Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother - Chapter 287

Chapter 287: Chapter 287
Seraphina’s POV

Ophelia hadn’t stopped smiling since we left the cafe. That dreamy, distracted smile that said her mind was somewhere else entirely.

“You’re doing it again,” I said.

“Doing what?”

“That face.”

“What face?” She tried to look innocent. Failed spectacularly.

“The ‘I’m thinking about a certain tall mechanic’ face.”

Her cheeks went pink. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Ophelia.” I stopped walking. Made her face me. “You like him.”

“I just met him twice!”

“And?”

“And nothing! He’s your friend. Your childhood friend. It would be weird.”

“Why would it be weird?”

She opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. No words came out.

“Exactly.” I grinned. “There’s nothing weird about it. Caleb is a great guy. You’re amazing. Why wouldn’t I want my two favorite people to be happy?”

“Sera…”

“I’m serious.” I grabbed her hand. Squeezed it. “You deserve someone good. Someone who looks at you like you hung the moon. And did you see the way Caleb looked at you back there?”

“He was just being polite.”

“He called you charming. His ears turned red. He practically tripped over himself paying the bill.”

Ophelia bit her lip. Trying to hide a smile. “You really think he…?”

“I know he did.” I started walking again. Pulling her along. “And I have a plan.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes.”

“Sera, whatever you’re thinking—”

“The gender reveal party.” I cut her off. “It’s in two weeks. I’m inviting Caleb.”

Her eyes went wide. “What? No! You can’t just—”

“I absolutely can. He’s family. Of course he should be there.” I smiled sweetly. “And if he happens to spend the whole party talking to you? Total coincidence.”

“This is manipulation.”

“This is matchmaking. There’s a difference.”

She groaned. But she was still smiling. Still blushing.

Still thinking about him.

—

We dropped the shopping bags at my house. All fifteen of them. The pile took up half the living room.

“I need to find Caleb before he leaves town.” I grabbed my jacket. “You coming?”

Ophelia’s face went through about six emotions. Excitement. Fear. Hope. Panic.

“I’ll… I’ll stay here.” She gestured vaguely at the bags. “Someone should start organizing this stuff.”

Coward.

“Fine.” I kissed her cheek. “But you’re not getting out of the party.”

“I hate you.”

“You love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

I found Caleb at the hardware store on Main Street. He was loading boxes into an old pickup truck. Muscles straining under his shirt.

No wonder Ophelia was flustered.

“Caleb!”

He turned. His face lighting up when he saw me. “Sera! Thought you’d headed home.”

“I did. But I forgot to ask you something.” I walked over. Leaned against his truck. “You busy in two weeks?”

“Depends.” He set down a box. Wiped his hands on his jeans. “What’s happening in two weeks?”

“Gender reveal party. For the twins.” I smiled. “I want you there.”

His expression softened. “Sera, you don’t have to—”

“I want to.” I cut him off. “You’re family, Caleb. Maybe not by blood, but you were there when I needed someone most. You and your parents. That means something.”

He was quiet for a moment. Processing.

“Besides,” I added casually, “Ophelia will be there. She’s helping me plan everything.”

His ears went red. Just like at the cafe.

Gotcha.

“Ophelia?” He said her name carefully. Like it was made of glass. “She seems… nice.”

“She’s the best.” I watched his face. Enjoyed the way it kept flushing. “Smart. Funny. Loyal. Single.”

“Single?” The word came out too fast. Too eager.

I bit back a laugh. “Very single. Has been for a while actually. Focused on her career. On me and the kids. Never found the right person.”

Caleb nodded slowly. His mind clearly racing.

“So.” I straightened up. “Two weeks. Saturday. Our pack house. You’ll come?”

“Yeah.” A smile spread across his face. Real. Warm. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Good.” I patted his arm. “It was really good seeing you, Caleb. I mean it.”

“You too, Sera.” He pulled me into another hug. Brief but tight. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“Never again.”

—

Ophelia was still at the house when I got back. She’d made progress on the shopping bags. Baby clothes sorted into neat piles on the couch.

“Well?” She didn’t look up from the tiny onesie she was folding. Too casual. Too focused.

“He’s coming.”

Her hands froze. “What?”

“Two weeks. Gender reveal. He’ll be there.”

She set down the onesie. Turned to face me. Her expression somewhere between thrilled and terrified.

“Sera, I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

I sat down beside her. Took her hands in mine.

