Ex-Mate Wants Me Back (Seraphina and Mortimer) novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Seraphina’s POV-

Mortimer stared at me. A flash of shock flickered in those steady golden eyes, like he hadn’t processed my sudden counterattack

Deep in my mind, Lily was clawing at the void, pushing all that suppressed rage and resentment to the surface.

I fought to keep my face a blank mask. “Fine. You want to hear it? I’m angry. I’m pissed off. Why did you leave me alone in Alaska for two weeks without giving a damn if I lived or died?”

His mouth hung open. A low whimper, almost like a defensive reflex, vibrated in his throat as if he wanted to argue.

I didn’t give him the chance. I cut him off before he could start. “And then what? Are you going to say you had to save a life? That it was a crisis, and I’m being unreasonable? That I lack compassion, that I’m being paranoid, and I’m just jealous?”

He went silent. His brow furrowed deep, and the heavy pressure of a high-tier Alpha began to ripple around him.

I let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “See? If I’m mad, I’m wrong. If I’m not mad, I’m still wrong. So you tell me, Mortimer-what the hell am I supposed to do?”

“I-” He was completely speechless, frozen where he stood.

“But… if you’re not angry, why are we sleeping in separate rooms?” His eyes dropped to the comforter in my arms.

If I listened closely, his raspy voice sounded confused. Maybe even a little hurt.

My face remained a stone wall. I repeated myself with practiced patience. “Like I said, I’m a restless sleeper lately. I’ll just disturb you.”

“I don’t care,” he snapped back instinctively.

I went quiet.

After a long beat, he was the first to fold. “Fine. Whatever. For how long?”

I didn’t catch his meaning at first. “What?”

“How many days? How long are you sleeping in there?”

I didn’t answer.

The fact that he was suddenly being so “reasonable” felt like a letdown.

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Part of me wished he’d just blow up, start a real screaming match-then I’d have a legitimate excuse to cite the damaged bond and stay in the guest room for the next two months.

Whatever.

“Until I’m sleeping better,” I said, making up a reason on the fly.

I walked past him, the scent of pine fading as I gained distance. I headed straight for the guest

room.

This time, he didn’t stop me.

Before I shut the door, I saw him standing there by the frame, looking stunned, his face empty.

The guest room was rarely used, but the omega maids kept the linens fresh. I didn’t bother doing anything to the room; I just collapsed onto the bed.

Being away from him-away from the constant friction of our broken mating bond-finally let some of the agitation drain out of me.

I lay there with my eyes open, afraid to sleep.

But days of exhaustion finally caught up, and I drifted off into a heavy, dreamless state.

By the time another nightmare jolted me awake, the sun was already high.

I gasped for air, trying to find my rhythm, and glanced at the wall clock. It was past eight.

It was the first day back from the holiday, and I was late.

I scrambled out of bed to get ready. When I stepped out, dressed for work, I saw him coming out of the kitchen carrying two plates of breakfast.

He turned to me, his cold eyes softening slightly. He actually gave me a small smile.

“You’re up?”

I blinked, taken aback. “Morning.”

Mortimer set the food on the table and jerked his chin toward a chair. “Eat.”

I froze.

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This was the first time since we mated that Mortimer had actually made something to eat himself.

Usually, I was the “perfect mate” who got up before dawn to make sure everything was handled.

I used to be addicted to that delusion-that if we ate breakfast together and started the day as

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a pair, we looked like a normal couple.

I’d lived in that dream for years, day after day.

If it hadn’t been for Alaska-for that avalanche that nearly ended me-I might never have

woken up.

Luckily, it wasn’t too late.

I’d figured it out. Mortimer wasn’t my entire world.

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