TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 151

One hundred and fifty one

Lisa POV

+16 Bchus

Cameron’s silver jeep occupied the front drive. The guards stood at the perimeter, their usual casual stance abandoned for rigid vigilance. I stepped out of my car and ignored the weight pressing against my chest.

Voices drifted from the dining room. I walked toward the entrance and stopped in the doorway. Cameron sat at the head of the table, across from my mother. Fine china sat before them. They both looked toward me as I crossed the threshold.

“There she is,” my mother said. “Just at the right time. How was your stay at the nursery?”

I moved to the table and pulled out a chair. I sat down and ignored her question. She pushed a plate toward me. The scent of coconut fish curry and warm rice rose into the air.

“You should eat,” she said. “I made your favorite.”

Cameron kept his focus on me. He reached for a small velvet box resting near his water glass.

“I got you something,” he said.

I took the box and flipped the lid open. A glass bottle sat nestled in silk. The glass was clear, and the label displayed a name known for high prices.

“What is this for?” I asked.

“We had a celebration. It made sense to acknowledge you as well.”

I set the box back on the table.

“You are part of this, Lisa. Whether we say it directly or not.”

“Thank you,” I said. “But you didn’t have to do this.”

He turned to my mother. She leaned forward.

“Lisa, be nice. You do not reject a gift from an alpha. He wants to confirm your next prenatal appointment. He plans to attend, despite the alpha office being swarmed with duties.”

I refused to look away from Cameron.

“You do not need to,” I said. “Dr. Harry handles everything. It is routine. You have work.”

Cameron scooped a portion of rice onto his plate. “I still want to be there.”

I waited for him to provide a reason, but he remained silent.

“Dr. Harry is thorough,” I said. “He is consistent.’

Cameron tilted his head. “I see.”

We ate in silence. The sound of metal scraping against porcelain filled the room. I reached for my water.

“I am going to the festival.”

Cameron stopped his fork halfway to his mouth. “The festival?”

“I have gone every year,” I said. “I do not see a reason to stop now.”

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He narrowed his focus until it felt like a physical probe. “You are pregnant. Why go now?” “Because I want to,” I said. “I do not want to stay in one place, waiting for things to happen.” “Lisa, leave the alpha to eat and think about it,” my mother said.

“Stop, Mom,” I said. “You told me to get my life together and not focus on this pregnancy alone. You told me to breathe and enjoy life as it comes. That is what I plan to do. Cora thinks I should take my fashion house more seriously after the baby arrives.”

“That can be arranged,” Cameron said. “I can set you up properly. Space, funding, connections-

“I do not need that,” I said. “I have enough. I will build it myself.”

He held my gaze. I decided to blame the pregnancy hormones if he dared to ask why I was being difficult. My mother looked from him to me but kept her silence. Cameron drank from his glass and waited.

“About the festival,” he said. “I do not want unnecessary complications.”

“You mean Luna Catherine.”

He did not deny it.

“I am already limiting contact on that end,” he said. “Less proximity. Fewer points of interference.”

I considered his words.

“Why would she want to hurt me when I am carrying her grandchild?” I asked. “You are the father of this child. You have more authority in this situation than she does.”

“That is not how it works.”

“It is, if you decide it is,” I said. “Why would I act like I am the one at risk here when you are in the position to control that?”

“Lisa,” my mother warned.

“Would you allow your own child to be exposed to risk because of some petty misunderstanding?” I asked. “I am going to the festival.”

My mother looked at Cameron. “Forgive her, Cameron. She is pregnant and stubborn. A double combination. She acts like a mule.”

“That is one way to put it,” Cameron said.

He kept his focus on me, searching for the source of this defiance.

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