Ex-Mate Wants Me Back (Seraphina and Mortimer) novel Chapter 279

Chapter 279

Third Person’s POV

Caldwell didn’t answer her question. Instead, he changed the subject. “I’m downstairs. I bought a bunch of fireworks. Want to come down and play?”

Caldwell’s subdued tone reminded Seraphina of how rough things were for him at the Blade pack, so she agreed.

“Sure. Give me a minute. I’ll bring Dash with me.”

“Alright.” A note of genuine delight crept into Caldwell’s voice.

Seraphina gave Dash a light pat on the rump, threw on a jacket, and headed downstairs.

As soon as she stepped out of the building, she saw Caldwell in the distance, holding a bag filled with all kinds of handheld fireworks.

The two of them, with Dash trotting happily alongside, left the neighborhood and walked to an open space a short distance away. It was far enough from the main road to safely enjoy small handheld fireworks.

They sat down on a set of stone steps.

Caldwell pulled out a few sparklers and handed them to Seraphina. “Here.”

Seraphina took them and lit one with a lighter.

As golden sparks crackled to life in her hand, she drifted into a daze.

When she was little, she loved playing with sparklers during festivals.

Even as she grew older, her family continued to prepare all kinds of fireworks for every holiday-always safe, and always just as much fun as when she was little.

Then she became Mortimer’s mate.

Afraid he might find her childish or undignified, she had stood quietly on the sidelines, watching whenever Velda played with sparklers in the packhouse courtyard.

Once, Velda tried dragging her into the fun, shoving a bundle of sparklers into her hands.

Mortimer had coldly put a stop to it, scolding Velda for her complete lack of decorum-calling her as childish as a puppy refusing to grow up.

Although the criticism hadn’t been directed at her, Seraphina had somehow convinced herself he was really taking a jab at her.

Then, Mortimer had turned to her and said, “If you don’t want to play, don’t force yourself.”

His face showed no obvious anger. But that cold, expressionless look was enough to snuff out any desire she had to enjoy herself.

Looking back now, she realized she’d been the one who’d forced herself into the mold of a proper, elegant Luna.

In her desperate bid to become the woman she thought Mortimer wanted, she had robbed herself of who she truly was.

Maybe, back then, Mortimer hadn’t cared one bit about what kind of image she projected.

“Sera?”

Caldwell’s puzzled voice pulled Seraphina back to reality.

“What are you thinking about? Your sparkler’s burned out.”

Smiling, he took the burnt Inetal stick from her fingers and handed her two freshly lit sparklers.

+15 Bonus

Realizing her thoughts had drifted back to Mortimer once more, Seraphina frowned. Phantom threads of their broken bond caused a sudden tightness in her chest.

She quickly pushed the thought aside and looked at Caldwell. “Were you unhappy celebrating with the Blade pack? You sounded… kind of down when we talked on the phone.”

As he sorted through the burnt fireworks, Caldwell answered casually, “I wouldn’t say I was unhappy. I just don’t really know everyone there yet. Spending the holiday with them feels a little awkward. So while my mom was talking with her father, I made an excuse and came to find you.”

He took out a festive headband with animal ears from the bag and placed it on Dash’s head, then handed another one to her.

Then he stood up and took a few steps back. “Let me take some photos of you and Dash.”

Crouching down, he raised the camera.

Seraphina immediately put on the matching headband, wrapped her arm around Dash, and struck one silly pose after another.

Without the invisible burden of being the Blade pack’s Luna, with her true self set free and Dash’s enthusiastic cooperation, she felt lighter than she had in a long time.

She even found herself laughing out loud.

Enjoying herself with Dash, Seraphina never noticed the tall figure standing silently beneath the shadows of a nearby tree- Mortimer.

In the cold wind, clutching a bag of carefully chosen fireworks, he watched her laugh with such pure joy before another man.

His chest tightened with a sharp ache, and his eyes stung.

With anyone else, she laughed without thinking, while with him, even her smile felt measured.

At this moment, she was sitting casually on the stone steps, far from the graceful woman he knew, more relaxed than he’d ever seen her.

She laughed freely, waving the sparkler, like a little girl who’d just unwrapped her favorite toy.

Holding Dash close, she struck goofy poses while Caldwell snapped photos.

Mortimer had never seen this side of Seraphina before.

P

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