing like it was contaminated, holding them at arm's

length.

“Seriously?” She held up one of the outfits and snorted. “You think you can afford this?”

“Excuse me?” Ophelia’s voice went dangerously low.

Brittany smirked. “I'm just saying, honey, this isn’t exactly the bargain bin. Maybe try the thrift store down the

street?”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “I can pay for it.”

“Right.” She laughed, a harsh sound that made other customers turn to stare. “Letguess-you’'re one of

those human groupies who thinks sleeping with a wolf makes you special?”

My mouth fell open. “I'm sorry, what did you just say?”

“Oh, con.” Brittany leaned across the counter, her voice loud enough for half the store to hear. “We all

know what you are. Sdesperate human slut who spread her legs for a wolf and thinks that makes her

pack.”

“That's enough!” Ophelia snarled, stepping forward.

But Brittany was just getting started. “Look at you. No scent, no power, nothing. You're just spathetic

human who got knocked up and now you're pretending you belong here.”

She gestured at Lily with obvious revulsion. “And that thing you're carrying? God, | feel sorry for it. Do you

have

any idea how messed up half-breeds turn out? Mental problems, physical deformities, identity issues.”

My hands started shaking. “Don’t talk about my daughter like that.”

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“Your daughter?” Brittany laughed cruelly. “Honey, that’s not a wolf pup in there. That's a mistake. A dirty

little mixed-blood freak who's never going to fit in anywhere.”