TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 122

A hundred and twenty two

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One hundred and twenty two

Cameron

The air smelled of sweat and cologne as Franklin dodged my strike and chuckled, that smug look already on his face. I waited for an opening and drove a hit into him that made him gasp and fold.

“You evil beast,” he said through his teeth.

“All’s fair in war.”

He scoffed, still laughing. “Which is why you should stop burning it off in training twice a day and go see the woman you love.”

“Stop it,” I said.

“Round two,” he said, already moving, matching me hit for hit.

Around us, the young scouts trained, watching us like it was a show. They liked it, took pride in it. Training with their alpha meant something.

For me, it was just performance. I couldn’t remember the last time I actually smiled.

I nodded at the guard who handed me water and a towel.

“Done for the day,” I said. “Check the patrol borders. Sign the letters and shipments. And keep my cousin out of council meetings.”

Franklin fell into step beside me.

“I’m not an idiot, Cameron. That’s already my job.” He glanced at me. “So… Evangeline agreed to go to the North?”

I shook my head. He understood.

“She’s afraid. We don’t even know what it means to have our wolf cut open like that.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. If she hasn’t agreed, why do you think she will?”

“Because she has to,” I said.

With Luna Catherine and Cade involved, the pressure was already there. Plans were moving whether Evangeline liked it or not.

She hadn’t said no. She kept stalling, asking questions, circling it. Time kept moving anyway.

She would go. I’d make sure of it.

The next day, I tried everything. Had the chef make her favorite dumplings. Rubbed her feet. Sat with her on the terrace, stayed close, made sure she saw me, felt me there.

That evening, I pulled out one of her suitcases and started packing.

“What are you doing?” she said, stopping at the door.

“You wear this in the cold. I’ll pack it.”

She shot me a look. “Seriously? It’s gotten to this? You’re going to pack me up even when I say no?”

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The hundred and twinty two

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“Of course not, darling,” I said, trying to keep it light.

She moved to the bed and sat.

I tried to pull her into conversation. She barely stayed in it.

Then she looked at me. “What if something goes wrong? I don’t want to die.”

Her eyes stayed on me. “Why are you so sure it will work? What happens if it doesn’t?”

I placed the neck pillow in the suitcase and sat beside her, taking her hand.

“You’re scared. I see it. And you’re not wrong. It’s risky. But we don’t have better options. Let’s try.”

She pulled her hand away and turned from me.

“Promise me you’ll think about it,” I said.

“I can’t. Don’t ask me for that.”

I held onto my patience. “What if it works? What if this gives you what you need? There have been successes. You just have to let the doctors try.”

“Success in the middle of people dying,” she said. “I just want to get better without all this.”

I left it alone.

But I still pushed the medical clearance through Park Hospital.

Franklin brought the envelope later, confirmations, approvals. Everything lined up for departure.

Nadia paused in the hallway when she saw us. The tension between her and Franklin sat there, heavy.

They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to.

“Good night,” Franklin said, then walked off.

Nadia watched him from the side.

“We should make a bet,” I said. “How long after you marry Desmond before you cheat on him with Franklin.”

“I said don’t say that.”

She moved toward the liquor cabinet. I stopped her.

“You promised to stay sober for a month. It’s been two days.”

She groaned and dropped into the seat across from me, picking up the envelope and scanning it.

“You need to talk to her,” I said.

Nadia didn’t look up. “There’s only so much you can do for an adult. If she won’t help herself, that’s on her.” She glanced at me, a grin creeping in. “Anyway, guess who I ran into at the store?”

I didn’t react.

“Lisa.”

My chest tightened. “And that’s news?”

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ne hundred and twenty two

Nadia laughed. “Look at you. You were calling me a puppy over Franklin, and now you look like you just embarrassed yourself.”

I ignored her and focused on the documents in front of me, signing off on the marketplace build.

“So you’re not going to say goodbye?” she asked. “You’ll be gone for a month.”

“Why are you bringing that up? Aren’t you supposed to be on Evangeline’s side?”

“I am,” she said. “I just know things won’t stay the same as long as Lisa is still in your life.”

That sat there longer than I liked.

That night, around eleven, I took the car and drove.

I didn’t stop until I reached Lisa’s street.

The guards at the gate recognized my car and rushed to open it.

Everything was ready. Easy. All I had to do was drive in.

See her. Touch her. Let it settle something in me before I left.

I stayed in the car.

“Not coming in,” I said.

They shut the gate.

I drove off.

Not because I didn’t want to, but because I chose not to.

If I was ever going to control myself, it had to be now.

D

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