“Ophelia.” My voice softened. “You’ve spent years taking care of everyone else. Me. The kids. The pack. You’ve put yourself last every single time.”

Her eyes got shiny. She looked away.

“You deserve happiness.” I squeezed her hands. “Real happiness. The kind that makes your heart race and your palms sweat and your brain go stupid.”

“My brain is already stupid around him,” she muttered.

“Good! That’s a good sign!” I laughed. “And Caleb… he’s one of the best people I know. Honest. Kind. Steady. The type who shows up when you need him.”

“You think he’s interested? Really?”

“I think his face turns into a tomato every time you’re mentioned. That’s usually a pretty solid indicator.”

She laughed despite herself. Wiped her eyes.

“What if it doesn’t work out?” Her voice was small. Vulnerable. “What if I mess it up?”

“Then you mess it up.” I shrugged. “But at least you tried. At least you gave yourself a chance.”

She was quiet for a long moment. Staring at the pile of baby clothes. Processing.

“Okay.” She finally said. “Okay. I’ll… I’ll be there. I’ll talk to him.”

“That’s all I ask.”

“But if this goes horribly wrong, I’m blaming you.”

“Fair enough.”

The front door burst open. Adrian and Lily exploded into the room like twin hurricanes.

“Mommy!” Lily launched herself at me. “Did you buy baby stuff? Can I see? Can I help?”

Adrian was more contained. But his eyes were just as bright. Just as excited.

“Is this all for the twins?” He picked up a tiny sock. Stared at it in wonder. “They’re so small.”

“They’ll be small when they come out,” I explained. “Then they’ll get bigger.”

“Like me and Lily did?”

“Exactly like you and Lily.”

Damien appeared in the doorway. His training clothes were sweaty. His hair was a mess. He looked exhausted and perfect.

“What’s all this?” He surveyed the shopping apocalypse.

“Baby supplies.” I stood up. Kissed him quickly. “We may have gone overboard.”

“May have?”

“Definitely went overboard,” Ophelia corrected.

Damien laughed. That deep, warm sound that still made my heart flip.

“I also invited someone to the gender reveal,” I added. “Caleb. My friend from the border.”

Damien nodded. “The mechanic? Good. I’d like to meet him properly.”

“And he’ll be spending lots of time with Ophelia.” I grinned at her. “Won’t he?”

She threw a onesie at my head.

“What’s that about?” Damien looked confused.

“Nothing!” Ophelia said quickly.

“Sera’s playing matchmaker,” Lily announced helpfully. “I heard her talking.”

Traitor.

Damien’s eyebrows rose. “Matchmaker?”

“It’s not—I’m just—” Ophelia was sputtering. Bright red.

“She likes Caleb,” Adrian added matter-of-factly. “Her heartbeat speeds up when you say his name.”

“How do you know that?” Ophelia demanded.

He shrugged. “Wolf ears. They’re good.”

Damien was trying very hard not to laugh. I could see it. The way his lips twitched. The way his shoulders shook slightly.

“Well.” He cleared his throat. “Sounds like it’ll be an interesting party.”

“The most interesting.” I grabbed a stack of baby blankets. “Now help me carry this stuff upstairs. We need to start setting up the nursery.”

The next hour was chaos.

Good chaos. Family chaos.

Damien carried boxes while Lily directed where everything should go. Adrian read the instruction manual for the cribs with intense concentration. Ophelia organized clothes by size and color.

And me? I stood in the doorway of the future nursery. Watching my family work together.

Two cribs would go against the far wall. One blue. One pink. A rocking chair in the corner for late-night feedings. Shelves full of books and toys.

Room for two more little ones.

Two more pieces of our family.

“You okay?” Damien appeared beside me. His hand finding mine.

“Perfect.” I leaned into him. “Everything’s perfect.”

“Mom!” Lily’s voice carried from inside. “Where do the stuffed animals go?”

“Anywhere you want, baby.”

“Can I pick which ones the twins get?”

“Of course.”

She cheered. Started arranging a small army of plush toys with intense seriousness.

Adrian had finished reading the manual. He was now helping Damien assemble the first crib. Their heads bent together. Damien explaining each step patiently.

“Daddy, this piece goes here.” Adrian pointed confidently.

“You’re right. Good catch.”

My son beamed. That pure, proud smile of a boy being included. Being trusted.

Ophelia caught my eye from across the room. She was holding up two tiny outfits. One with wolves on it. One with stars.

“Which one?” She mouthed.

“Both,” I mouthed back.