Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother - Chapter 213

Chapter 213: Chapter 213
Damien’s POV

The front door closed behind us with a soft click.

I stood in the foyer for a moment, water pooling around our feet. All four of us were completely soaked. Shivering. Dripping all over the marble floors.

But we were together.

“Emma left,” Lily announced suddenly. Her pigtails hung limp and dripping. “I told her we had to go find Mama. She said okay and left.”

“That was good thinking, baby girl.”

“I know.” She grabbed Sera’s hand. “Come on, Mama. You’re all wet.”

Sera let herself be pulled forward. But something was wrong. Her movements were sluggish. Off.

I reached out. Touched her forehead.

Heat radiated from her skin. Not normal warmth. Fever.

“Sera.” I turned her to face me. Her eyes were glassy. Unfocused. “When did you start feeling sick?”

“I’m fine.” The words came out slurred. Weak.

“You’re burning up.”

“Just cold from the rain.” She tried to pull away. Stumbled. I caught her before she fell.

“Kids, go change into dry clothes,” I said. My voice came out sharper than I meant. “Now.”

“But Mama—” Lily started.

“Now, Lily.”

Something in my tone made them both move. Adrian grabbed Lily’s hand and pulled her toward the stairs.

The second they were gone, Sera’s knees buckled.

I swept her up into my arms. She weighed nothing. When had she gotten so light?

“I can walk,” she mumbled against my chest.

“Sure you can.”

I carried her up the stairs. Down the hallway. Past the kids’ rooms. Past my office.

To the master bedroom.

Our bedroom.

The door stood open. Everything exactly as she’d left it three years ago. I’d kept it that way. Changed nothing. Just in case.

I set her down on the edge of the bed. She swayed. I steadied her with both hands on her shoulders.

“You need to get out of these wet clothes.” I pulled open a drawer. Found one of my old t-shirts. Soft. Worn. “Put this on. Then get under the covers.”

She nodded. Didn’t move.

“Sera?”

“Mm?”

“Can you change yourself?”

“Yeah. ‘Course I can.”

But she just sat there. Staring at nothing.

I sighed. Grabbed the hem of her soaked dress and pulled it over her head. She lifted her arms automatically. Like a child.

The dress hit the floor with a wet slap.

I kept my eyes on her face. Didn’t look. Didn’t let myself see the bruises I knew were there. The evidence of three years of hell written across her skin.

I pulled the t-shirt over her head. Helped her arms through the sleeves. It hung on her like a tent.

“Lie down.”

She did. Slowly. Like every movement hurt.

I pulled the covers up to her chin. Her eyes were already closing.

“Sleep,” I said quietly. “I’ll bring medicine.”

By the time I returned with fever medication and water, she was asleep.

I set the pills on the nightstand. Pulled a chair next to the bed. Sat down to watch her breathe.

Her face was flushed. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Her breathing too fast.

A soft knock on the door made me look up.

Lily peeked her head in. She’d changed into dry pajamas. Her hair was still damp but no longer dripping.

“Is Mama okay?” Her voice was so small.

“Come here, baby girl.”

She crossed the room and climbed into my lap. Her small body fit perfectly against my chest.

“Mama’s sick,” I said quietly. “She has a fever.”

“From the rain?”

I kissed the top of her head. “She’ll be okay. She just needs rest.”

Lily was quiet for a moment. Then: “Is Mama mad at us?”

“What? No, baby. Why would you think that?”

“Because we made her cry.” Her voice got smaller. “We asked why she left and then she got sad and now she’s sick.”

My chest tightened. “Lily, listen to me. Mama isn’t mad at you. Not even a little bit.”

“Then why is she sick?”

How did I explain this to a three-year-old?

“Mama doesn’t have her wolf anymore,” I said slowly. “Do you remember what that means?”

Lily nodded against my chest. “She can’t shift.”

“Right. And without her wolf, Mama gets sick easier than we do. It’s harder for her body to stay strong.”

“Oh.” Lily processed this. “So it’s not because we made her sad?”

“You did make her sad today.” I had to be honest. “But that’s not why she’s sick. And baby? Mama still loves you. She loves you so much it hurts her. She left because she thought you’d be better without her. Not because she didn’t want you.”

“Is she staying now? For real?”

“For real.” I looked at Sera’s sleeping form. “She’s staying. With us. Forever.”

“Good.” Lily wrapped her arms around my neck. “Because I missed her so much, Daddy. Even though I didn’t remember her, I still missed her.”

We sat there in silence. Me holding Lily. Both of us watching Sera sleep.

After a few minutes, Lily’s breathing evened out. She’d fallen asleep in my arms.

I stood carefully. Carried her to the bed. Set her down next to Sera.

Lily immediately rolled toward her mother. Curled against Sera’s side. Her small hand grabbing onto Sera’s shirt.

Sera stirred slightly. Her arm came up automatically. Wrapped around Lily. Pulled her closer.