Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother - Chapter 292

Chapter 292: Epilogue 2: Adrian — The Beginning of My Story
Adrian’s POV

**Ten Years Later**

Mom’s fingers fussed with my collar for the third time.

“Mom. It’s fine.”

“It’s crooked.”

“It’s not crooked.”

“Let me fix it.” She tugged at the fabric anyway. Her green eyes—the same ones I’d inherited—were suspiciously shiny. “My baby is all grown up.”

“I turned eighteen five days ago. I’ve been grown up.”

“You’ll always be my baby.” She smoothed down my lapels. Stepped back. Looked at me like I was a painting she’d just finished. “So handsome. Just like your father.”

Dad appeared behind her. His arm sliding around her waist. That same easy affection they’d had for as long as I could remember.

“He’s better looking than me,” Dad said. “Got his mother’s eyes.”

“And your stubbornness,” Mom shot back.

“That’s a compliment.”

“It really isn’t.”

They smiled at each other. That smile that said a thousand things without words. After eighteen years of watching them, I still didn’t fully understand it.

But I wanted to.

The Moon Ceremony will be hold this year. Wolves from every territory gathered. Unmated pairs found each other. Bonds formed that would last lifetimes.

My parents had found each other at a ceremony just like this one. Before everything went wrong. Before everything got fixed. Before they became the legendary Alpha pair who’d ended the rogue wars and united half the territories.

No pressure or anything.

“Once you find your mate,” Mom said, her voice getting that serious tone, “your father can finally pass the position to you. Officially.”

I groaned. “Can we not talk about this?”

“It’s important, Adrian.”

“I know it’s important. But I’m eighteen. I just want to—”

“Play video games?” Dad offered.

“Live my life,” I corrected. “I haven’t even had a chance to do anything yet. You’re already planning my retirement.”

Dad laughed. That deep sound that used to make me feel safe when I was little. Still did, honestly.

“Kid, your mom and I have been running this pack for over two decades.” He squeezed Mom’s waist. “We’re tired. The world belongs to you young people now.”

“That’s very poetic. Also terrifying.”

“You’ll be fine.” Mom cupped my face. Her hands warm. Familiar. “You’re stronger than both of us combined. Your wolf is extraordinary.”

She wasn’t wrong. When I’d shifted for the first time, even Dad had looked shocked. My wolf was massive. Silver-white with blue eyes. Stronger than any Alpha they’d seen in generations.

Great for fighting.

Less great for making friends.

A blur of motion shot between us.

“ADRIAN’S GOING TO FIND A GIIIIRLFRIEND!”

Lily. Thirteen years old. Absolutely insufferable.

She danced around us like a hyperactive puppy. Her hair flying everywhere. Her grin too big for her face.

“Who would even LOVE Adrian?” She made a face. “He’s so serious all the time! And cold! Girls are going to be TERRIFIED of him!”

“Lily—” Mom started.

“It’s TRUE! He never smiles! He just stands there looking all—” She crossed her arms. Made her face blank. Did what I assumed was supposed to be an impression of me. “—broody and intimidating.”

“I don’t look like that.”

“You TOTALLY look like that.”

“I’m going to tell Liam you broke his video game controller.”

Her eyes went wide. “You WOULDN’T.”

“Try me.”

She stuck out her tongue. Ran off to terrorize someone else.

Dad was trying very hard not to laugh. “She’s not entirely wrong, you know.”

“Thanks, Dad. Really helpful.”

“What your father means,” Mom cut in, giving him a look, “is that you should try to be… gentler. When you meet someone you like.”

“I’m gentle.”

“You intimidated three kids last month just by looking at them.”

“They were being disrespectful.”

“They asked if you wanted to play basketball.”

“Aggressively.”

Mom sighed. That long-suffering sound I’d heard approximately ten thousand times in my life.

“Just… trust the Moon Goddess, okay?” She touched my cheek. “She’s already chosen your perfect match. You just have to find her. Or him. Whoever makes your wolf sing.”

“Wolves don’t sing.”

“You know what I mean.”

I did know. I’d watched my parents for eighteen years. Watched the way they gravitated toward each other. The way Dad’s eyes softened whenever Mom walked into a room. The way she always knew where he was without looking.

That kind of bond.

