TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 17

17

Lisa POV

The cars started arriving around noon.

Cameron’s jeep pulled up first. He stepped out and walked around to the passenger side. When he opened the door, Evangeline emerged slowly.

She wore a soft cream–colored dress that made her platinum hair glow against the sunlight. Even from my second–floor window I could see how carefully Cameron supported her, one arm steady around her waist as she found her footing.

More cars pulled up behind them.

Women in elegant dresses hurried forward.

“Welcome home, Luna!”

“We missed you so much!”

Evangeline lifted her hand in a small wave, smiling while Cameron kept his arm around her, holding most of her weight.

They disappeared into the mansion.

The celebration began almost immediately.

Music drifted upward through the vents. Laughter followed. Glasses clinked together. Someone raised a toast.

“To our Luna! May she grow stronger every day!

Cheers erupted.

I stayed in my room.

The smell of food drifted upstairs, rich enough to make my stomach tighten even though I had no real appetite.

Hours passed.

The celebration kept going. More laughter. More toasts. At one point a group of voices began singing a traditional pack song I didn’t recognize

I lay on my bed and stared at the ceiling,

This was my life now. Existing along the edges of someone else’s story. Taking up space that was never meant for me. Waiting until I became useful.

Evening settled in before the noise finally started to fade.

Cars pulled away from the front drive. Voices called goodbye in the courtyard. Gradually the mansion quieted.

I had just begun to relax when a knock sounded.

A young servant stood outside my door.

“Lady Evangeline requests your presence.”

My stomach tightened. “Now?”

“Yes. If you’ll follow me.”

I stepped into the hallway and followed her.

She led me through corridors I had never seen before, deep into the west wing of the mansion.

Evangeline’s territory.

The doors to her quarters were enormous, dark wood traced with gold inlay.

The servant pushed them open and stepped aside.

The rooms inside were breathtaking.

A sitting area filled with velvet furniture stretched across polished floors. Bookshelves climbed to the ceiling. A fireplace dominated one wall, its white marble mantle carved with intricate patterns. Tall windows overlooked the gardens below.

Through an open doorway I could see the bedroom.

A wide bed draped in silk. Curtains pulled back. Crystal vases filled with fresh flowers.

This wasn’t just larger than my room.

It was another world,

Evangeline lay at the center of the bed, propped against a mountain of pillows.

“Lisa!”

Her face brightened.

“Come in, sister. Sit with me.”

I walked forward and lowered myself into the chair beside the bed,

“You look nervous.

“I’m fine, my lady.” and practiced. “How have you

“Call me Evangeline. We’re family now.” She smiled, war A been? I noticed you didn’t join the celebration.”

+15 Bonus

I shifted in the chair.

“I didn’t want to intrude.”

“You weren’t intruding. This is your home too.” She paused, studying me. “For now.”

Her gaze lingered.

Something. I

“Tell you still have feelings for Kade?”

The question hit hard.

“What we had ended,” I said.

She hummed softly, a quiet laugh following, though something sharp hid beneath it.

“Kade can be foolish.

Her smile returned.

She held my gaze.

“Do not kiss him.”

The words came firm.

“Don’t try to kiss him. Don’t reach for his mouth Don’t turn it into anything else. That part belongs to us.”

“Yes,”

“When he finishes, he’ll leave. Don’t ask him to stay. Don’t ask questions. Just let him

My stomach twisted,

“This isn’t personal,” she said gently. “We’re forcing him into something he doesn’t want. He already resents it. Don’t make it worse by pretending there’s intimacy here.”

“I won’t.”

“Can you do that for us?” she asked quietly, “Can you make this easier for Cameron?”

“Yes.” Her smile returned.

“You’re brave. Mom said you would do what needs to be done without creating complications.‘

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” Evangeline called.

The door opened.

Cameron stepped inside.

His eyes passed over me briefly, the way someone notices furniture, before settling on Evangeline.

“You sent for me?”

“I wanted to see you before bed, my love.”

He crossed the room and bent over her.

His mouth met hers and stayed there. His hand lifted to her face as she pressed her palm against his chest.

I stood.

Neither of them looked at me.

I reached the door.

Behind me Evangeline’s voice carried softly through the room.

“Soon, my love. Then we’ll be one step closer to our family.”

Cameron answered in a low voice that held a tenderness I had never heard before.

“I know.”

I stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind me.