Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

184 Chapter 184

Damien’s POV

“I'd be honored,” Emma said through the phone.

The words hung in the air. Final. Done.

“Great.” | took another drink. “Saturday at one-thirty. I'll text you the address.”

“Should | dress formally? Casually?”

“It’s a kids’ birthday party. Somewhere in between.”

“Perfect. I'll see you then, Alpha.”

| stared at my phone for a long moment, then threw it across the couch.

What the hell was | doing?

Saturday arrived too fast.

| stood in front of my closet at noon, staring at shirts like they held the answers to life's biggest questions.

“Daddy!” Lily's voice rang from downstairs. “Are we leaving soon?”

“Soon!” | called back, grabbing a navy button-down. Simple. Clean.

God, | was pathetic.

Adrian appeared in my doorway, already dressed in the khakis and polo shirt I'd laid out for him this morning. His

dark hair was combed

neatly, his glasses clean for once.

“Do | have to go?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Can | stay in the car?”

“No.”

He crossed his arms. “I don’t want to meet your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” | said sharply. “She’s just someone helping us out.”

“Whatever.” Adrian’s voice was flat. “She’s still not Mom.”

The words hit harder than they should have. “I know that.”

“I'm going to wait in the car.” He turned and walked away before | could respond.

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184 Chapter 184

| finished buttoning my shirt with shaking hands.

Emma’s apartment building was downtown. Sleek. Modern. Expensive.

| pulled up to the curb at exactly one-thirty. Lily bounced in her car seat, her excitement barely contained. Adrian

stared out the window

with that sflat expression.

My phone buzzed.

*Emma: Coming down now!*

“Is that her?” Lily pressed her face against the window. “Is that Emma Auntie?”

“Be nice,” | warned.

The building's glass doors opened, and Emma stepped out.

Red silk dress. Not too short, not too long. Perfectly appropriate for a kids‘ party but elegant enough to turn

heads. Her dark hair was

styled in soft waves. Heels that added three inches to her already impressive height.

“She's so pretty!” Lily squealed. “Daddy, she’s so pretty!”

Emma spotted the car and smiled, walking toward us with the kind of confidence that cfrom knowing

exactly how good you looked.

| got out to open her door.

“Thank you,” Emma said, sliding into the passenger seat with practiced grace. She turned to face the back, her

smile warm. “You must be

Lily! Your daddy’s toldso much about you!”

“Hi Emma Auntie!” Lily’s grin was huge. “I'm Lily! I'm three and a half! Almost four!”

“Almost four?” Emma’s voice was perfectly pitched-friendly but not trying too hard. “What a big girl! And you

look absolutely beautiful in

that dress!”

Lily looked down at her pink sundress-the one with the sparkles she'd insisted on wearing. “Thank you! You're

beautiful too! | love your

dress! It’s so red! Like a princess!”

Emma laughed. “Why thank you! You're very sweet.”

“And these are my shoes!” Lily stuck her foot up to show off her sandals. “They have flowers!”

“They're lovely.”

“Daddy bought them for me! He buyseverything-"

“Lily,” I cut in. “Let Emma say hello to Adrian.”

Emma's gaze shifted to Adrian, who was pressed against the opposite door like he could disappear through it.

“Hi Adrian,” she said gently. “It’s nice to meet you.”

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184 Chapter 184

Adrian didn’t respond. Just stared at her with those evaluating eyes.

“He’s shy,” Lily announced. “But he’s really smart! He reads chapter books!”

“That's very impressive,” Emma said.

Silence from Adrian.

| started the car. “Everyone buckled?”

“Yes!” Lily chirped.

Lily talked nonstop-about her stuffed animals, her favorite color, what she wanted for her birthday in six months.

Emma responded to everything with that perfect balance of interest and warmth.

Adrian stared out the window and said nothing.

And | gripped the steering wheel so tight my knuckles went white, wondering how the hell I'd ended up here.

“The venue is beautiful,” Emma said, glancing at the GPS. “Outdoor space with lawn access? Perfect for kids.”

“Yeah. Lucas wanted something where they could run around.”

She glanced back at Lily. “Do you like running around, Lily?”

“I love it!” Lily bounced in her seat. “I'm very fast! Faster than anyone!”

“I bet you are.”

Adrian finally spoke. “We're here.”

| looked up. The venue stretched in front of us-a beautiful outdoor restaurant with sprawling lawns and string

lights already glowing in

the afternoon sun. Cars filled the lot. Families everywhere. Couples holding hands.

Perfect.

| parked and killed the engine.

We got out. Lily immediately grabbed Emma’s hand, chattering about the balloons she could see in the distance.

Emma smiled down at

her, patient and warm.

Adrian appeared at my side, his small hand finding mine.

“I don't like this,” he whispered.

“I know, buddy.”

“Can we go home?”

“After the party.”

He sighed but didn’t let go of my hand.

We started walking toward the entrance. Lily skipped ahead, Emma keeping pace with her easily despite the

heels. Adrian stayed pressed

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184 Chapter 184

against my side.

Then Emma did it.

Her arm slipped through mine, linking us together. The touch was casual. Natural. Exactly what you'd expect

from a couple arriving

together.

| frowned, starting to pull away.

“Damien!”

The voice madefreeze.

One of our solider was walking toward us, his wife beside him, their two kids running ahead. His face lit up with

genuine pleasure.

“Hey man! Glad you could make it!” He pulledinto a quick hug, helpingto drop Emma’s arm. “Been too

long!”

“Yeah, it has,” | managed.

His gaze shifted to Emma, curiosity clear on his face. “And who's this?”

Emma stepped forward smoothly, her hand extended. “Emma Rodriguez. | work with Damien.”

“Work with him, huh?” He shook her hand, his grin widening. “Lucky guy, having colleagues who look like you.”

“Hey,” his wife said, swatting his arm. “Stop embarrassing yourself.”

“What? I'm just saying!” He looked

between Emma GE thato 1M

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belong on a magazine cover or something.”

“Very photogenic couple,” his wife agreed, studying us with interest. “How long have you been together?".

“We're not together,” | said firmly.

Emma's smile faltered. Just for a

second. Then she pddabiand

oy Tunes sT Damien

needed a date for the party, and | The

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the latest chapter there!

was happy to help out.”

“Sure, sure,” He said, but his tone suggested he didn’t believe it for a second. “Friends. Got it.”

“We are,” | repeated.

“Whatever you say, boss.” He clapped