Ex-Mate Wants Me Back (Seraphina and Mortimer) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Third Person’s POV

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Hearing Seraphina’s words, Vivian’s face immediately shifted into a mask of deep concern.

She leaned toward Seraphina, her voice pitching into a stage whisper. “This is a soul-healing center, Seraphina. Only wolves with soul damage come here. Don’t tell me you’re suffering from the same ‘soul-fracture’ that I have?”

She put a sharp, deliberate emphasis on “same as me,” her lips curling into a subtle, mocking smirk.

Seraphina caught the sneer.

She flicked a glance at Mortimer before looking away just as quickly, her tone dismissive. “It’s nothing. Just some trouble sleeping.”

She gave the bag of meds a small lift and checked her watch. “You two stay busy. I’m heading out.”

“Seraphina!”

Mortimer’s voice cut through the air.

Seraphina turned back. Mortimer stared at her for a long, heavy beat before speaking. “I’m heading back to the pack. Let’s go together.”

Vivian’s expression soured instantly, a flicker of genuine irritation and malice crossing her

eyes.

But she forced the smile back onto her face. “Right! Seraphina, I’m actually all done here. I don’t want to keep Morty from his duties. You two go ahead, I’ll just call a cab.”

She made a show of walking toward the exit, biting her lip until it turned whife. Her eyes were red, the picture of a martyr.

As she moved, her omega pheromones began to leak out, thick and heavy.

Mortimer frowned and caught her arm. “You’ve never taken a cab alone.”

Vivian looked at him with watery eyes, shaking her head. “It’s fine, Morty. I need to learn to be independent. You have Seraphina now-I can’t lean on you forever. It’s my first time calling a car, but I have to grow up. I have to take care of myself. Don’t worry about me, and please don’t…”

She trailed off, giving Seraphina a tiny, fearful look, as if she expected to be hit.

She ducked behind Mortimer’s shoulder. “Don’t make Seraphina upset because of me again.”

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Seraphina watched the performance with a rising sense of nausea. 1

Mortimer looked back at her, his face a mess of conflict. “Vivian, she—”

“I’m not going back to the pack.”

Seraphina cut him off, her voice sharp with impatience. “I have a night shift at the hospital. We aren’t going the same way. Stay with Miss Davis.”

She was done letting Vivian use her “weakness” to manipulate the situation and then blame her for the fallout.

Without another word, Seraphina walked out of the hospital.

“Seraphina!” Mortimer called out, his voice low and strained.

Watching her walk away-watching her reject him with such clinical finality-sent a jolt of panic through his soul. It was the feeling of being locked out. The irritation flared in his chest.

This time, Seraphina didn’t even slow down. In fact, when she heard him call her name, she picked up the pace, as if the very air he breathed was, toxic.

As her figure disappeared, Vivian glanced at Mortimer.

His face was dark, his eyes smoldering with a slow-burn rage.

She let a cold, predatory smile touch her lips.

“You can’t win, Seraphina, ” Vivian thought.

“It doesn’t matter that I’m just an omega. Mortimer will be mine soon enough.”

“I’m so sorry,” Vivian whimpered, the tears starting to track down her face.

A cloyingly sweet, sugary scent flooded the air around them.

In the past, that scent would have triggered every protective instinct in Mortimer’s Alpha brain.

But right now, the wolf inside him let out a low, repulsed whine.

Barton could smell the lie in it-the fake, rotting sweetness of a cheap perfume,

The physical rejection hit Mortimer like a brick.

He didn’t move to comfort her. In fact, he took a half-step back.

He shoved down the agitation the scent caused and spoke flatly. “Let’s go. I’ll drop you off.”

He didn’t wait for her. He headed for the parking lot with a fast, heavy stride.

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He needed to get away from that air, away from that smell that was making his skin crawl.

Vivian froze, stunned by the cold distance in his voice.

She scrambled to catch up, trying to hide the flash of panic in her eyes.

Back at the hospital, Seraphina dropped her meds in her office and headed to the cafeteria for a quick dinner.

Afterward, she took a slow walk on the lawn outside the main building.

She ran into a few familiar patients and their families, spending an hour chatting and checking on their progress.

When she finally got off the elevator and rounded the corner to her office, she saw a familiar silhouette leaning against the wall by her door.

His head was down, lost in thought. He’d dialed back his Alpha aura to a dull hum.

Seraphina hesitated for a split second before walking forward.

At the sound of her footsteps, Mortimer looked up.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice full of genuine confusion.

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