Ex-Mate Wants Me Back (Seraphina and Mortimer) novel Chapter 266

Chapter 266

Third Person’s POV

After putting his things down, Garfield quietly went into the kitchen.

Caldwell released Toasty from the pet carrier, and Toasty wandered around the living room as if patrolling its territory.

Dash had already sprawled across the sofa, basking in the winter sunlight streaming through the window. The peaceful scene filled the living room with a rare sense of warmth and tranquility.

“Garfield, let me help you,” Caldwell said as he entered the kitchen, his sleeves already rolled up. He moved to Garfield’s side, ready to help.

“No, no, you’re a guest. I couldn’t possibly ask you to help.” Garfield waved him away.

Caldwell smiled, “Then please don’t treat me as a guest.”

Garfield paused in the middle of preparing the meal. He looked up at Caldwell. There was more to those

words than met the ear.

When Seraphina came out of her room, the first thing she saw was Toasty lying on Dash’s back, batting

at its tail.

“Toasty?” She walked over, just about to ask why Toasty was at her house, when Thomasina spoke up, Your father and I invited Caldwell over for dinner today. Look at you, sleeping the day away while our guest is left cooling his heels at the door.”

“Huh?” Seraphina blinked blankly, her brain still half-asleep.

Yesterday, as soon as Seraphina got home, one of her students called to discuss the direction of a new project over video. The student had a lot of fresh ideas, and got so caught up in the discussion that Seraphina didn’t have the heart to cut it short. By the time they wrapped up, it was already past three in the morning.

Since the project touched on neurosurgical methods for stabilizing inner wolves-well outside Seraphina’s expertise-she passed the student’s questions along to Caldwell.

She thought he would reply after he woke up, but to her surprise, he responded immediately after she sent the message, and the two of them ended up discussing the topic for a long time.

She listened intently, absorbed in the discussion, but eventually, staying up so late took its toll. She fell asleep without realizing it, not even knowing when the call ended, and completely forgot that her parents had mentioned inviting Caldwell for dinner today.

Thinking about how she’d kept Caldwell up so late only to fall asleep without even saying goodbye, Seraphina felt a bit guilty.

She saw Caldwell helping in the kitchen and was about to go over when the doorbell suddenly rang.

She turned to open the door, and the moment she saw who was standing outside, she froze. A familiar scent of fir drifted toward her, faint but unmistakable.

“Alpha Mortimer.” A hint of surprise colored her voice. The formal title felt strange on her tongue.

Still, a guest was a guest, and Thomasina couldn’t bring herself to turn him away. “Oh, it’s you, Mortimer.

Come in and have a seat.”

“Thank you, Thomasina.” Mortimer’s voice was filled with genuine sincerity, with a hint of humility beneath his words. The smile on his face was heartfelt.

It was then that his keen sense of smell caught an unfamiliar scent that didn’t belong in this house.

He saw Caldwell, sleeves rolled up, walking out of the kitchen as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The smile on Mortimer’s face vanished instantly. His alpha instincts immediately sharpened his gaze. Isn’t this my cousin? Why are you at my mate’s parents’ house?”

He deliberately emphasized the words, making his claim on Seraphina unmistakably clear. Caldwell didn’t take offense and answered calmly, “Garfield and Thomasina invited me for dinner. I didn’t expect you to come too-did they invite you as well?”

At these words, Mortimer’s expression changed slightly, and Barton let out a dissatisfied growl.

Compared to Caldwell, who was properly invited by the hosts, Mortimer, the uninvited one, seemed a bit awkward.

Garfield was still occupied in the kitchen and hadn’t come out. Thomasina watched the two young werewolves from the same bloodline trade verbal blows in the living room, and the atmosphere gradually grew tense.

Just as she was about to say something, Caldwell suddenly waved toward the sofa. “Toasty, come here.”