Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

5 Chapter 5

Seraphina’s POV 1

Five Years Later

“Mommy!” Adrian crunning toward me, his little arms outstretched for a hug.

“What is it, sweetheart?” | asked, scooping him up into my arms as he giggled.

“Can we have pancakes for breakfast?” he asked hopefully, his small hands framing my face.

“Of course we can,” | smiled, carrying him toward our tiny kitchen. Despite our modest circumstances, watching

him grow up healthy and happy made every struggle worth it.

Adrian, my little boy. His first word had been “mama,” and it still made my heart melt every single the said

it. At four and a half years old, he was the light of my entire world-a bundle of energy with curly dark brown hair

and the most infectious laugh.

But what always caught people’s attention were his eyes. Those deep blue eyes that shimmered with silver light

in certain lighting, just like... just like those mysterious eyes from that moonlit night five years ago. Every t|

looked into Adrian’s eyes, memories of that passionate encounter would flood back, bringing both warmth and a

bittersweet ache.

It had been five years since I'd graduated from Silver Moon Harbor Business School. Five years since I'd left my

foster parents’ house for good after discovering | was pregnant. I'd heard through the grapevine that Valerie and

Gabriel had gotten married-anyway, | didn’t care about them anymore. All these years, I'd been working part-

twhile studying, determined to build a better life for myself and my

child.

After leaving my hometown, I'd cto Silver Moon Harbor with barely enough money to rent a cramped

basement apartment. That's where I'd spent my pregnancy, working at a small café during the day and studying

late into the night. The people in Silver Moon Harbor weren't quite as dismissive of my omega status-while

opportunities were still limited, at least | didn’t have bosses spitting ator

rolling their eyes every t| spoke.

After Adrian was born, we'd managed to move to a slightly better rental-still tiny, but warm and cozy in a way

that felt like home. Ophelia had been my lifeline through it all, helping with babysitting and emotional support

whenever | needed it.

But with that joy cmounting anxiety. I'd been working at a small marketing firm for over a year since

graduation, and while my performance was excellent, my position and salary remained firmly at the bottom

rung. The rent on our little apartment was about to

increase, Adrian would need to start school soon, and my savings were dwindling fast.

I'd approached my boss about a promotion and raise, hoping my track record would speak for itself. But he'd just

scratched his head

awkwardly and said, “Seraphina, you're one of the most dedicated employees I've ever had. Your work quality is

outstanding, but we've

never had precedent for paying omega staff at management levels. Having an omega in a leadership position

would also raise questions

from other employees. I'm sorry about your situation, but my hands are tied. Maybe you should try your luck at a

bigger company.”

The rejection stung, but I'd simply nodded and thanked him for his honesty. Even without overt hostility, the

prejudice against omegas

was still very real.

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5 Chapter 5

That evening, | called Ophelia to vent about my frustrations. Suddenly, her voice exploded with excitement

through the phone.

“Speaking of bigger companies! Sera! You absolutely should try a larger corporation! My dad mentioned that his

friend works at Nightshadow Industries, and they're hiring for a senior assistant position!”

My heart skipped a beat. Nightshadow Industries? That was the largest corporation in all of Silver Moon Harbor,

controlled by the Nightshadow family. Their patriarch was rumored to be one of the most powerful Alphas in the

entire werewolf world.

Gabriel was actually from the Nightshadow family, but during our ttogether, while he was indeed wealthy,

he'd always bragged about his brother being an Alpha-though I'd never met any of his family members, and he'd

never offeredany opportunities or connections. | suspected he was just bluffing, probably nothing more than

the most unwelcnobody in that prestigious bloodline.

“But... I'm just an omega. Why would they even consider me?” | asked hesitantly.

“Bloodlines don’t determine ability! Bigger companies might actually be more merit-based!” Ophelia’s

enthusiasm was infectious. “What do you say, Sera? Want to give it a shot? | can cto Silver Moon Harbor to

help watch Adrian during the interview process!”

That night, | sat in our little apartment with Adrian curled up in my lap, weighing the decision.

“Ayla, do

you

think we should go for it?” | asked my wolf mentally.

“Of course, Sera. | believe in you,” Ayla replied without hesitation. “You've cso far already. This could be

exactly what we need.”

The next morning, | submitted my application online. To my amazement, | received an interview invitation within

just two days.

The interview was conducted by an elegant woman who appeared to be in her sixties, with sharp, intelligent

eyes that seemed to see right through me. She carried herself with the kind of natural authority that

commanded immediate respect.

“Miss Knight,” she said, reviewing my reswith careful attention, “your academic record is impressive, and

your work experience shows consistent excellence. But I'm curious about your motivation for seeking new

employment.”

| took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “As you can see from my qualifications, | believe | have

exceptional work capabilities. However, my previous employer was unwilling to provide compensation

commensurate with my performance, solely due to my... bloodline status. I've chere hoping to find an

organization that truly values merit over hierarchy.”

She studiedintently, her expression unreadable. “As a single mother, are you certain you can handle the

demands of this high-

intensity position?”

“Absolutely, ma'am,” | replied with conviction. “My son is my greatest motivation. To provide him with a better

life, I'm willing to give

everything | have.”

She nodded slowly, apparently satisfied with my response. “Excellent. Miss Knight, we believe in equal

opportunity based on merit. We're

prepared to offer you triple your current salary for this position.”

| could barely believe what | was hearing. “Thank you! Thank you so much! I... | promise | won't let you down!”

Before | could fully process my good fortune, she continued with a more serious tone. “However, high

compensation comes with high

expectations. Previous candidates and new hires have rarely lasted more than a week in this role. | hope that

doesn’t discourage you.”

My confidence wavered for just a moment. “May | ask why the turnover rate is so high?”

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A slight smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Let's just say our Alpha has very exacting standards. He's

brilliant, but he can be...

challenging to work with.”

“I understand,” | said, straightening my shoulders. “I'm not easily intimidated, and I'm used to working under

pressure.”

“We'll see about that,” she said, extending her hand. “Welcto Nightshadow Industries, Miss Knight. You'll be

serving as Senior

Assistant to the CEO. We'll see you Monday morning at 8 AM sharp. Don’t be late-punctuality is non-negotiable.”