Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother - Chapter 242

Chapter 242: Chapter 242
Seraphina’s POV

I couldn’t focus.

My body went through the motions—correcting form, calling out instructions, demonstrating techniques—but my mind was somewhere else entirely.

Seven months pregnant.

Emma was seven months pregnant.

With Damien’s baby.

The words had been circling my head for hours. Like a recording stuck on repeat. Playing over and over until they stopped making sense as individual words and just became this constant buzz of noise.

“Sera?” Jessica waved her hand in front of my face. “I asked if you wanted me to lead the cooldown?”

I blinked. Looked around. The trainees were all staring at me. Waiting.

How long had I been standing here?

“Yeah.” The word came out rough. “Yeah, you take it. I need to… I’ll be in my office.”

I turned and walked away before anyone could ask questions.

The hallway felt too bright. Too loud. My footsteps echoed off the walls like gunshots.

Seven months.

She got pregnant right after that night. Right after the hotel. Right after Damien swore nothing happened.

But something had happened. Obviously. Because you didn’t get seven months pregnant from nothing.

I made it to my office. Closed the door. Leaned against it.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I ignored it.

It buzzed again. And again.

I finally pulled it out. Three texts from Damien.

**Damien: Waiting outside.**

**Damien: I know you’re at the facility. Please.**

I stared at those messages. At the desperation bleeding through even in text form.

Did he know? Did he know that I knew?

My fingers hovered over the keyboard. I could respond. Could demand answers. Could scream at him through the phone.

But what was the point?

The evidence was there. Growing in Emma’s belly. Undeniable. Permanent.

I shoved the phone back in my pocket. Grabbed my bag. Headed for the exit.

The late afternoon sun hit my face like a slap. Too bright. Too warm. Too wrong for this moment.

I walked toward my car on autopilot. Keys already in my hand. Escape just thirty feet away.

“Sera.”

I froze.

That voice. Deep. Familiar. The one that used to make my heart race and now just made everything hurt.

I turned slowly.

Damien stood by his car. Parked right next to mine. Like he’d been waiting.

Of course he had.

“What are you doing here?” My voice came out flat.

“I needed to see you.”

“Well, you’ve seen me. Can I go now?”

I started walking again. He moved fast. Stepped in front of me. Blocking my path.

“Sera, please. We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Yes, we do.” His hand reached for my arm. I jerked away.

“Don’t touch me.”

Behind us, I heard whispers. Trainees leaving the facility. Seeing us. Watching.

Great. Just great. More gossip for them to chew on.

“Can we at least go somewhere private?” Damien’s voice dropped lower. “Please?”

“I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“Then just listen. Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”

The whispers got louder. More people gathering. Phones probably coming out. This would be all over pack social media within an hour.

*The Alpha and his estranged wife having a confrontation in the parking lot. How romantic.*

I looked at Damien. Really looked at him.

He looked terrible. Dark circles under his eyes. Hair messy like he’d been running his hands through it. Suit wrinkled. Like he’d slept in it.

Or hadn’t slept at all.

“Fine.” The word came out harsh. “Five minutes. But not here.”

Relief washed over his features. “Thank you.”

He gestured toward his car. I shook my head.

“I’ll follow you in mine.”

“Sera—”

“Those are my terms. Take them or leave them.”

He nodded slowly. “Okay. There’s a coffee shop two blocks from here. Meet me there?”

I didn’t answer. Just got in my car. Started the engine. Waited for him to move.

He walked to his car. Kept glancing back like he was afraid I’d drive off.

I should have. Should’ve just left. Gone home to my empty apartment and pretended this day never happened.

But I followed him anyway.

The coffee shop was small. Quiet. Only a few customers scattered at tables.

Damien ordered for both of us without asking. My usual. Black coffee. No sugar. No cream.

He remembered.

We sat in the back corner. Away from windows. Away from other people.

The silence stretched between us. Heavy. Suffocating.

Damien’s coffee sat untouched. His hands wrapped around the cup like he needed something to hold onto.

“Today is…” He swallowed hard. “Today is our anniversary.”

The words hit like a physical blow.

“I know it’s a terrible time,” he continued. His voice shaking now. “But I promised the kids. Told them we’d all have dinner together. As a family. I couldn’t… I couldn’t cancel on them again.”

“They’ve been so excited. They made decorations. Lily insisted on baking a cake. Adrian…” His voice cracked. “Adrian asked if this meant we were getting back together.”

My throat closed up completely.

“I know you hate me. I know you don’t believe me. I know everything’s falling apart. But could you… could you just come home? For a few hours? For them?”

I should say no. Should tell him to figure it out himself. Should walk away and let this whole mess burn without me.

But Adrian’s face flashed through my mind. His careful hope. His desperate need for things to be normal.

And Lily. God, Lily. Who still believed in happy endings and families that stayed together.

“Fine.” The word tasted like ash. “One dinner. For the kids. Then I’m leaving.”

“Thank you.” Relief washed over him. “Thank you, Sera. I’ll drive. We can—”

We walked out together. The whispers started immediately from the few customers who’d recognized us.

I ignored them. Got in my car. Started the engine.

Damien walked to his car. Opened the door. Paused.

Then he walked to a flower shop three doors down.

I watched through my windshield as he disappeared inside. Emerged five minutes later carrying roses.

Red roses. A dozen of them. The same kind he’d given me on our first anniversary. And our second. And every year after until I left.

He walked back to my car. Knocked on the window.

I rolled it down slowly.

“These are for you.” He held out the bouquet. Awkward. Uncertain. “I know it doesn’t fix anything. But… happy anniversary, Sera.”

I stared at those flowers. At the perfect red petals. At the green ribbon wrapped around the stems.

At the desperate hope written all over his face.

“I don’t want them.” The words came out quiet. Final.