Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother novel Chapter 1

Seraphina's POV

9:00 P.M.

I dragged myself down the cobblestone path. My body ached. My feet hurt. But my heart was singing.

"Just a few more hours," I whispered. "Until tonight."

Tonight was everything. No more going back to that house. No more pretending they were family.

I'd already asked for time off work. My boss spat at me. Called me lazy. Typical. Omegas always got the worst treatment.

But I didn't care tonight.

I was going to Gabriel's. My boyfriend. Soon-to-be fiancé.

Tomorrow was the Lunar Assembly. Sacred ceremony. Wolves finding their mates under the Moon Goddess. Tomorrow was also my eighteenth birthday. Finally old enough.

Gabriel promised we'd bond tomorrow. I could escape forever.

Gabriel. Rich. Gorgeous. An Alpha's brother. Sure, I was just an omega. But Gabriel said bloodlines didn't matter. Love mattered.

I practically skipped toward his house. My heart hammered with excitement. Beautiful stone building in the center of town. So much better than our pathetic wooden shack. Soon I'd live here. With Gabriel. Forever.

I knocked eagerly.

Nothing.

My smile faltered. That's... odd. Gabriel said he'd be waiting. He promised.

I tried the handle. Unlocked. Relief flooded through me. He must be inside. Maybe preparing a surprise?

"Gabriel? It's me!" I called out cheerfully.

Silence.

Wait. What was that? Sounds from upstairs. My heart lifted again. He was home after all.

Then I heard it clearly.

Laughter.

Female laughter.

Moaning.

My world stopped spinning. No. No, that couldn't be—

My feet moved on their own. Step by step. Up the stairs. Each step felt like walking to my execution.

The sounds grew louder. Clearer. Destroying me with every breath.

Gasps. Bed springs creaking. A voice that made my soul shatter.

"Oh God, Gabriel... right there..."

Valerie. My stepsister.

My brain refused to process it. This wasn't happening. This was a nightmare. I'd wake up any second.

The bedroom door hung slightly open. Like a cruel invitation to witness my destruction. I saw them.

Gabriel's muscled back. Moving. Valerie's pale body beneath him. Her golden hair fanned across his pillow like a victory flag.

No no no no no.

"You feel so much better than I imagined," Gabriel panted.

My heart exploded into a thousand pieces. Each word was a dagger.

Valerie laughed. That cruel, sharp sound I knew so well. "Better than that pathetic omega sister of mine, I bet. Poor little Sera probably doesn't even know what to do with a real man."

The air left my lungs. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Could only feel the agony ripping through my chest.

"Don't." Gabriel's voice was rough. "Don't mention her when we're like this."

"Why not?" Valerie's fingers traced his spine like she owned him. "After tomorrow, she'll know exactly where she stands. An omega like her could never satisfy you."

Each word was a physical blow. I stumbled backward, gasping for air. My shoulder slammed into the wall. The sound echoed like a gunshot.

"What was that?" Valerie hissed.

My wolf surged forward. Rage I'd never felt before. My foot connected with the door. It crashed against the wall.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?"

They jumped apart. Gabriel nearly fell off the bed scrambling for his pants. Valerie just sat up. Didn't even cover herself.

"Seraphina!" Gabriel went white. "I can explain—"

"You should be grateful we raised you." Elizabeth's voice was cold. "Now you know your place. Tomorrow you'll bless your sister's engagement. Then find yourself a suitable omega mate."

"I won't!" I struggled to my feet. Tasted blood. "I'll never bless this betrayal!"

Victor raised his hand again. This time I was ready. I dodged and ran for the door.

"Get out of our house!" Elizabeth shrieked behind me. "Ungrateful little brat!"

I fled into the night. Running blindly. Tears falling like broken pearls.

I didn't know where I was going; I only knew I couldn't stop moving or the crushing pain would swallow me whole. I didn't know how long I ran, but eventually I found myself on Main Street when a familiar voice made me stop.

"Sera!"

I spun around to see Ophelia running toward me, her dark hair flying behind her.

"I saw you run in—what happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Worse." I collapsed into her arms. "I've seen the truth."

"Tell me."

So I did. Every horrible detail, every cruel word. Ophelia held me while I shook.

"Those bastards," she hissed when I finished. "All of them. Gabriel, Valerie, your so-called parents."

"What am I going to do?" I cried against her shoulder. "Tomorrow is the Lunar Assembly. Everyone will see Gabriel and Valerie's engagement. I'll be the laughingstock of the entire pack.”

"Listen to me, Sera." Ophelia stroked my hair gently. "We're not waiting for that damned ceremony. Tonight, we're going to Silver Moon Harbor!”

"What?" I pulled back to look at her, still having tears on my face.

"I heard there's a huge party in Silver Moon Harbor tonight. Lots of wolves from other packs who are here for tomorrow's ceremony will be there." Ophelia's eyes sparkled with excitement. "We're going to have some fun and forget all about these bastards and your heartless family!”

"But... but I..." I hesitated. As an omega, Silver Moon Harbor was completely foreign territory to me.

"But what?" Ophelia gripped my hands. "Sera, you've lost everything here. Instead of staying to be humiliated tomorrow, let's go to Silver Moon Harbor and try our luck. Maybe you'll meet your real destined mate—someone who won't give a damn about your bloodline.”

I looked into Ophelia's determined eyes, thinking about the cruel words I'd heard in Gabriel's bedroom, remembering my parents' cold faces, imagining the humiliation I'd face tomorrow…

"Okay." I wiped away my tears, feeling a fierce courage I'd never experienced before. "Let's go to Silver Moon Harbor tonight. Let all those people go to hell!”

Ophelia grinned with delight. "Now that's my Seraphina! Come on, let's go back to my place and get ready. Tonight, we're going to show the most beautiful girl!"