Chapter 3

Seraphina's POV

The weight of the snow felt like the cold, crushing hand of death, squeezing the last bit of oxygen from my lungs.

I was curled up in a tiny air pocket, my fingers trembling as I gripped my phone, praying for a signal.

If I was going to rot in this forest under the gaze of the Moon Goddess, I wanted to see Mortimer one last time.

I hit the button for a video call.

The dim glow of the screen was blinding in the suffocating darkness.

"Beep—"

The second it connected, my heart stopped.

But before I could even catch a glimpse of those familiar golden eyes, the screen went black.

He hung up.

The rejection hit me harder than the cold. It was like salt on an open wound, a pain that actually managed to outrun the fear of dying.

I didn't know where I found the strength, but ignoring the burning agony in my chest, I called again.

Declined. Again.

My heart sank into the same abyss as my body.

I held my breath and typed out a single line, "Mortimer, there was an avalanche. I'm buried under the forest."

I wasn't even expecting him to come back for me.

I was just placing one last bet on this pathetic ten-year crush—giving myself a reason to finally let go.

To my surprise, he replied instantly.

But every word on that screen felt like a poisoned blade.

"Seraphina, if you want me to come back, find a better excuse. This is a low blow, even for you."

"I'm staying with Vivi for a few more days of observation. When you're done playing games, come home. Stop acting out."

I stared at the words, the taste of copper in my mouth.

The burning heat of my early cycle was instantly snuffed out by pure, icy despair.

The cold seeped into my bones, sealing my wolf, Lily, away in a frozen vault.

I didn't feel the pain anymore. I didn't feel anything.

I stopped replying and let the darkness take me.

The distant howls of rogues and the muffled sounds of the world faded into nothing.

When I finally opened my eyes, everything was a blinding, clinical white. I smelled a mix of disinfectant and a crisp, woody scent.

"You're awake?"

I struggled to turn my stiff neck and met a pair of deep, gentle eyes.

"How are you feeling?" The man pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses. His voice was calm and clear, carrying a strange power that seemed to soothe my wolf. "I'm your healer, Caldwell."

"I..." My throat was shredded, raw as sandpaper.

"You've been out for five days," he said, holding a cup of water to my lips. "Surviving an avalanche like that... it means your wolf has a much stronger will than most. I'll be overseeing your recovery."

"Caldwell?" I repeated weakly.

"That's right." He gave me a professional but warm smile.

Even though I was completely drained, I managed to thank him.

I asked if he could help me get a new phone—I needed to tell my family back at the Silver Moon Pack that I was alive.

An hour later, the second I turned the new phone on, a flood of messages crashed into my inbox.

My parents, my pack mates, my colleagues at the center—everyone was frantic.

Except for my mate.

Mortimer's profile sat at the bottom of the list. Quiet. Empty. Not a single word.

I touched my chest.

There was a dull ache there, a hollow feeling, but that soul-shattering agony that made my wolf tremble? It was gone.

It had been replaced by a silence as flat as dead water.

I called home and told a lie—that I'd missed the avalanche because of a last-minute change in plans. I buried the truth of the disaster that had nearly buried me.

During my stay at the clinic, Caldwell took incredible care of me.

On the day I was discharged, he walked me to the car.

"Back to LA today?" he asked, holding the door. That clean pine scent of his drifted in the cold wind.

"Yeah. Vacation's over." I looked up at him and gave him my first real smile in weeks. "Caldwell, I'm actually a healer too. Maybe we can stay in touch—swap notes on some tough cases?"

His amber eyes flashed with surprise, and then a grin spread across his face. "Really? What are the odds? Maybe the Moon Goddess intended for us to meet. Safe travels, Seraphina."

I boarded the flight to LA. Seconds before they closed the cabin door, I checked social media one last time.

Vivian had posted.

"Guess who's watching the Northern Lights with me? Yep! My personal superhero!"

The photo showed the stunning green aurora stretching across the sky in Sweden.

Underneath, two figures were leaning into each other.

The tall man was only showing his profile, but I knew that jawline, those fingers, and that Alpha scent that used to sting my senses even through a screen.My mate.

I stared at Mortimer's silhouette.

In the back of my mind, Lily let out a low, final whimper of defeat.

I clicked on Mortimer's profile. With one tap, I unpinned his chat.