SERAPHINA’S POV
The phone rang twice before I finally gathered the courage to flip it over.
My heart instantly softened, and all the trepidation disappeared at the sight of Daniel’s face on the screen.
As soon as I answered, his excited voice burst through the speaker. “Mom!”
I sat upright on the bed, all my earlier exhaustion evaporating under my son’s warmth. “Hey, baby.”
He squinted at the camera, and his ready smile dimmed into a tiny frown.
“Mom...are you okay?”
The question caught me off guard. “Of course, why?”
He leaned closer until the camera caught only his eyes and a bit of messy hair flopping over his forehead. “You look...tired. And kinda jumpy. Did something happen?”
A pang hit my chest—an abrupt rush of warmth and sharp tenderness swelling at his concern.
This used to be my role: hovering, fussing, checking every detail to see if he was alright. Now here he was, studying me like I was the one who needed looking after.
I forced a smile. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Just a long day.”
“You sure?” His eyebrows knitted. “You promise?”
“I promise,” I said softly.
Daniel was far too perceptive for his own good, and he didn’t fully believe me—I could see it in the way his shoulders stayed slightly tense.
But after a beat, he exhaled and crossed his arms in that miniature-Alpha way of his.
“Okay... but if anyone bothers you, you tell me.”
I snorted. “And you’ll what, fly here and beat them up?”
The corner of his lips quirked up. “Exactly.”
I chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Satisfied—if only slightly—his grin returned, bright and wild. “So, how was your first day?”
His smile made mine widen. “Pretty eventful.”
“You have to go into details, Mom; you promised updates!”
I laughed. “Okay, okay. Let’s see...”
I told about the bustling Pike Place Market and the flying fish that nearly smacked a tourist, the pastries so buttery they made my eyes roll back, the soap artist carving tiny lavender dragons, and the harbor breeze whipping my hair into a ridiculous halo while Elaine insisted on taking photos.
And when I told him about walking past the bookstore and overhearing the women discussing Moonlit Pact, Daniel’s mouth fell open.
“They were talking about you?! Like strangers? In the wild?”
I chuckled. “Yes, in the wild.”
“That’s so cool!” His earlier worry melted into a grin so wide it was almost blinding. “Mom, I wish I’d come with you. You’re having so much fun without me!”
“Oh, sweetheart.” My smile softened. “This is advance scouting.”
His eyebrows shot up. “For what?”
“For our trip next year. So I know all the best places to take you.”
Daniel gasped so loudly I was sure the whole pack house heard.
“You mean it?!”
“I wouldn’t lie about that.”
He threw his arms into the air and shouted, “YES! BEST MOM EVER!”
I laughed until my eyes watered.
We talked for almost half an hour—about Seattle, about his day, about how the pack warriors kept fussing over him now that he was officially heir.
I was so wrapped up in Daniel that I didn’t hear the voice in the background until it spoke louder.
“Danny,” Kieran said, “bedtime.”
My breath froze.
I barely had time to prepare for the sight of him when—
There he was. On the screen behind our son.
His hair was damp like he’d just showered, and a strand flopped across his forehead almost boyishly.
His expression was gentle and fond as he looked at Daniel, but the moment his gaze flickered up and caught mine through the phone—
Heat shot through me so fast I nearly dropped the device.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The memory of that kiss slammed into me, overwhelming as a tidal wave.
My lips tingled; my stomach flipped. Deep and low, a coil of warmth tightened, traitorous and undeniable.
I swallowed hard and cleared my throat. “ I-I should go. Um...g-goodnight, Danny.”
Kieran’s voice stopped me. “Sera.”
My pulse stuttered like someone had yanked the plug from my sanity.
Kieran leaned down, gently pressing his head against Daniel’s. The picture they made was so tender and intimate, my chest clenched. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
“I’m glad your travels are going smoothly,” he said softly.
I blinked. “Oh. Yes. Thank you.”
He’d said he’d keep surveillance on me. If he knew about the alley incident, he gave no indication of it.
“Goodnight,” he murmured, the mundane greeting gentle and warm—affectionate in a way that hit far too close.
“Goodnight,” I managed, then ended the call before I could combust.



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