173 Chapter 173
Seraphina’s POV 1
**Three yearster.**
The afternoon sun painted golden squares across my living room floor, and I was sprawled on the couch eating cereal straight from the
box like the sophisticated adult I’d be.
My phone buzzed. I nced at the screen and nearly choked on a mouthful of Cheerios.
*Caleb Morrison*
My heart did a weird flippy thing. Hope, panic, and guilt all mixed up like a bad cocktail. <fnd350> Read full story at find?novel</fnd350>
I let it ring twice more. ying it cool. Totally casual. Like my palms weren’t suddenly sweaty.
“Hey!” Way too enthusiastic. Tone it down, Sera. “What’s up?”
“There she is!” Caleb sounded way too cheerful. “My favorite city girl who’s apparently too busy being badass to call her favorite border
family.”
“I’m not too busy,” I said, sitting up. Cheerios went everywhere. Great. “I’m just… you know. Doing stuff.”
“Stuff. Right.” Heughed. “What kind of stuff?”
“Actually, I was eating cereal in my pajamas and debating if I need to be a real adult today.”
“It’s three–thirty, Sera.”
“Exactly. I’m winning at life.”
“So for real though,” Caleb said, voice getting softer. “How are you doing? And don’t say ‘fine‘ because I can hear when you’re lying.”
I hugged my knees to my chest. Suddenly felt small. “I’m doing… actually pretty good. Not fake good. Like, real good.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Got a nice ce. Work’s steady. I even have money saved up. And get this–I bought furniture. Real furniture. Not stuff I found on
the street.”
“Look at you! All grown up and responsible!”
“I know, right? Though I did kill a cactusst month. So maybe I’m not that grown up.”
“You’re such a weirdo.”
“Thanks. I try.” I picked at my pajama pants. “But yeah, seriously. Things are good. Still fighting. Making decent money. Can’t really
“Still fighting though.” And there it was. That worried tone. “You know that scares the crap out of me, right?”
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173 Chapter 173
My walls mmed up instantly. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t start with the worry thing.” The words came out sharper than I meant. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can-
“Do you?” I snapped. “Because it sounds like you think I’m still that scared mess who showed up at your door with nothing. But I’m not
her anymore, Caleb. I’m not.” 1)
Silence. The bad kind. The kind that made me feel like an asshole.
Shit. Why did I do that? Why did I always bite people’s heads off when they cared?
“Sorry,” I said quickly. “That came out wrong. I just—”
“No, I get it.” He sounded understanding, which made it worse. “You worked your ass off to get where you are. And you’re right. You’re
not that person anymore. You’re tough as hell now. Total badass.”
My throat got tight. “Thanks.”
“But Sera? Just because you’re strong doesn’t mean people can’t worry about you. You know that, right?”
I stared at the ceiling. “Yeah. I know.”
“Do you though?”
“Can we please change the subject?”
“Sure, sure.” He cleared his throat. “Actually, that’s kind of why I’m calling. I need to ask you something”
“What?” I tried to sound normal. Failedpletely.
“Mom’s turning sixty next week.”
Relief hit me like a truck. Just birthday stuff. Normal stuff. Nothing scary.
“Oh! That’s awesome! Tell her happy birthday for me.”
“I will. But the thing is…” He paused. “We’re throwing her a party. Saturday night. And she really wants you there.”
The room tilted.
“Caleb, I don’t-”
“Wait, just listen. Before you say no, just hear me out. Okay?”
I couldn’t talk. My mouth went totally dry. Hands shaking.
Three years. I’d stayed away for three whole years. Built this whole new life where nobody knew me, where I could just be… whoever. Where the past couldn’t find me.
And now he wanted me to go back. M19:15
173 Chapter 173
“You still there?”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I’m here.”
“Look, I know it’s a lot to ask. I know you left for reasons. Good reasons. His voice got all soft and pleading. “But Mom misses you like
crazy. She talks about you all the time. Like, all the time. ‘I hope Sera’s cating enough. I hope she’s not lonely. I hope she knows she can
alwayse home.“”
Tears just started falling. Hot and stupid and I couldn’t stop them.
“That’s not fair,” I choked out.
“I know.”
“You can’t just–you can’t say stuff like that and expect me to-” I couldn’t finish. The words got stuck.
“Sorry. But it’s true.” He didn’t sound sorry at all. “We miss you. It’s been three years, Sera. Don’t you think maybe it’s time?”
“Time for what?” My voice brokepletely. “To face everyone I ditched? To pretend I didn’t run away like a total coward?”
I pressed my hand over my mouth. Trying not topletely lose it. When did I start shaking this bad?
“It’s just a birthday party,” he said gently. “One weekend. Saturday to Sunday. Drive up Saturday morning, party that night, leave Sunday.
That’s it. Easy.”
“Will there be-” I couldn’t say it. Couldn’t ask what I really wanted to know.
“Other wolves?” He finished for me. “Just us. Some neighbors. All humans or border folks. Nobody from any big packs.”
Relief crashed through me. But also… something else. Something that felt like disappointment mixed with shame.
I was relieved I wouldn’t see anyone from Damien’s pack.
Which meant part of me wanted to.
Which meant I was even more pathetic than I thought.
“I don’t deserve that,” I whispered.
“Too bad. You don’t get to decide who we call family.” Firm but warm. “You’re stuck with us, city girl. Deal with it.”
Iughed through the tears. Sounded more like crying, but whatever.
“So?” Caleb pushed. “Will youe? Please? For Mom?”
I looked around my apartment. My safe ce. Where I’d hidden for three years rebuilding myself into someone who could survive.
But the Morrisons gave me everything when I had nothing. Took me in, fed me, gave me money and love and didn’t ask for anything
back.
And I’d been too scared to even visit.
“Okay,” I heard myself say.
8-19:15
173 Chapter 173
“Okay?” His voice exploded with hope. “You mean it?”
“Yeah.” Steadier now. “I’lle, Just the weekend. Just for the party.”
“Sera, oh my god–thank you! Mom’s gonna lose it! In a good way! She’s gonna cry and hug you and probably force–feed you until you
can’t move.”
Despite everything, I smiled. “Can’t wait.”
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