Ex-Mate Wants Me Back (Seraphina and Mortimer) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

+15 Bonus

Mortimer’s POV

Watching Seraphina standing there, her voice as flat as a goddamn sidewalk, I felt a surge of pure powerlessness. It was like throwing a haymaker and hitting nothing but air. My absolute authority as an Alpha was being systematically dismantled by her flawless, unbreakable indifference.

She didn’t fight. She didn’t explain.

I tried a quiet move-releasing a subtle wave of mate pheromones. I nudged Barton, my wolf, to force a connection and crash into Lily’s mind-link, trying to regain control through our primal bond.

But Barton let out a frustrated growl in my head. It was a sound of defeat I’d never heard from him before. “She’s locked her mind-link down. Lily… she’s refusing to answer. She’s actively repelling our touch.”

The fear of being completely “disconnected” from my fated mate made my heart skip a beat. I shoved the panic down and handed the ID badge back to her. 2

“Fine. Since you’re so busy… how about dinner tonight?”

I could hear the tension in my own voice. I’d lowered it on purpose, but there was a flicker of desperation in there that I hated to admit.

She clearly wasn’t interested in humoring me. She frowned. “I’m on the night shift. You should eat alone, or-”

“Seraphina.” My voice dropped into a low, dangerous growl.

I used my full Alpha aura to pull her into line.

୮

As she looked at me, I took a deep breath, choking back the rage that was clawing at my throat. “Even on the night shift, you have to eat.”

I was having this dinner with her. Period.

Finally, she seemed to fold. “Fine.”

The cloud over my head lifted a fraction. “Good. I’ll pick you up when you’re off.”

She gave a small nod. “I’m going back to my department.”

I nodded back. I watched her walk away, my eyes fixed on her back as she took her tray to the disposal area.

I felt a thick lump in my throat. She’d changed-truly changed. This wasn’t just a mood; it was

1/3

+15 Bonus

a soul-level detachment.

“What brings you to the healing center in the middle of the day?” Wilmot’s voice came from nowhere. His tone grated on my nerves instantly.

He followed my gaze to where she’d disappeared and let out a mocking little chuckle. “So, did you go home last night and grow a brain? Come here to play the ‘sorry’ card?”

I snapped my eyes away from the door and shot him a side-eye, my brow furrowing. “I can’t be here? Since when do I need your permission?”

He shrugged, looking way too smug. “I’m here to apologize to my mate. What about you? Don’t tell me you’re doing the same thing.”

The words hit a nerve, leaving me speechless for a second.

As the Alpha of the Blades, my pride wouldn’t let me admit I’d screwed up in front of anyone. I’m here for lunch with my mate. Problem?”

He laughed out loud. “That’s funny. The Craig Group is on the East side, the healing center is on the West. That’s a hell of a commute just for a cafeteria sandwich.”

He paused, a thought clicking in his head. “Wait. When I got here, Seraphina was already eating with Trista. What, she didn’t wait for you?”

The schadenfreude in his voice lit a fuse in my chest.

“Seraphina’s really grown a backbone, hasn’t she? My girl isn’t listening to a word I say, either. You think those two are teaming up against us on purpose?”

I was already in a foul mood, and looking at his face was making it worse. I let out a sharp, cold snort. “I didn’t cheat, Wilmot. Why would Seraphina need to ‘team up’ against me?” 2

That was a needle straight to his ego.

His face went dark instantly, and the air pressure in the room tanked.

“Mortimer. Watch your damn mouth.”

His aura started to spike-the reflexive defense of an Alpha being provoked.

r

I felt a tingle at the back of my neck. Barton was getting excited, ready to snap the leash of my self-control.

I took a step forward, my knuckles cracking. My fingernails began to darken and sharpen, and the faint shadow of grey fur started to ghost over my skin.

“What? Did I hit a nerve? The truth hurts?” My voice was low, heavy with enough pressure to make the air feel like sludge.

2/3

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify