TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 160

One hundred and caty

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One hundred and sixty

CAMERON POV

I stood by the window in my study, taking a phone call on a territory dispute report from my gamma that was beginning to irk me.

“Handle it,” I said. “I don’t want delays.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

We were wrapping up when Franklin and Evangeline’s voices carried from the hallway. From my half-open door, I saw Evangeline passing a pouch made of banana leaves to him.

“You think Desmond would poison me?” Evangeline asked in the tired tone that meant she either just woke up or her medication was making her drowsy.

“I think we verify anything that comes from him,” Franklin replied. “It’s wise that Alpha Cameron wants it tested before you use it.”

“Goodness. I didn’t even think of that. If there’s anything odd about it, it means we finally have something to hold against him.”

Franklin nodded. “That’s the idea. I’ll take it to the lab.”

Evangeline thanked him and left. Franklin’s gaze followed her back as she walked away. He wore a frown and straightened when he noticed my presence. I had seen the way he looked at her before I stepped in. Not the first time either. Franklin had never hidden how he felt about Evangeline.

“Why are you glaring at my mate?”

“I wasn’t,” he said.

I didn’t address it.

“Is Lisa’s leaving preparations handled?”

“Already done.”

“You’re going with her?”

“No need. I assigned two of our best guards. They won’t take their eyes off her.”

That should have been enough. Still, something about the setup made me uncomfortable. Franklin watched me, then smirked.

“They have to go with an extra jeep because she’ll be going with her mother and the doctor.”

I turned away to pour myself some wine.

“That man seems to bother you more than necessary.”

“Shut up,” I said.

He huffed out a quiet laugh. “I’m just saying. Nadia and I had a theory in our heads where Lisa gets over her feelings for you and settles with a safe choice who would choose her publicly-”

“Watch it,” I cut in. “Eva’s around.”

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ne Funded and bety

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Franklin’s amusement didn’t disappear, but he didn’t push. I leaned against the edge of the table, gulping down my drink. Even though I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable at the thought of Lisa being with someone else, and even though I’d be a selfish bastard to stop her from finding happiness after almost costing her life, it just wasn’t something I ever thought I would imagine.

“She’ll be staying at her place?” I asked.

“Yes,” Franklin said. “The house she bought is secure enough, and we’ve already reinforced the perimeter.”

I nodded.

Most people in her position would have spent that money on guilty pleasures. She hadn’t. She put it into something that mattered.

Franklin watched me again. “You’re thinking too much about this. That’s why you suddenly look like you want to stop her from going.”

The whiskey burned my throat. 2

“Approve the doctor.”

That shut him up. Then he burst out laughing.

“That’s new, Cameron. You went from wanting him out to approving him.”

“I don’t have to like him to see the logic,” I mumbled.

“That must hurt. But it’s wise that you’re adjusting.”

“I’m making decisions, fool. Don’t confuse the two.”

He raised his hands in surrender, and Evangeline’s footsteps sounded from behind. The conversation ended without needing to be said. Franklin tucked the pouch into his inner pocket.

“I’ll get this tested,” he said.

“Do that,” I said.

He glanced at Evangeline, then at me, and walked past us without another word. The door closed behind him, and silence settled.

Evangeline stood where she was, her gaze following the direction Franklin had taken before it shifted back to me.

“I should have gone to the festival,” she said wistfully. “That’s my pack. Everyone I’ve known all my life will be there.”

“You’re not in a condition to travel, honey,” I said.

“I’m aware,” she replied. “That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

I stepped closer and held her hand. “It’s temporary.”

She looked at me and shook her head. “I don’t want them to see me like this. Weak and dying.”

“You’re not dying.”

She smiled faintly at that, but it didn’t reach her eyes. I reached for her, pulling her closer, my hand settling at her back.

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mind and sty

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“You’ll be fine. This will pass.”

She pushed my hand away, startling me.

“Don’t do that.”

I paused. “Do what?”

“That,” she said. “That tone.”

“It’s not a tone.”

“It is,” she replied. “And I don’t want it.”

I didn’t respond. She stepped back, putting space between us.

“It’s rich that you try to comfort me, yet you are so repulsed that you can’t even get hard to make love to me. Save your pity. I don’t need it.”

A wince formed in my eyes. “It’s not pity. I truly care about you, and more than ever I want you to get well and enjoy the rest of your life.”

She held my gaze. The silence stretched until she broke it.

“When I get better, what happens then?”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I asked. When this is over, when I’m back to myself… what happens if you still feel something for her?”

The question landed directly. There was no anger or hesitation in it.

I looked at her. “That’s not something we need to get into right now.”

“It is,” she said.

“Evangeline, you’re making assumptions.”

“Am I?”

I didn’t answer.

She turned away.

“We are mates. That doesn’t change. And you’re Alpha. That also doesn’t change. You know how this looks,” she i said.

There it was.

“I’m aware,” I said.

“Are you?”

I held her gaze. “Yes.”

She shook her head and walked away.

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