NovelOnline140 Chapter 140
Seraphina’s POV 1
The Morrison house looked exactly the sas | remembered from before visits-white clapboard 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 | called. Pretty sure
she made enough food to feed the entire pack.”
| managed a weak smile.
He turned off the engine and looked atwith those kind blue eyes. “You ready for this?”
*No.* | wasn't ready for anything.
But | 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 | remembered so well.
“Oh my goodness, look at you!” Margaret pulledinto 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
| 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 see 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 the last tyou had a decent meal?”
“| ate on the bus-"
“Bus food doesn’t count.” She was already herdingtoward 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 | remembered. Worn hardwood floors covered with colorful braided rugs.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFamily photos
covering every available surface. The smell of hcooking and lemon furniture polish.
“I hope you don’t mind the couch,” Margaret fussed, leadingtoward 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,” | said quickly. “Really.”
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Margaret piled my plate 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 | deflected as carefully as possible.
“And how are those babies of yours?” she asked, passingthe 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,” | 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. |
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 abouttoday?
“Sera?” Caleb's voice pulledback to the present. “You okay?”
“Just tired,” | 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 shooedtoward the living room. “You're a guest in this house. Guests don’t do dishes.”
An hour later, after hugs and “sleep well, honey” and promises of pancakes for breakfast, Margaret and Robert
disappeared upstairs,
leaving Caleb andalone in the living room.
He'd set up the couch with pillows and blankets, even found an old stuffed animal from somewhere and placed it
carefully by the pillow.
“Thank you,” | said quietly. “For all of this. | know it’s unexpected,showing up like this.”
“Don’t thankyet. He settled into his father’s old recliner, studying my face with those perceptive blue eyes.
“You haven't toldwhy you're here.”
My stomach clenched. “I told you, | ran into strouble-"
“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
| stared down at my hands, folded in my lap 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 | could stop myself, the words started pouring out.
“I left them. My mate, my children. | packed a bag and left and | don’t know if | 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!” | pulled my hands free, wiping my face with the backs of
them. “My life is falling apart and | don’t know how to fix it.”
“Okay. Okay.” His voice stayed calm, steady. “Tellwhat happened. From the beginning.”
So | did.
| told him about the rogues. About being captured, tortured, poisoned. About Ayla’s death and waking up human
in a hospital bed.
| told him about the engagement party. About the whispers and stares and Emma thinking | was the nanny.
About feeling like a stranger
in my own life.
| told him about the letter I'd left. About running away because | couldn't stand to watch myself drag down the
people | 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 toldto stop.
When I finally ran out of words, the silence stretched between us like a living thing.
*Sera.” His voice was hoarse. “You're tellingyou're completely human now? No wolf at all?”
Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. “She's gone, Caleb. Ayla’s gone. The rogues... they pumped so much
wolfsbane into my system that
the neural pathways connectingto 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
| looked up at him through my tears.
“Sera.” He pulledinto his arms, holdingtight against his chest while | 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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