Seraphina’s POV
**Three years later.**
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 beco.
My phone buzzed. I glanced 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.
I let it ring twice more. Playing 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." He laughed. "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 place. 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 cactus last 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 complain."
"Still fighting though." And there it was. That worried tone. "You know that scares the crap out of , right?"
My walls slamd up instantly. "Don’t."
"Don’t what?"
"Don’t start with the worry thing." The words ca out sharper than I ant. "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 ss who showed up at your door with nothing. But I’m not her anymore, Caleb. I’m not."
Silence. The bad kind. The kind that made 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 ca 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 an 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 sothing."
"What?" I tried to sound normal. Failed completely.
"Mom’s turning sixty next week."
Relief hit like a truck. Just birthday stuff. Normal stuff. Nothing scary.
"Oh! That’s aweso! Tell her happy birthday for ."
"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 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 , where I could just be... whoever. Where the past couldn’t find .
And now he wanted to go back.
"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 ti. Like, all the ti. ’I hope Sera’s eating enough. I hope she’s not lonely. I hope she knows she can always co ho.’"
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 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 ti?"
"Ti for what?" My voice broke completely. "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 to completely 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 . "Just us. So neighbors. All humans or border folks. Nobody from any big packs."
Relief crashed through . But also... sothing else. Sothing that felt like disappointnt mixed with sha.
I was relieved I wouldn’t see anyone from Damien’s pack.
Which ant part of wanted to.
Which ant 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."
I laughed through the tears. Sounded more like crying, but whatever.
"So?" Caleb pushed. "Will you co? Please? For Mom?"
I looked around my apartnt. My safe place. Where I’d hidden for three years rebuilding myself into soone who could survive.
But the Morrisons gave everything when I had nothing. Took in, fed , gave money and love and didn’t ask for anything back.
And I’d been too scared to even visit.
"Okay," I heard myself say.
"Okay?" His voice exploded with hope. "You an it?"
"Yeah." Steadier now. "I’ll co. 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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