54 Chapter 54

54 Chapter 54

Seraphina’s POV 1

The stranger’s warm blue eyes held a familiarity that made my heart skip, though I couldn’t place why. Something about his presence

made me feel safer, but the fact that he knew me when I didn’t know him sent anxiety spiraling through my chest.

“I’m sorry,” I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear nervously. “You seem to know me, but I’m afraid I don’t remember your name.”

“Caleb,” he said gently, his smile never wavering. “Caleb Morrison.”

I repeated the name silently, waiting for some spark of recognition, but nothing came. Just the same frustrating blankness that had

haunted me since the accident. My wolf stirred restlessly, sensing something important that my conscious mind couldn’t grasp.

“Caleb Morrison,” I said aloud, testing how it felt on my tongue. “I wish I could remember you. I’m so sorry-”

When Caleb first looked at me, his eyes practically sparkled with excitement, like a golden retriever who’d just spotted their favorite

person after a long absence. But as my words sank in, I watched his expression deflate like a balloon losing air. His shoulders dropped

slightly, and for a moment he looked exactly like a disappointed puppy who’d been told their human couldn’t play.

“Oh,” he said softly, then quickly shook his head and gave me a gentle, understanding smile. “No, no, don’t apologize, Sera. It’s been so

many years, hasn’t it?” His voice was patient and kind, though I could still see a flicker of wistfulness in his warm brown eyes. “Maybe it’s

silly of me to expect you to remember a scruffy little boy from so long ago.”

The genuine care in his tone, mixed with that hint of boyish disappointment he was trying so hard to hide, made my throat tight with

emotion. “You mentioned my family earlier. You knew about my real parents, about what happened to them. How do you know so much

about my situation?”

Caleb’s expression grew serious, though not unkind. “Why don’t we grab some food and I’ll explain everything? There’s a diner just down

the street. We can talk properly there.”

The diner was small and worn but clean, with red vinyl booths and the kind of fluorescent lighting that made everyone look slightly pale.

The scents of coffee and home-cooked food filled the air, making my stomach growl despite my anxiety.

and slid in across from me, his movements natural

approached our table.

can I get you folks?”

said. “And maybe some of

“Coming right up, honey”

were alone, Caleb leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped on the scratched tabletop. “Sera, I need to start by telling you about what’s been happening up here in the north.

anything. What do

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54 Chapter 54

nearly empty diner. “Rogues moved in, testing boundaries,

isolated territories.”

our coffee and pie, setting them down with practiced

has been heading south toward the central territories, looking for protection with the bigger, more established

took a shaky sip of coffee. “Caleb, if it’s that dangerous here, why haven’t you and your family left? Why are you still

the ones who can’t leave.

can’t afford to relocate, the people

“That’s incredibly dangerous.”

parents and I, we run the only repair shop for three hundred miles in any direction. When families

When isolated communities need supplies, they need reliable transportation.”

can’t just abandon

he carried, the quiet courage that kept him here when others fled.

man, Caleb Morrison.”

needs to be done.” He took a sip of his coffee, then looked at me

forgot everything and wanted to know about your

began to race. “Yes. Please. I need to

Pack,” he said gently.

strength. Your mother had the most

know.

vision. “I don’t remember them at

how much

looked at him in confusion. “Caleb, I’m sorry, but I don’t remember anything about knowing

across his features-pain, maybe. “We were neighbors when we were children.

friends.”

each other as

From the time we could walk, we were practically inseparable. Every summer,

climbing trees,

heart clenched. “We

stubborn as hell. There was this old oak tree with branches

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