All Chapters of TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

LISA POVI couldn’t sleep.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the hurt on Evangeline’s face when she walked in and found Cameron kissing me. The moment replayed in my head again and again, each time making the shame burn deeper in my chest.She was his mate. The woman he loved. The woman who was dying while I stood there letting myself get carried away, letting myself forget that I was nothing more than a transaction.God, I was pathetic.I spent the entire day hiding in my room, pacing from one wall to the other, trying to convince myself this wasn’t my fault. Cameron had been the one who kissed me. I had tried to maintain the boundaries. He was the one who crossed them.But that excuse rang hollow.I had wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to feel like I mattered to him as something more than a womb he was renting.That made me complicit.That made me the other woman.For a while I thought about calling Sasha and telling her everything, but I already knew what she would say.Evangeline i

LISA POVI stood outside my bedroom door at five forty-five in the morning, already dressed in running gear, seriously considering backing out of the pack run Franklin had invited me to. It had seemed like a good idea yesterday, something to fill my days with besides waiting for Cameron.Now the reality had arrived.I was about to go running with Lycans.I touched the pendant at my throat, the one Franklin had given me. Proof I belonged here, at least technically.What’s the worst that could happen?Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed my water bottle and headed downstairs.The gathering point was at the eastern edge of the estate where the manicured grounds faded into forest. I heard voices before I saw the group, laughter and easy conversation carrying through the morning air.Around thirty wolves had already gathered, stretching and chatting in small groups. Most wore athletic clothes like mine. A few wore casual shirts and shorts.All of them were Lycans.I stopped near

Cameron POVI hated social gatherings.The politics, the posturing, the endless performance. Making small talk with people who were only friendly because they wanted something, while the weight of everyone’s expectations pressed down on me. Hosting them at my own estate made it worse.The ball was in two days, and preparations had taken over the entire house. Servants moved through every hallway. Deliveries arrived all day. Every surface shone from constant polishing.I wanted to escape to the training grounds and let my wolf run until exhaustion shut my mind down.Instead, I sat in Evangeline’s sitting room while she flipped through fabric swatches with an enthusiasm I hadn’t seen in months.“What do you think?” She held up two samples, one champagne gold and one silver. “I’m leaning toward the gold. It complements my coloring better. And you could wear a matching vest or tie.”“Whatever you prefer,” I said. “But Eva, you don’t need to exhaust yourself over this. The ball isn’t—”“It’

Franklin POVCameron thought I had feelings for Lisa.The idea was almost funny. Not because Lisa wasn’t likable. She was beautiful, kind, and stronger than she gave herself credit for. Under different circumstances, maybe I could have developed feelings for her.But that wasn’t what was happening.I was simply being her companion, trying to make life in this twisted situation a little less miserable. Giving her the basic decency everyone else seemed determined to withhold.Apparently, that made me suspicious.Cameron’s jealousy would be amusing if it wasn’t so pathetic. He wanted Lisa but refused to admit it. He guarded her like property while insisting she meant nothing. And somehow I was the problem.I shook my head as I left his office, the conversation still echoing.You’re getting blinded by feelings.How do I know the child is mine?As if I would ever betray him like that. As if I would sleep with the woman he was fucking.The woman I wanted was nowhere near Lisa.She was rude,

Lisa POVKade crossed the room and stopped too close. Not touching, but close enough that his shoulder blocked the rest of the room from view.“How have you been, Lisa? I’ve been worried about you.”“I’m fine.”“Are you?” His gaze moved across my face, searching. “Because you shouldn't be here. What is it you need? Money? I'll help you. Just don't do this.”The offer sounded genuine, but it wasn’t.“I appreciate that,” I said, shifting my weight so there was more space between us. “But I don't need your help.”“You always were stubborn.” He smiled faintly. “That’s one of the things I admired about you. We would have made a powerful couple.”“We tried that,” I said with a huff. “You told me you weren’t ready to commit. Remember?”Kade’s smile faded. He glanced briefly around the room, then leaned closer.“It was bad timing,” he said. “I had responsibilities back then. Pressure from the pack. Things were complicated. I can't watch you do this to yourself. You could still walk away from t