TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 142

One hundred and forty two

Cameron POV

Nadia held Evangeline tight, making her let out a strained groan. Nadia pulled back, eyes already filled with tears.

“Why did those doctors give us hope just to take it back? A whole month just to wait for a surgery that should be happening now?”

Evangeline smoothed her skirt as they sat on the couch. “I don’t blame them, Nad. They tried to stabilize my wolf, but nothing held. They want to be sure this time.”

“Let’s hope they actually get it right this time,” Nadia muttered.

“It also gives everything more time to fall apart,” Evangeline said, glancing at the window. “No guarantee my body even holds out that long.”

“Please stop.” Nadia pulled her into a gentler hug. “Don’t talk like that. You’re getting through this. Your wolf stays strong, and we’ll grow old just to annoy the council. You’re still alive and the doctors have a plan.”

Evangeline looked down at her hands, tracing the veins at her wrist. “Plans fail.”

“And they also work,” Nadia said. “You don’t get to jump straight to the worst ending and sit there. You’ve got Cameron. You’ve got me. And your family. You will get through the next few weeks.”

Evangeline adjusted the pillow behind her. “I heard about Desmond. Slimy bastard. And I told you to stick with him because he had ambition and Alpha blood. I hate that I did that to you.”

“He just dug his grave,” I said, setting my glass of mango juice down. “Just wait and see what I do to him.”

“But what about the fallout?” Evangeline asked. “He’s a prominent Alpha. Nadia takes the hit if you move against him.”

“They can talk,” I said. Heat pressed behind my eyes. “I don’t care how they spin it. I’ll bleed him dry. His routes, his suppliers, everything he leans on. No Alpha will want to remain friends with him after this.”

“He asked to meet you,” Nadia said, quieter now. 1

“I’ll see him,” I said. “And I’ll handle it.”

“And I still have surgery in a month,” Evangeline said. “Everything’s piling up at once.”

“Don’t start,” Nadia warned.

“It’s the truth.”

“You’re not dying.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I’m not listening to this.”

Evangeline gave a faint smile and stood. “I need to take this,” she said, glancing at her phone. “I’ll be back.”

She stepped out. The door clicked shut. Nadia stared at it, then turned to me, arms crossed.

“What’s going on, Cameron?” she said. “Why is Franklin blocked from seeing Lisa? Your Beta couldn’t even get past the safe house. A guard stopped him and asked for clearance. Those men answer to him. Why are they

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shutting him out?”

I closed the file on my lap. “It didn’t come from me. I told you that already. The last thing Franklin and I argued about was him blaming Evangeline for the poisoning. Why would I block him now? It doesn’t add up.”

“The logs tie it to your office,” Nadia said.

“Then the logs are wrong.”

She let out a sharp breath. “So people are giving orders in your name and you’re just hearing about it now? That’s careless.”

“I said I didn’t give that order,” I snapped.

The door swung open. Franklin walked in with a scowl. He was always composed, but not today. He didn’t look at Nadia. His eyes stayed on me.

“Interesting,” he said. “I didn’t need to be searched and stripped just to walk in this time.”

“Franklin, something’s gone wrong with communication,” I started.

He looked at me like he didn’t recognize me. “I’ll let it slide. Call it stress. Just don’t give an order that ruins something important next time.”

“This isn’t something you brush off,” Nadia cut in.

“I’m not brushing it off!” I shot up. “I didn’t do it!”

Nadia raised her hands and stepped back. Franklin didn’t react.

“Fine,” he said. “Desmond. Where do we start?”

The next morning, a dull pressure pressed into the base of my skull. Light from the window cut too sharp. I could still move, but nothing quite lined up. When I turned my head, the edges of the furniture split and dragged. Evangeline was already awake. She leaned over me, brushing kisses across my cheeks. Her skin felt cool against mine.

“Did you sleep well, my love?” she asked.

I gave a stiff nod.

“Good. We have things to fix,” she said, her fingers tracing my jaw. 1

“Like what?”

“Franklin,” she whispered.

I frowned, the movement sending pain across my forehead.

“He’s overstepping, Cameron,” she said, calm and steady. “He questions you. He acts without you. Yesterday, he spoke out of line and you let it happen. A Beta making decisions while you’re out weakens you. Plus, he’s not trustworthy.”

“He’s doing what I put him there to do.”

“He’s getting in your way,” she said, her fingers sliding into my beard. “You don’t need that right now. Do you

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trust me?”

I looked into her green eyes. The pain behind them sharpened. I nodded.

“Good. Call him.” She placed my phone in my hand.

I dialed. He picked up on the first ring.

“I’m downstairs,” Franklin said.

“Come up.”

Evangeline let out a chuckle. She leaned close, her lips brushing my ear as she fed me the words. By the time Franklin stepped in and stopped at the foot of the bed, they were already sitting in my throat.

“You’re stepping back from Lisa,” I said. The words sat heavy in my mouth.

Franklin’s expression shifted from focus to confusion. He stared at me.

“No,” he said.

“Don’t say no to me,” I snapped, the force of it sending pain through my head. “You’re done at the safe house. This isn’t a discussion. Step back.”

He didn’t move, but his face locked up.

“I understand, Alpha. I’m doing the job you gave me.”

“Then don’t push me into removing you from it.”

Confusion flashed back in his eyes. “That doesn’t sound like you, Cameron. You don’t pull me off something I’ve handled from the start.”

“I just did.”

“Something’s wrong.”

Evangeline’s hand tightened on my shoulder.

“You’re done with this assignment,” I said. “Step back.”

The room went quiet. Franklin gave a nod, turned, and walked out.

Evangeline wrapped her arms around me. “Good,” she murmured, “That needed to be done. Now open Desmond’s routes. We don’t need a war.”

I picked up the tablet and cleared the blocks on Desmond’s routes. The tightness in my chest eased as I did it. Evangeline clapped. “One more thing,” she said, hugging me from behind. “Let’s go see Lisa.”

The safe house was quiet when we arrived. The guards stepped aside as my car pulled in. I walked into the living room, Evangeline just behind me.

Lisa sat on the sofa. A doctor checked her vitals while her mother hovered nearby. The television played on mute. Susan looked up with a relieved smile. I ignored her and kept my eyes on Lisa.

Lisa’s gaze flicked between Evangeline and me, her hands moving to her stomach.

“I came to check on your progress,” I said. My voice sounded cold.

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“I’m fine,” she said quietly.

“Good. Keep it that way. Don’t get emotional with me, Lisa. You’re here to carry the child. That’s all this is.” Her lips parted.

“Cameron?” Susan said, her voice shaking. “That’s a cruel thing to say after what she went through.”

“That’s enough,” I cut in. “I don’t want to hear about the poisoning again. The doctors cleared her. The baby is fine. We’re done with it. Anyone who brings it up again answers to me.”

Lisa kept staring at me. All I felt was the growing pulse in my skull.

“Is there anything else?” she asked.

I said nothing. Evangeline stepped forward, lacing her fingers with mine.

“Sorry for Cameron being harsh,” she said. “He’s tired of the tension. Everyone needs to focus. You carry the child. The contract ends. That’s it.”

Lisa nodded. Evangeline smiled and guided me out.

Outside, the wind hit my face.

“You cleared the distractions,” she said, leaning into me. “I’m proud of you.”

I looked out at the horizon. The pressure in my head was digging in behind my eyes.

“Let’s go home,” I said. “I need to sleep..

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