Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother - Chapter 280

Chapter 280: Chapter 280
Seraphina’s POV

The dungeon smelled like despair.

Cold stone. Damp air. The kind of place that makes your skin crawl even before you see what’s inside.

I stood outside Gabriel’s cell. My hand gripping Damien’s. Needing that anchor. That reminder I wasn’t alone.

Gabriel looked up. His face was a mess. Bruises everywhere. Dried blood crusting his split lip. His clothes torn and filthy.

When he saw me, something shifted in his eyes. Hope. Desperate. Pathetic hope.

“Sera.” My name came out hoarse. Broken. “Sera, thank God. You have to help me.”

I said nothing. Just stared at him through the iron bars.

“Please.” He crawled closer. His hands reaching through the bars. “I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But you have to”

“I don’t have to do anything.” My voice came out cold. Flat.

He flinched. But kept talking. Faster now. More desperate.

“I loved you.” The words made my stomach turn. “I really did. Back then. When we were together. That was real.”

Lies. All of it lies.

“Please.” Tears streamed down his face. “For what we had. For what we meant to each other. You can’t”

“What we had?” The words exploded out. “What we HAD was you sleeping with my sister behind my back!”

“That wasn’t my fault!” His voice rose. “Valerie. It was all Valerie. She seduced me. Manipulated me. I didn’t want”

“Stop.” I took a step closer to the bars. “Just stop. I’m done listening to your lies.”

“They’re not lies!” He grabbed the bars. Knuckles white. “Now it’sEmma forced me! She said if I didn’t help her, she’d ruin me. She’d tell Damien everything. She’d”

“She’d what?” I cut him off. “She’d expose you for the piece of garbage you are?”

His mouth opened. Closed. No words coming out.

I turned to look at Emma’s cell. She was sitting on the thin cot. Her huge pregnant belly making her movements awkward. Careful.

She was watching us. Her face pale. Her hands cradling her stomach protectively.

“Valerie’s dead.” I said it casual. Conversational. Like discussing the weather.

Gabriel’s face went white. “What?”

“Your wife.” I met his eyes. “I killed her. Poisoned her with the same stuff they used on Damien.”

“No.” The word barely made it out. “No, you’re—you’re lying.”

“Am I?” I tilted my head. “Want to see the body? Oh wait. We left it in the forest. For the animals.”

Gabriel made a sound. Not quite human. Something between a sob and a scream.

“She deserved it.” My voice stayed level. Empty. “For what she did to me three years ago. For helping Voss. For everything.”

“You’re a monster.” He whispered it. Eyes huge. Terrified.

I laughed. The sound sharp. Bitter. “I’m the monster? That’s rich.”

“You drugged my husband. Set him up. Tried to destroy my marriage. My family. My entire life.” My voice got louder with each word. “And you call ME the monster?”

“Sera—” Damien’s hand touched my shoulder. Gentle. Grounding.

I took a breath. Forced myself to calm down.

Gabriel was still crying. Pathetic. Broken. Nothing like the charming man who’d courted me months ago.

“What happens to me?” His voice shook. “What are you going to do?”

Good question.

“You can’t kill me.” Gabriel’s words tumbled out. “I’m family. Damien’s brother. You can’t”

“Half-brother.” Damien corrected. His voice cold. “And you stopped being family the moment you betrayed this pack.”

“Please.” Gabriel looked at me. “Sera. Please. I’m begging you.”

I stared at him. This man who’d pretended to love me. Who’d lied to my face. Who’d helped nearly destroy everything.

Death would be easy. Quick. Over.

But it also felt like mercy he didn’t deserve.

“Strip him of his Alpha bloodline rights.” The words came out clear. Certain.

“That’s what I want.” I met his eyes. “He doesn’t deserve to be Alpha. Doesn’t deserve that privilege.”

Gabriel’s face went even whiter. “No. No, you can’t. That’s not possible.”

“It is.” Damien’s voice was quiet. “The Luna can decree it. With Alpha approval.”

“I approve.” I didn’t look away from Gabriel. “Demote him. Make him omega.”

The lowest rank. The position he’d always looked down on. The life he’d mocked and scorned.

“You’ll live in this cell.” I continued. My voice steady. “Forever. No pack. No status. No power. Just you and these walls.”

“That’s worse than death!” Gabriel grabbed the bars. Shaking them. “You can’t do this! You can’t”

“I can.” I stepped closer. “And I am. This is your punishment, Gabriel. Living with what you’ve done. Every day. Every night. Until you die.”

“Sera, please!” He was sobbing now. Full tears. Snot running down his face. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I’ll do anything! Just please”

I turned away. Couldn’t look at him anymore.

Emma’s cell was next.

She stood when I approached. Her movements careful. One hand on the wall for balance. The other on her stomach.

Up close, she looked awful. Her hair greasy. Her face gaunt despite the pregnancy. Dark circles under her eyes.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Her voice came out quiet. Defeated. “And I don’t blame you.”

“You don’t blame me?” The words tasted bitter. “How generous.”

“I deserve whatever you decide.” She looked down at her belly. “But please. Please don’t hurt my baby.”

“Why?” The question came out softer than I intended. “Why did you do it?”

“Because I loved him.” She met my eyes. “Damien. I’ve always loved him!”

“I thought if you were gone, he’d finally see me.” Her voice cracked. “He’d finally want me the way I wanted him.”

“But he didn’t.” I filled in.

“No.” The admission seemed to break something in her. “He never even looked at me that way. It was always you. Only you.”

We stood there. Two women who’d loved the same man. One of us had him. The other had destroyed everything trying.

“I could kill you.” I said it conversational. Factual.

“I know.”

“The pack would support it. You’re a traitor. You nearly destroyed their Alpha.”

“I know.”

“But killing you won’t change anything.” I looked at her stomach. At that visible proof of her betrayal. “And that baby didn’t choose this. Didn’t ask to have you as a mother.”

Emma’s hand tightened on her belly. Protective. Maternal.

“You’ll stay here until the baby’s born.” I made the decision as I spoke. “You’ll have medical care. Food. Safety.”

Her eyes went wide. “You’re—you’re letting me live?”

“After the baby comes?” I continued. “You’ll be exiled. To the furthest edge of pack territory. You’ll live there. Alone. No pack support. No visitors. No contact with anyone here.”

“But the baby?” Her voice shook. “What happens to—”

“The baby stays with you.” The words hurt to say. “But you’ll raise it alone. Without help. Without pack resources. Without anything.”

It was harsh. Cruel even. But it felt right.

She’d chosen this path. Chosen to destroy my family. Now she’d live with the consequences.

“Thank you.” She whispered it. Sincere. “Thank you for not killing me.”

I didn’t respond. Just turned and walked away.