Ex-Mate Wants Me Back (Seraphina and Mortimer) novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180

Third Person’s POV

Mortimer knew instantly it was that guy.

Before, he had even suspected Dash was somehow connected to him.

It turned out that aside from the dog, Seraphina also had a man she was incredibly close with-someone who could make her genuinely smile.

Mortimer subtly glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

Sure enough, her usually calm eyes had lit up. As she typed her reply, a happy, genuine smile actually tugged at the corners of her lips.

Mortimer’s hands unconsciously tightened around the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white,

His lips were pressed into a hard line, his mind completely distracted from driving.

He wanted to do what he usually did-demand to know why she was chatting so happily with this guy again. But the words just

wouldn’t come out.

Even though he was going crazy with jealousy, he couldn’t force a single syllable past his throat.

Seraphina looked at the text messages popping up from Caldwell.

“I’m heading back to the States next weekend.”

“Here are my flight details. Don’t forget to pick me up.’

“And you owe me dinner.”

Smiling, Seraphina texted back.

“No problem. I’ll be there right on time.”

“What are you craving? I’ll book a restaurant in advance.”

Caldwell replied almost instantly. The two of them texted back and forth nonstop for the rest of the drive.

Mortimer’s face grew darker by the minute. He glanced at her several times, but Seraphina never once looked up,

She clearly didn’t care at all that her mate-whose contract hadn’t even been officially terminated yet-was sitting right next to her.

Mortimer was practically losing his mind with jealousy. Catching a red light, he couldn’t hold back anymore. “Is that your friend again? The one who’s always texting you?”

Seraphina finally looked up from her phone. She immediately knew who Mortimer was talking about.

Caldwell did have a very distinct texting style.

But did he really text her that often? Not really, right?

“Yeah. A very important friend.”

She nodded. Thinking back to that half-month in Alaska, if Caldwell hadn’t helped her out, she had no idea how she would have survived. Now that he was coming to LA, she finally had a chance to return the favor.

Seraphina was genuinely thrilled, which even gave her a bit more energy when talking to Mortimer.

Chapter

+15 Bonus

Avery important friend…

Mortimer’s grip on the steering wheel tightened so hard his knuckles looked like they might snap.

His usually dominant cedar pheromones in the air suddenly turned bitterly suppressed

“So, she really cares about this guy, huh?”

Mortimer felt his throat tighten, turning impossibly dry.

Inside him, his giant wolf, Barton, let out a miserable, pathetic whine over their mate’s emotional distance.

Mortimer wanted to demand answers, but the words died on his lips. With their mating bond completely fractured, even just getting close to her was an impossible luxury now.

Another text from Caldwell popped up.

Seraphina had already put her phone on silent, so Mortimer couldn’t hear the annoying pings, but out of the corner of his eye, he could still see the bright, happy look on her face as she typed away.

The rest of the drive was dead silent.

“Thanks for today. I’m sorry for messing up your team-building event.”

When they arrived at her apartment, Seraphina stopped Mortimer right at the front door.

She casually stroked Dash in her arms, showing absolutely no intention of inviting Mortimer inside. Her tone was polite, but incredibly distant.

Mortimer’s jaw clenched, his voice coming out rough. “You don’t need to apologize to me. I’m the one who didn’t know anything and dragged you out there.”

After that, another heavy silence fell between them.

Seraphina didn’t know what else to say, so she just nodded. “Let’s just leave the past in the past. I’m going inside now. You should head back too.”

With that, she moved to shut the door.

“Sera.” Mortimer suddenly reached out, blocking the door from closing.

“Yeah?” Seraphina looked up at him.

Mortimer looked like he was struggling. He forced a stiff, awkward smile. “The guys said they’re getting together for my birthday to celebrate. Will you come?”

Seraphina blinked, caught off guard.

Terrified that she would reject him, Mortimer quickly plastered on a fake smile and kept talking. “The others are all bringing their partners. Just treat it as… treat it as doing me one last favor before we break the mating bond.”

He forced out a smile that was supposed to look casual, but to Seraphina, it looked worse than him crying.

Because their bond was completely dead, he couldn’t even use their mental link to send her a sliver of his desperate pleading.

After thinking it over for a few seconds, Seraphina nodded. “Okay, I’ll be there on time.”

Seeing her agree, Mortimer let out a massive sigh of relief. His stiff smile immediately loosened up. “Then… I’ll head back now.”

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