Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

“Good morning,” he murmured against my hair, his voice rough with sleep.

| turned in his arms, memorizing the way his eyes looked in the soft morning light. Silver-blue and warm with

contentment. He had no idea this would be the last the'd wake up withbeside him.

“Morning,” | whispered back, pressing a kiss to his chest.

His hand cupped my face, thumb stroking along my cheekbone. “You seem better today.”

“I slept well,” | lied smoothly. “The party yesterday... forget about it. Seeing Riley so happy is enough.”

“I'm glad.” His smile was soft, relieved.

“Don’t worry about me.” | traced patterns on his chest, trying to memorize the feel of his skin. “I'm stronger

than I look.” -

“I know you are.” He caught my hand, bringing it to his lips. “You're the strongest person | know.”

We lay there for a few more precious minutes, talking quietly about nothing important. His schedule for the

day. Plans for the weekend. Normal couple things that made my heart fracture a little more with each word.

When his alarm went off, | forced myself to get up and start our usual routine. Coffee while he showered.

Breakfast while he dressed for work. The domestic dance we'd perfected over the past year.

“I might be a little bit late tonight,” he said, adjusting his tie in the hallway mirror.

“No problem.” | smoothed the tie for him, my fingers lingering against the silk. “I'll keep dinner warm.”

He caught my hands, studying my face with those perceptive eyes. For a moment, | thought he might see

through my careful mask.

11:23

“Are you sure you're okay?” he asked.

“I'm fine.” | went up on my toes, pressing my lips to his. “Really. Go save the world. I'll hold down the fort

here.”

The kiss lasted longer than our usual goodbye pecks. | poured everything | couldn't say into it-all my love, all

my gratitude, all my regret. When we finally broke apart, his eyes were dark with something that looked like

hunger.

“Hold that thought,” he said, his voice dropping to that rough whisper that always made my knees weak.

“Until tonight.”

“I will.” Another lie.

| stood in the doorway and watched him drive away, waving like | always did. Playing the part of the devoted

wife seeing her husband off to work.

*This is for him,* | reminded myself as his car disappeared around the corner. *This is what's best for

everyone.*

Adrian was already up by the t| went back inside, sitting at the kitchen table in his school uniform with a

bowl of cereal. His dark hair stuck up in three different directions, and he had milk on his chin.

“Morning, sweetheart,” | said, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “Ready for school?”

“I guess.” He made a face at his cereal. “Do | have to eat all of this? It's all soggy now.”

“Just finish what you can.” | sat beside him, smoothing down his stubborn cowlicks. “What do you have

planned for today?”

“Math test.” His nose wrinkled. “I studied, but fractions are stupid.”

“Fractions aren't stupid,” | laughed, my heart clenching at his expression. “They're just tricky. But you're

smart. You'll figure them out.”

“Will you helpwith homework tonight?”

The question hitlike a physical blow. By tonight, he wouldn't understand why | wasn’t there to help him

anymore. Wouldn't understand why Mommy had to go away.

11:23

275

132 Chapter 132

“Daddy will help you,” | managed. “He’s much better at math than | am anyway!”

He giggled at that, the sound so pure and innocent it nearly broke me.

The drive to school was torture. Adrian chattered about his friends and his teacher.

“Be good at school today,” | whispered against his hair. “Listen to your teacher. Be kind to your friends.”

“I will.” He pulled back and grinned at me. “Will you pickup today?”

“Daddy will pick you up,” | said. “He might be a little late, so don’t worry if you have to wait a few extra

minutes, okay?”

“Okay.” Adrian shouldered his backpack and opened the car door. “Love you, Mama!”

“Love you too, sweetheart. So much.”

| watched him run across the playground to join his friends, his backpack bouncing with each step. He turned

and waved atonce before disappearing through the school doors.

*That’s the last time, * | realized. *The last tI'll see him wave goodbye.*

The drive hwas a blur of tears | couldn't hold back anymore. By the t| pulled into our driveway, | was

sobbing so hard | could barely see.

*Get it together, * | ordered myself. *You still have to face Lily.*

The house felt too quiet when | walked in. The nanny looked up from where she was feeding Lily her morning

bottle.

“Good morning, Mrs. Nightshadow,” she said with a warm smile. “How did the drop-off go?”

“Fine,” | managed, hoping she couldn’t hear the tears in my voice.

She chuckled, and bounced Lily gently, “has been perfect as always. Ate her entire bottle without any fuss.”

| approached slowly, drinking in the sight of my daughter. Dark hair like mine. Eyes that shifted between

green and blue depending on the light.

“Can I?” | asked, reaching out tentatively.

“Of course! She's your baby.” Nanny transferred Lily to my arms with practiced ease. “I'll go start on the

11:23

316

laundry while you two have smommy-daughter time.”

Once we were alone, | carried Lily to the rocking chair by the window. The schair where I'd spent

countless hours nursing her, reading to her, singing lullabies when she couldn't sleep.

“Hello, my beautiful girl,” | whispered, settling her against my chest. “Mama needs to talk to you about

something important.”

“You're going to be amazing,” | told her, my voice breaking. “You're going to grow up strong and brave and

fierce. Just like your daddy.”

Lily made soft baby sounds, her fingers finding a strand of my hair to play with.

“I wish | could stay,” | continued, tears falling freely now. “I wish | was strong enough to be the mother

deserve. But I'm not.”

you

| rocked her slowly, memorizing the weight of her in my arms. The way she smelled like baby lotion and

something uniquely hers. The soft sounds she made when she was content.

“I love you,” | breathed against her forehead.

Lily’s eyes were starting to droop with sleepiness. | stood carefully, carrying her to the crib and settling her down

with infinite gentleness.

“Sweet dreams, little one,” | whispered, pressing one last kiss to her forehead.

| stood there for a long moment, watching her sleep. Committing every detail to memory. Then | turned and

walked out of the nursery, closing the door softly behind me.

Nanny was in the living room, folding a basket of tiny clothes.

“I need to run serrands,” | told her, keeping my voice steady. “I might be gone most of the day.”

“I will take care of her. Take all the tyou need, Mrs. Nightshadow. We'll be just fine.”

| went upstairs and packed a small bag with essentials. Nothing that would be missed immediately, nothing

that would raise questions. Then | wrote a letter-simple, clean, final. | left it on Damien’s pillow where he’d find it

tonight.

At the front door, | paused one last time.

1123

“Goodbye” | whispered, too softly for anyone to hear.

word

word

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

word

word

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIiI0fiflO&1