Claimed By My Ex's Alpha Brother

‎The ocean stretched endlessly beneath the midnight sky, dark waves crashing softly against the sides of the luxury cruise ship as music drifted through the air from the ballroom above.

‎Laughter.

‎Champagne glasses clinking.

‎Expensive perfume.

‎Perfect smiles.

‎Everything about tonight was supposed to feel magical.

‎Instead, Seraphina Vale felt like she was suffocating.

‎She stood alone near the grand staircase of the ship, fingers curled tightly around the silver railing while guests moved around her in sparkling gowns and tailored tuxedos. The diamond engagement ring on her finger glittered beneath the golden lights, mocking her with every flicker.

‎Three years.

‎Three years of loyalty, love, sacrifice, and devotion.

‎And tonight was supposed to celebrate the beginning of forever with Damon Blackwood.

‎Future Alpha of the Crescent Night Pack.

‎Her mate. Her fiancé.

‎The man she had trusted with everything.

‎“Seraphina!” A cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts.

‎She turned slightly to find Vivienne Hart approaching with a bright smile and a glass of champagne in her hand. Her blonde curls bounced as she walked, designer heels clicking against the polished marble floor.

‎Beautiful. Elegant. Perfect.

‎Exactly why Seraphina had trusted her since childhood.

‎“There you are,” Vivienne laughed softly. “Everyone’s looking for you downstairs. Damon’s practically losing his mind.”

‎Seraphina forced a smile.

‎“Sorry. I just needed some air.”

‎Vivienne’s eyes softened with fake concern.

‎“Nervous?”

‎“A little.”

‎“That’s normal.” Vivienne slipped an arm through hers. “You’re marrying the hottest Alpha on the eastern territories. Every woman on this ship is jealous of you tonight.”

‎Seraphina chuckled weakly.

‎If only she knew how heavy her chest felt right now.

‎Something had been wrong lately.

‎Damon had become distant over the past few months.

‎Late-night calls.

‎Secret meetings.

‎Cold kisses.

‎Empty excuses.

‎Every time Seraphina asked about it, he brushed her off with work stress and Alpha responsibilities.

‎And because she loved him… She believed him.

‎“You should go back downstairs,” Vivienne said gently. “I’ll find Damon for you.”

‎Seraphina nodded.

‎“Thanks.”

‎Vivienne squeezed her arm before walking away.

‎Seraphina watched her disappear into the crowd, unaware that those would be the last honest seconds of her life before everything shattered.

‎~~~~~

‎One hour later, the celebration was in full swing.

‎The ballroom glowed beneath crystal chandeliers while couples danced slowly across the marble floor. Music echoed through the massive room, elegant and romantic.

‎But Damon was nowhere to be found.

‎Seraphina stood near the champagne tower, scanning the crowd anxiously again and again.

‎Still no Damon.

‎A strange knot tightened in her stomach.

‎“Excuse me,” she said softly to one of the servers. “Have you seen Damon Blackwood?”

‎The young man hesitated.

‎“Yes, miss. I believe he went upstairs about twenty minutes ago.”

‎“Upstairs?”

‎“Yes. Private suite level.”

‎Seraphina frowned.

‎Why would Damon disappear during their engagement celebration?

‎Without another word, she turned and headed toward the private elevators.

‎The uneasy feeling in her chest worsened with every step.

‎Maybe she was overthinking.

‎Maybe he was preparing some romantic surprise.

‎Maybe... A soft laugh echoed down the hallway.

‎Seraphina froze.

‎Her breath caught instantly.

‎That laugh.

‎Vivienne.

‎Her heart began pounding violently as she slowly approached the partially opened suite door at the end of the corridor.

‎The closer she got, the louder the sounds became.

‎Breathing.

‎Laughter.

‎Moans.

‎“No one can find out,” Vivienne whispered between breaths.

‎A deep male voice answered with a chuckle Seraphina knew better than her own heartbeat.

‎“They won’t.”

‎Damon.

‎The world tilted.

‎Seraphina’s fingers trembled as she reached the door.

‎Please no.

‎Please…

‎Slowly, she pushed it open. And her entire world shattered.

‎Damon Blackwood was in bed with Vivienne.

‎Sheets tangled around their naked bodies.

‎Vivienne’s lipstick smeared across Damon’s neck.

‎His hands on her skin.

‎Their scent filled the room like poison.

‎For one horrifying second, Seraphina couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t move.

‎Then Damon looked up and panic crossed his face.

‎“Seraphina...”

‎The champagne glass slipped from her hand.

‎CRASH.

‎The sound exploded through the suite.

‎Vivienne gasped, grabbing the blanket while Damon jumped from the bed.