I wanted it. More than I’d ever admitted to anyone.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll try to be less… me.”

“Don’t be less you.” Mom kissed my forehead. “Just be open. Let someone in.”

—

The ceremony hall was overwhelming.

Thousands of wolves packed into a space designed for hundreds. The air thick with anticipation. With hope. With the desperation of unmated wolves searching for their other half.

Crystal chandeliers. Flowing champagne. Music that was somehow both elegant and forgettable.

And people.

So many people.

All of them looking at me.

I was used to attention. Being the Alpha heir meant eyes followed me everywhere. But this was different. These weren’t pack members showing respect.

These were potential mates. Sizing me up. Calculating their chances.

It made my skin crawl.

“Adrian!” Lily’s voice cut through the crowd. She was waving from across the room. Standing with the twins—Liam and Aurora, now ten years old and twice as chaotic as she’d ever been.

I made my way toward them. Dodging conversations. Avoiding the too-eager smiles of wolves I didn’t know.

“Any luck?” Lily asked. Her earlier teasing replaced by genuine curiosity.

“It’s been twenty minutes.”

“So… no?”

“No.”

I scanned the room again. Hoping for something. Anything.

A pull. A tug. That instinct my parents described. The one that said *there. That one. Yours.*

Nothing.

Just a sea of faces. None of them special. None of them *right*.

Mom and Dad found me an hour later. Still standing by the wall. Still alone.

“Anything?” Mom’s voice was hopeful.

I shrugged. “Not everyone’s as lucky as you two were.”

Her face fell slightly. Dad squeezed her shoulder.

“The night’s young,” he said. “Give it time.”

“Yeah.” I forced a smile. “Sure.”

But I didn’t feel hopeful. I felt tired. Overwhelmed. The noise pressing in from all sides. The expectations crushing.

“I need some air,” I said. “Just for a minute.”

Mom nodded. Worry in her eyes but wisdom in her silence.

I pushed through the crowd. Toward the terrace. Toward quiet.

The night air hit my face like relief. Cool. Clean. Away from the perfume and cologne and desperation.

I leaned against the railing. Breathed deep.

*Maybe it won’t happen tonight,* I told myself. *Maybe my mate isn’t even here. Maybe—*

Something slammed into my back.

Hard.

I stumbled forward. Heard glass shatter. Felt champagne soak through my jacket.

“Oh my God. Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I’m SO sorry.”

A voice. Female. Panicked.

I turned.

A server. Young. Maybe my age. On her knees. Frantically collecting broken glass and scattered champagne flutes. Her hands shaking.

“I didn’t see you. I wasn’t looking. I’m so sorry. Please don’t report me. I need this job. I really need this job and I—”

She was rambling. Terrified. Probably recognized me. Probably expected me to do exactly what Lily had warned about.

Go cold. Get angry. Make her feel small.

The old me might have.

But Mom’s voice echoed in my head. *Be gentle. Let someone in.*

I crouched down.

“Hey,” I said. Softer than I meant to. “It’s okay.”

“It’s NOT okay. I ruined your jacket and the champagne cost more than my rent and—”

“It’s fine. Really.” I started picking up glass shards. Careful. Slow. “See? No harm done.”

She finally stopped talking. Looked up.

Our eyes met.

Green.

Her eyes were green. Deep forest green. Like sunlight through leaves. Like my mother’s eyes but somehow completely different.

And my wolf—

My wolf went absolutely insane.

*MATE.*

The word roared through my head. Loud. Undeniable. Shaking everything I thought I knew.

*MATE. MATE. MATE.*

I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Could only stare at this girl with champagne on her uniform and panic in her eyes and—

She was beautiful.

How had I not noticed immediately? Dark hair escaping from a messy bun. A smudge of something on her cheek. Hands still trembling.

And those eyes. God, those eyes.

“I…” My voice came out strangled. “I’m…”

She scrambled to her feet. Face going red.

“I have to go.” The words tumbled out fast. “I’m sorry again. For the jacket. And the champagne. And—I have to go.”

She ran.

Actually ran. Disappeared through a service door before I could even stand up.

I stared at the empty space where she’d been.

My wolf was howling. Clawing at my insides. Demanding I chase her. Find her. Never let her go.

“Hey!” I finally found my voice. Stumbled to my feet. “Wait!”