140 Chapter 140


    Seraphina’s POV 1


    The Morrison house looked exactly the same as I remembered from before visits–white pboard siding with forest green shutters, a wraparound porch lined with hanging flower baskets, and that old wooden swing.


    “They’re gonna lose their minds,” Caleb said again as we pulled into the gravel driveway. “Mom’s been cooking since I called. Pretty sure


    she made enough food to feed the entire pack.”


    I managed a weak smile.


    He turned off the engine and looked at me with those kind blue eyes. “You ready for this?”


    *No.* I wasn’t ready for anything.


    But I nodded anyway.


    The front door burst open before we even made it up the porch steps.


    “Seraphina!”


    Margaret appeared in the doorway like a force of nature–gray hair in a messy bun, flour–dusted apron, arms already outstretched for a


    hug. Behind her, Robert emerged with that gentle smile I remembered so well.


    “Oh my goodness, look at you!” Margaret pulled me into one of those bone–crushing hugs that only mothers could give. “You’re skin and


    bones! Haven’t they been feeding you in that fancy city?”


    “Mom,” Caleb warned gently. “Let her breathe.”


    “Don’t you ‘Mom‘ me, Caleb Morrison.” But she released me, her weathered hands moving to cup my face. “Let me look at you properly.”


    I tried to smile, tried to pretend her maternal concern wasn’t making my chest ache with longing for something I’d never really had. “Hi,


    Mrs. Morrison. It’s good to <i>see </i>you.”


    “None of this Mrs. Morrison nonsense. You’re family, sweetheart. Always have been.” Her eyes–so much like Caleb’s–searched my face


    with motherly worry. “You look tired, honey. When’s thest time you had a decent meal?”


    “I ate on the bus-”


    “Bus food doesn’t count.” She was already herding me toward the front door. “Robert, get her bags. Caleb, wash up. I’ve got pot roast in


    the oven and fresh biscuits cooling on the counter”


    The interior of the house was exactly as I remembered. Worn hardwood floors covered with colorful braided rugs. Family photos


    covering every avable surface. The smell of home cooking and lemon furniture polish.


    “I hope you don’t mind the couch,” Margaret fussed, leading me toward the living room. “We turned Caleb’s old room into Robert’s workshop, and the guest room is full of Christmas decorations I’ve been meaning to sort through.”


    “The couch is perfect,” I said quickly. “Really.”


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    140 Chapter 140


    Margaret piled my te high with pot roast and mashed potatoes and green beans from her garden, chattering about local gossip and asking gentle questions about my life that I deflected as carefully as possible.


    “And how are those babies of yours?” she asked, passing me the butter for my third biscuit. “Caleb mentioned you have a new girl.”


    My fork froze halfway to my mouth. “They’re… they’re good. Growing fast.”


    “Oh, how wonderful!” Margaret’s face lit up. “I bet they’re beautiful. Do they have your eyes?”


    *Adrian has his father’s eyes. Lily has mine and Damien’s mixed together–blue–green like the ocean.*


    “They’re perfect,” I whispered.


    Margaret must have heard something in my voice because she reached over to pat my hand. “Of course they are, honey. Children always


    are.”


    Robert steered the conversation toward safer topics after that–the weather, local news, Caleb’s auto shop. I contributed what I could,


    but my mind kept drifting.


    Were Adrian and Lily eating dinner right now? Was Damien home, or was he still at the office, drowning himself in work to avoid


    thinking about me?


    Had Adrian asked about me today?


    “Sera?” Caleb’s voice pulled me back to the present. “You okay?”


    “Just tired,” I lied. “It’s been a long day.”


    “Of course it has, sweetheart.” Margaret was already standing, clearing dishes with motherly efficiency. “You must be exhausted. Why


    don’t you get settled while us old folks clean up?”


    “I can help-”


    “Absolutely not.” She shooed me toward the living room. “You’re a guest in this house. Guests don’t do dishes.”


    <b>An </b>hourter, after hugs and “sleep well, honey” and promises of pancakes for breakfast, Margaret and Robert disappeared upstairs,


    leaving Caleb and me alone in the living room.


    He’d set up the couch with pillows and nkets, even found an old stuffed animal from somewhere and ced it carefully by the pillow.


    “Thank you,” I said quietly. “For all of this. I know it’s unexpected, me showing up like this.”


    “Don’t thank me yet. He settled into his father’s old recliner, studying my face with those perceptive blue eyes. “You haven’t told me why you’re here.”


    My stomach clenched. “I told you, I ran into some trouble-”


    “Sera.” His voice was gentle but firm. “I’ve known you since we were kids. You don’t run to other people when handle it yourself. So whatever brought you to my doorstep…” He paused. “It must be pretty bad.”


    you


    have trouble. You


    I stared down at my hands, folded in myp like a prayer. “I don’t even know where to start.”


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    140 Chapter 140


    “Start wherever feels right.”


    The kindness in his voice broke something inside me. Before I could stop myself, the words started pouring out.


    “I left them. My mate, my children. I packed a bag and left and I don’t know if I can ever go back.” Tears started streaming down my


    cheeks. “God, Caleb, what kind of mother abandons her babies?”


    “Hey.” He was out of his chair in seconds, kneeling in front of the couch, his hands covering mine. “Hey, slow down. You’re not making


    sense.”


    “I’m not making sense because nothing makes sense!” I pulled my hands free, wiping my face with the backs of them. “My life is falling apart and I don’t know how to fix it.”


    “Okay. Okay.” His voice stayed calm, steady. “Tell me what happened. From the beginning.”


    So I did.


    I told him about the rogues. About being captured, tortured, poisoned. About A’s death and waking up human in a hospital bed.


    I told him about the engagement party. About the whispers and stares and Emma thinking I was the nanny. About feeling like a stranger


    in my own life.


    I told him about the letter I’d left. About running away because I couldn’t stand to watch myself drag down the people I loved most.


    Through all of it, Caleb listened without interruption. His expression shifted from concern to horror to something that looked like fury,


    but he never once told me to stop.


    When I finally ran out of words, the silence stretched between us like a living thing.


    *Sera.” His voice was hoarse. “You’re telling me you’repletely human now? No wolf at all?”


    Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. “She’s gone, Caleb. A’s gone. The rogues… they pumped so much wolfsbane into my system that


    the neural pathways connecting me to my wolf were severed.”


    Caleb was quiet for a long moment, processing everything I’d told him. “Then don’t do anything right now.” His voice gentled. “Stay here.


    Rest. Heal. Figure out what you actually want instead of what you think everyone else needs.” 2


    I looked up at him through my tears.


    “Sera.” He pulled me into his arms, holding me tight against his chest while I cried. “You’re exactly who you’ve always been. Strong, brave, incredibly stubborn, and way too hard on yourself, You’re not alone, Sera. You never have to be alone again.”


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