‎“Wait...”

‎“You…” Seraphina’s voice broke violently. “You slept with her?”

‎“Listen to me...”

‎“On our honeymoon?”

‎Tears blurred her vision instantly.

‎Her entire body shook uncontrollably.

‎Vivienne avoided her eyes.

‎Coward.

‎“You said she was just a friend,” Seraphina whispered.

‎“Sera, please calm down...”

‎“DON’T CALL ME THAT!”

‎The scream ripped through the room with raw pain.

‎Damon ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

‎“It’s not what you think.”

‎A hollow laugh escaped her lips.

‎Not what I think?

‎She could still see Vivienne’s lipstick on his mouth.

‎Still smell sex in the air.

‎Still feel her heart splitting open inside her chest.

‎“You’re my mate,” Seraphina whispered shakily. “How could you do this to me?”

‎For the first time… Damon looked guilty.

‎But not guilty enough.

‎“It happened once,” he muttered.

‎Vivienne looked away.

‎Seraphina stared at them both in disbelief.

‎Once?

‎The lie was obvious.

‎She knew it immediately.

‎“How long?” she asked quietly.

‎Silence.

‎“How long?” she repeated louder.

‎Damon clenched his jaw.

‎“A few months.”

‎The words destroyed her. Every memory suddenly felt fake.

‎Every kiss.

‎Every promise.

‎Every “I love you.”

‎All of it poisoned.

‎Seraphina stepped backward slowly, feeling like the room was collapsing around her.

‎Vivienne finally spoke.

‎“Sera… I never meant for this to happen.”

‎Seraphina looked at her childhood best friend.

‎The girl who held her hand during heartbreaks.

‎The girl she trusted like family.

‎“You’re dead to me.”

‎Vivienne flinched.

‎Damon stepped forward.

‎“Seraphina, stop acting dramatic...”

‎The slap echoed sharply across the suite.

‎Damon’s head snapped sideways.

‎Silence followed. Heavy. Dangerous.

‎Seraphina stared at him with tears streaming down her face.

‎“You ruined me.” Then she turned and ran.

‎~~~~~

‎The elevator ride felt endless.

‎Her chest hurt so badly she thought she might collapse before the doors even opened.

‎The moment they did, Seraphina stumbled out onto the empty upper deck.

‎Cold wind slammed against her skin immediately.

‎Rain had started falling.

‎Small drops at first, then heavier.

‎The ocean below roared beneath the stormy sky while distant thunder echoed across the horizon.

‎Seraphina gripped the railing tightly as sobs tore from her throat.

‎Pain. Humiliation. Rage.

‎Everything crashed into her at once.

‎Her mate cheated on her with her best friend on their honeymoon cruise.

‎She felt sick. Actually sick.

‎The mate bond inside her chest burned painfully, like claws tearing through her heart. Wolves were deeply connected to betrayal from their mates. Emotional pain became physical.

‎And right now, Seraphina felt like she was dying.

‎Why?

‎Why wasn’t she enough?

‎She had loved Damon with everything she had.

‎She stood by him during Alpha training.

‎Supported him during pack politics.

‎Defended him against rivals.

‎Loved him completely.

‎And he still destroyed her.

‎A bitter laugh escaped her lips through tears.

‎How pathetic.

‎Maybe everyone on this ship would know by morning.

‎Maybe they’d whisper behind her back.

‎Poor Seraphina.

‎The Luna whose mate preferred her best friend.

‎Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

‎She didn’t hear the footsteps approaching behind her.

‎Didn’t sense the dangerous presence until a deep voice cut through the storm.

‎“You’ll freeze standing out here.”

‎Seraphina stiffened instantly.

‎Slowly, she turned. And her breath caught.

‎Ronan Blackwood stood several feet away beneath the rain.

‎Tall. Broad shoulders.

‎Black leather jacket soaked from the storm.

‎Dark hair pushed back carelessly.

‎Sharp jawline.

‎Cold grey eyes that seemed almost inhuman beneath the lightning flashing overhead.

‎Dangerous.

‎That was the first word everyone used to describe Damon’s older brother.

‎Ronan Blackwood.

‎The Alpha King of the Black Howl pack.

‎The man feared across every territory.

‎The man rarely attended pack gatherings.

‎And the one man Damon hated most.

‎Seraphina quickly wiped her tears.

‎“I’m fine.”

‎Ronan’s eyes flicked toward her face.

‎“No, you’re not.”

‎The brutal honesty made her chest tighten.

‎Most people feared Ronan.

‎Rumors followed him everywhere.

‎Violent. Cruel. Ruthless. Savage.

