Ex-Mate Wants Me Back (Seraphina and Mortimer) novel Chapter 276

Chapter 276

Third Person’s POV

“Sera.”

The door to her room opened, and her mother, Thomasina, slipped inside.

“Mom.”

Thomasina’s eyes dropped immediately to the dissolution certificate. Without a word, she stepped forward and wrapped her daughter in a gentle hug.

“Don’t be sad, honey.”

Resting her face against her mother’s shoulder, Seraphina managed a helpless smile.

“I’m not sad, Mom. Honestly. It’s just… ending something this massive leaves you feeling a little hollowed out,” she said.

Thomasina didn’t buy it for a second.

Seraphina had loved Mortimer for over a decade. They’d sworn a pact in front of the entire wolf pack. Even if she truly wanted to let him go, there was no way she could just bounce back this fast.

Those feelings ran deep. Tearing herself away from a mate after ten years-from someone woven into her very existence- caused real, agonizing physical and emotional pain.

How could she be fine? How could it not hurt?

Sensing her mother’s distress, Seraphina let out a resigned sigh.

“Mom, I promise, I’m really okay.”

“Alright. As long as you’re okay.”

Thomasina rubbed her back. “No matter what happens, your dad and I are here for you.”

“I know.”

Seraphina nodded. Tears pricked her eyes; her mother’s comfort was finally soothing the restless, hollow ache her inner wolf felt from the severed bond.

“So, what’s your plan now?”

Thomasina asked after a moment.

“What do you mean?”

Seraphina lifted her head, genuinely confused.

The mating bond was broken, but wouldn’t life just go back to normal?

Seeing her bewilderment, Thomasina lightly tapped her daughter’s head. “Do you seriously not see that Caldwell has feelings for you?”

“Huh?”

Seraphina froze, completely blindsided. “Caldwell likes me?”

The second the words left her mouth, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Mom, you’re way overestimating my charm here. Not every guy in my orbit is secretly in love with me.”

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Thomasina shot her a pointed look. “He’s always so attentive to you. The way he looks at you is completely different from how he looks at everyone else. You really haven’t noticed?”

Seraphina brushed it off. “He’s nice because he’s just a naturally decent guy. Plus, we share the same mentor. Isn’t it totally normal to look out for each other?

Seeing her mother gear up for an argument, Seraphina quickly cut her off. “Mom, please do not say stuff like that in front of him. It would be incredibly awkward if he overheard.” 1

Thomasina let it drop. “Fine, I’ll keep my mouth shut. Just keep it in mind.”

She stood up. “Your dad should be awake by now. I need to go check on him.”

“I’ll come with.”

Thomasina and Seraphina reached the door at the same time. Pulling it open, they found Caldwell already lingering in the hall. His wolf eyes caught the dim light, glowing faintly, and for a split second, a complicated, awkward flash crossed his face.

Both women froze, mirror images of sudden embarrassment.

“Caldwell,” Thomasina said, keeping her voice carefully neutral. “How long have you been standing there?”

Caldwell offered a tight, polite smile. “I heard you talking with Sera earlier. I didn’t want to interrupt, so I just waited out here.”

So he’d heard everything.

The heat of embarrassment rushed to both their faces.

Forcing a bright, awkward smile, Thomasina turned to her daughter. “I’m going to go check on your dad. Why don’t you stay here and talk with Caldwell for a minute?”

“Mom-”

Seraphina started, but Caldwell cut in. “I’ll come check on Garfield with you.”

“Alright,” Thomasina said with a quick nod.

By unspoken agreement, all three of them completely ignored what Caldwell had just overheard.

Garfield was bouncing back fast. Thanks to his werewolf healing abilities, his color was mostly back to normal.

Seraphina and Caldwell hung out in the room for a little while before Thomasina finally shooed them out.

“Sun’s out. You want to go for a walk downstairs?” Caldwell suggested.

Remembering her mother’s comments-and knowing Caldwell had heard every word-Seraphina figured it was best to clear the air.

“Sure,” she said with a nod.

The hospital had a sprawling lawn out back.

The late winter sun slanted across the grass, and its faint warmth took the edge off the chilly air.

“Caldwell.”

Seraphina stopped and looked up at him. “Please don’t worry about what my mom was saying back there. She was just trying to make me feel better about breaking the mating bond. She was worried I’d be a wreck.”

Caldwell didn’t say anything. He just looked down at her, a gentle smile touching his eyes.

The look on his face made her feel even more awkward, but she pushed through it. “She probably just figured I’d be thrilled to

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have a great guy like you interested in me right after breaking the bond That’s why she brought it up. I really hope it didn’t weird you out.”

She saw Caldwell as a good friend, a senior, and her rescuer. The absolute last thing she wanted was for her mother’s presumptuous rambling to scare him off.

She kept her eyes on the ground, rushing to explain herself, until Caldwell suddenly cut her off.

“Would you be happy, then?”

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