Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother - Chapter 33

33: Chapter 33 33: Chapter 33 Damien’s POV
My wolf Alex was going absolutely feral in my mind, pacing and snarling with protective instincts that didn’t make complete sense but felt as natural as breathing.

What the hell was he doing here?

Where was Sera?

She was fiercely protective of Adrian, would never willingly leave him alone anywhere, let alone in one of the most dangerous areas of our territory.

Something was very, very wrong.

I approached slowly, keeping my movements calm and non-threatening as I took in his condition.

I crouched down to his level, careful to keep my expression gentle despite the rage building in my system like a gathering storm.

How had he gotten here?

Who would bring a four-year-old child to the middle of nowhere and just…

leave him?

“I’m not your daddy,” I said softly, shaking my head with genuine regret as I watched his face fall.

“But we’ve met before, remember?

I’m your mommy’s boss.”
Adrian’s face scrunched up in concentration as he studied my features through his tears.

His small hands wiped at his cheeks, leaving muddy streaks across his pale skin.

After a moment, recognition flickered in those remarkable blue eyes.

“You’re the tall man,” he said slowly, his voice still shaky but growing slightly stronger.

“The one who brought Mommy home that night when she was sleeping.”
“That’s right.” I kept my voice calm and reassuring, the same tone I’d use to approach a frightened animal.

“I’m Damien.

Can you tell me how you got here, Adrian?

This is a very dangerous place for little boys.”
But the moment I asked the question, Adrian’s entire demeanor shifted.

His small mouth clamped shut, his shoulders hunching forward defensively as his eyes darted away from mine.

“I can’t tell,” he whispered, his voice so quiet I had to lean closer to hear him.

“She said I can’t tell anyone, or bad things will happen to Mommy.”
The rage in my chest intensified, burning like acid in my veins.

Someone had threatened this child, used his love for his mother as a weapon to ensure his silence.

“Listen to me very carefully,” I said, making sure to catch and hold his gaze.

“This place isn’t safe.

There are dangerous wolves out here-rogues who might hurt you.

I need to get you somewhere safe, and then we can find your mommy together.

Can you trust me to do that?”
Adrian studied my face with an intensity that seemed far too mature for his age.

His blue eyes searched mine, looking for something.

Finally, his lower lip trembled, and fresh tears spilled down his dirt-stained cheeks.

“You won’t leave me here too, will you?” he whispered, his voice breaking with barely contained sobs.

“I won’t leave you,” I promised, extending my hand toward him with the same careful gentleness I’d use with an injured wolf pup.

“I’ll take you somewhere safe and help you find your mommy.”
After a long moment of hesitation, Adrian reached out and placed his tiny hand in mine.

His fingers were cold and slightly sticky with dried tears, dirt smudged under his small nails from his journey through the forest.

I scooped him up into my arms, noting how light he felt-too light, like he hadn’t been eating enough lately.

He immediately wrapped his small arms around my neck and buried his face against my shoulder, his little body shaking with exhaustion and relief.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, one hand stroking his tangled curls as I stood.

“You’re safe now.

I’ve got you.”
“Marcus,” I called to my beta, who was standing guard at the edge of the clearing with the other pack members.

“We’re heading back immediately.

Increase patrols in this sector and put out an alert-someone dumped a child in rogue territory.”
The drive back toward civilization was tense, every shadow between the trees potentially hiding threats that could endanger the precious cargo in my arms.

Adrian had fallen asleep within minutes of getting into the jeep, his small body finally relaxing now that he was safe and warm.

By the time we reached the city limits, Adrian was stirring, blinking up at me with sleepy confusion that quickly gave way to shy curiosity.

“Mr.

Damien?” he said softly, his voice still thick with sleep as he rubbed his eyes with small fists.

“Are we going to find Mommy now?”
“We’re going to call her right now,” I assured him, though my attempts to reach Sera had gone straight to voicemail every single time.

Where was she?

Why wasn’t she answering her phone when her son was missing?

The possibilities that ran through my mind made my blood run cold.

“Can you tell me a story?” Adrian asked suddenly, settling more comfortably against my chest as if he belonged there.

“I like stories about wolves.”
So I found myself telling him tales as we drove through the early evening traffic-stories of brave wolves protecting their families, of adventures in moonlit forests, of pack bonds that could never be broken.

Adrian listened with rapt attention, occasionally interrupting with questions.

“Do all wolves have special eyes like yours?” he asked at one point, studying my face with the intense concentration only children could manage.

“Some do,” I replied carefully, “It runs in certain families.”
“I have special eyes too,” Adrian announced proudly, his earlier trauma temporarily forgotten in the excitement of sharing this important information.

“Mommy says they’re beautiful, like gemstones.

And sometimes they look different in the moonlight, like they’re glowing.”
“That sounds very special indeed.”
“Mommy has pretty eyes too, but they’re green like emeralds,” Adrian continued.

“She says I got my eyes from my daddy, whoever he is.

Do you think my daddy has eyes like mine?”
“I think,” I said carefully, my voice rougher than intended, “that your daddy would be very proud to have a son with such beautiful eyes.”
Adrian beamed at the compliment, then settled back against my chest with a contented sigh.

“I hope I meet him someday.

I want to ask him lots of questions.”
By the time Marcus pulled up to the Nightshadow Industries building, Adrian was telling me about his favorite subject in school and demonstrating how well he could tie his shoes.

“Can I see where Mommy works?” Adrian asked as we rode the elevator to the executive floor, his small hands pressed against the glass walls as he watched the city lights spread out beneath us.

“Of course,” I said, carrying him down the marble corridor toward my office.

“She has a very important job here.

She helps me with everything.”
I pulled out my phone and tried Sera’s number again, my heart sinking as it went straight to voicemail once more.

Her voice echoed through the speaker, professional and warm: *You’ve reached Seraphina Knight.

Please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.*
“Sera,” I said after the beep, trying to keep my voice calm for Adrian’s sake, “it’s Damien.

Adrian is safe-he’s with me.

Please call back immediately.

There’s been a situation that needs your urgent attention.”