‎Yet somehow, standing here now… His voice sounded calmer than anyone else’s tonight.

‎“I don’t need your pity,” Seraphina muttered.

‎Ronan stepped closer slowly.

‎Rain dripped from his dark hair.

‎“It isn’t pity.”

‎Something dangerous flickered in his gaze.

‎Something intense enough to make her pulse stumble.

‎“You heard?” she asked quietly.

‎“Yes.”

‎Humiliation burned through her immediately.

‎Wonderful.

‎So now Damon’s terrifying older brother knew she’d been cheated on too.

‎Seraphina looked away.

‎“I should go.”

‎But before she could move, Ronan spoke again.

‎“You deserve better than him.”

‎Her throat tightened painfully.

‎Funny.

‎Those were exactly the words she needed to hear.

‎And somehow hearing them from Ronan made them even more dangerous.

‎“You don’t know anything about me,” she whispered.

‎Ronan’s eyes darkened slightly.

‎“You’d be surprised.”

‎The rain intensified around them.

‎For several seconds, neither spoke, only thunder filled the silence.

‎Then: “She was my best friend,” Seraphina whispered brokenly.

‎Ronan’s jaw tightened instantly.

‎His wolf stirred beneath his skin.

‎She could feel it.

‎The possessive energy rolling off him was suffocating.

‎“He doesn’t deserve you,” Ronan said coldly.

‎Seraphina laughed bitterly.

‎“He’s my mate.”

‎At that, something dark flashed across Ronan’s face. A flicker of anger. Pain. Maybe even hatred.

‎“No,” he said quietly.

‎Seraphina frowned.

‎“What?”

‎Ronan stared directly into her eyes.

‎And for one terrifying moment, the entire world seemed to stop.

‎“He may have marked you first,” Ronan said slowly, “but that doesn’t mean he was meant for you.”

‎A strange shiver crawled down her spine.

‎Before she could respond, footsteps suddenly echoed behind them.

‎“Seraphina!”

‎Damon.

‎Seraphina immediately stepped back.

‎Damon emerged onto the deck looking furious and disheveled, shirt half-buttoned beneath his expensive coat.

‎The moment he saw Ronan standing beside her, his expression darkened dangerously.

‎“Stay away from her,” Damon snarled.

‎Ronan remained completely calm.

‎“She doesn’t belong to you.”

‎The temperature around them seemed to drop instantly.

‎Damon clenched his fists.

‎“You think I don’t know what game you’re playing?”

‎Ronan’s expression became deadly.

‎“You’re not important enough for me to play games with.”

‎Seraphina felt tension explode between the brothers like an invisible war.

‎Hatred. Years of it. Raw and vicious.

‎Damon grabbed Seraphina’s wrist suddenly.

‎“Come with me.”

‎She jerked away instantly.

‎“Don’t touch me.”

‎Shock crossed Damon’s face.

‎“Sera...”

‎“You cheated on me.”

‎His jaw tightened.

‎“It was a mistake.”

‎“You slept with my best friend for months!”

‎People had begun noticing the argument now.

‎A few guests lingered near the deck entrance pretending not to stare.

‎Humiliation flooded her all over again.

‎Damon lowered his voice.

‎“You’re embarrassing me.”

‎Seraphina stared at him in disbelief.

‎Embarrassing him?

‎Something inside her finally snapped.

‎“You ruined our relationship,” she whispered. “And somehow you still think you’re the victim.”

‎Damon’s wolf flashed in his eyes briefly.

‎“Enough.”

‎The Alpha command rolled through the air sharply.

‎But Seraphina didn’t move. Didn’t submit. Didn’t bow.

‎Because for the first time… She realized she didn’t love him anymore. And maybe she hadn’t for a while.

‎Damon seemed to realize it too.

‎Panic flickered across his face.

‎“Seraphina...”

‎“She said enough.”

‎Ronan’s voice was lethal.

‎Pure Alpha dominance radiated from him instantly.

‎The air became suffocating. Even Damon stiffened.

‎The two brothers stared at each other with murderous intensity.

‎Then Ronan stepped forward slightly.

‎“Touch her again,” he said quietly, “and I’ll break your hand.”

‎Silence. Deadly silence.

‎Seraphina’s pulse thundered wildly.

‎Damon glared at his brother.

‎“You’ve always wanted what was mine.”

‎Ronan’s expression turned ice cold.

‎“No,” he said darkly. “Only one thing.”

‎A chill ran down Seraphina’s spine.

‎Something about the way he looked at her made heat coil low in her stomach despite the storm around them.

‎Dangerous... This man was dangerous in every possible way.

‎And somehow…

‎For the first time tonight…

‎She felt safe standing beside him.

‎