TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 162

hundred and susty two

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One hundred and sixty two

LISA POV

The rain had reduced to a drizzle before noon, leaving the air freshly cool and lulling me in and out of sleep. The journey from yesterday still sat in my bones. My body felt heavier, and I knew if I let myself lie down again, I wouldn’t get up in time for anything.

I stood by the mirror in my room, adjusting the pleated skirt around my waist. My stomach bulge was no longer something I could hide. I finished dressing, choosing a loose tee that wouldn’t cling or weigh me down as the day

stretched.

“Lisa, if you’re not ready in the next ten minutes, I’m leaving you behind,” my mother called from downstairs. “You don’t have to come with us, Mom.”

“You wish. Dr. Harry is on his way from the hotel. Get downstairs right now. I’m coming with you so you don’t end up doing anything reckless.”

“That sounds like love,” I muttered with a smile, using a swab of lip gloss. Then I headed downstairs and reached for a bottle of water.

“Why did we even buy this house if you’re going to run off to Alpha Kieran the moment he calls?”

She shook her head. “I am not running anywhere.”

“Mm… so if he shows up right now and says ‘come,’ you’ll just sit here and pretend your body doesn’t already agree? Stop pretending you don’t have fantasies—”

“I raised you better than this.”

“And I’m still your best work,” I replied, laughing.

A knock came from the door before she could respond. One of the guards stepped in, and Sasha bounced in. She whistled when she saw me.

“Look at that belly. Last time I saw you, you were normal. Can’t believe you’re carrying a whole human inside of you.”

“I’m still normal.” I laughed. “You’ll survive the shock when you get pregnant.”

She did a fake gag and accepted my hug. Another knock followed. Dr. Harry stepped in after the guard opened the door. He looked around briefly before his attention settled on my mom.

“Who’s that handsome young man? Don’t tell me he’s the Dr. Harry I’ve been hearing about?” Sasha whispered. Putting a face to his name now, I wouldn’t say I’m surprised that Cameron was throwing tantrums. He’s a fine young man. Pityd don’t do the male gender.”

I dragged her toward the living room, wondering why I ended up telling her the things she would later use against

“We’re heading out now,” my mother said. “And before anyone forgets, Lisa is not eating anything from outside.”

Sasha groaned. “That’s cruel, Susan. She’s pregnant.”

“It’s necessary. We don’t want her catching something.”

“I’ll eat for her,” Sasha said.

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ne hundred and saty two

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“That would be wise,” my mother replied, picking up the cookies she had packed and handing them to me.

Outside, the guards were already in position, one ahead, one behind, creating space without drawing attention. We got into the cars, splitting between two vehicles, and the drive to the festival grounds didn’t take long. The closer we got, the louder it became. The entire place felt alive before we even stepped out.

By the time we arrived, the ground was still damp from the earlier drizzle, but it didn’t slow anything down. Vendors had already set up their stalls, fabrics draped across wooden frames, baskets filled with goods, and people moving from one place to another without stopping.

The moment we stepped in, the sound of drums, laughter, and calls from vendors swallowed us.

“Fresh harvest goods!”

“Come see, come see!”

“Special prices for festival day!”

The guards adjusted around us, maintaining distance. They didn’t block anyone, but they made sure no one crossed into our space without reason.

Sasha grabbed my hand. We moved through the crowd, not rushing anything. I could feel the rhythm of the place under my feet, the kind that settled into your body whether you wanted it or not. Harry walked beside us, taking everything in.

“You look lost,” I said, looking up at him with a grin.

“I’m observing.”

“That’s a polite way of saying you don’t know what’s going on.

“I know enough,” he replied. A group of dancers moved past us. People gathered around, clapping and joining in without hesitation.

Harry watched them. “Does this happen every year?”

I nodded.

“And you never miss it?”

“Never.”

He nodded. “I see why. Silver Creek needs to learn how to have some fun.”

He was right. Cameron’s pack was financially better than ours, but everything there was quite drab and serious.

We reached another section where elders sat in a line, vouching for families that should be considered for matchmaking among their youth. They usually did that, especially for chronic bachelors. I slowed, then looked at Harry.

“You should try it.”

“I’m not here for that.”

“You’re here anyway.”

“That doesn’t mean I participate.”

Sasha stepped in. “Just stand there. Let them look at you. You can never tell where you find love.”

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se hundred and saty two

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“I’m not doing that.”

1 reached for a band from the nearby table and held it up. “Then wear this.”

He looked at it. “What is it?”

“Festival accessory.” I slipped it onto his wrist before he could change his mind. Sasha was already pulling me away. “Come on.”

We left him there, knowing the green band was a symbol that one was single and available.

“You’re terrible,” Sasha said. We laughed, moving further into the crowd. We passed a line of vendors displaying charms and small carved pieces, each one tied to something, fertility and harvest blessings. A woman called out to me as we walked past.

“Pregnant one, come and see!”

I smiled but didn’t stop. The guard ahead shifted, creating space without making it obvious.

The smell of food hit me as we moved on, spiced roasted beef. I paused, just enough to take it in.

Sasha noticed. “Don’t you think your mom is being overly paranoid that you could get poisoned from public food?” she said, taking another bite of what she was holding. “This is good. You’re missing out.”

“Moms know best, I guess,” I said as we kept moving.

Time passed without me tracking it. We stopped for photos, Sasha dragging me into angles I didn’t argue with. The music shifted, the energy rising and falling with it. My mother appeared when needed, not staying too close but never too far.

Harry found us again later. He looked exasperated.

“You set me up,” he said.

“I didn’t. You look fine to me. Just wait until nightfall and see what they will do to you.”

He shook his head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“You’re welcome.”

We moved again, enjoying ourselves. I didn’t chase anything. I let the festival come to me instead. It was easier that way.

Then, in the middle of everything, something shifted.

I didn’t know what it was at first, just a pause in my attention, something catching at the edge of it. A face in the crowd, turned slightly away, thinner than I remembered.

I stopped.

Sasha kept talking, but I didn’t hear her.

The man stood near one of the stalls, looking at something laid out on the table. Recognition came without asking. I didn’t realize I had stopped walking until Sasha’s voice faded somewhere behind me and everything narrowed to one point.

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Cine hundred and sixty throo

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