TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 179

One hundred and seventy nine

Lisa POV

“Should we even trust him?” my mom asked. Her eyes never left the window, tracking the car as it rolled toward the porch.

“Mom, now you’re being paranoid.”

“I should be. For all we know, he could be part of it. He presents himself as honest, but that is exactly how they get close.”

Her words left an oily feeling in my stomach.

“We can’t just throw accusations at everyone. We need to be sure. I have to believe he’s trying to help.”

“I didn’t say he was one of them.”

“You’re thinking it.”

She didn’t answer. She pulled the curtain back a little further.

“He wouldn’t be able to fool Cameron,” I said, “and definitely not Franklin.” The words sat between us. I heard the tremor of doubt in my own voice and hated how weak it sounded.

Mom’s face fell into a mask of quiet sadness. “Cameron didn’t see through Evangeline either.” 1

A knock at the door made her give me a pointed look to behave, then she headed for the foyer.

The baby shifted low in my belly. It was like he was reading the spikes in my heart rate. He was alive and a constant reminder of how much was at stake.

Dr. Harry stepped in a minute later. He carried his black leather bag as usual, but his posture was stiff. He didn’t offer his usual warm smile and his eyes stayed on me a little too long.

“Good morning, Lisa. How are you feeling today?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“You’re early,” my mother said, moving past me.

“I had a gap in my schedule. I thought I’d take it.” He set his bag on the table and looked from me to my mother. His gaze lingered on our tired faces, “You both look exhausted.”

“We are perfectly fine,” my mother said. She stood with her arms crossed.

He hummed, clearly not believing her, but he didn’t push.

“Any pain? Nausea? Dizziness?” he asked as he opened his bag.

I hesitated. It was strange how those physical pains felt like small things compared to the fear in my head.

“Maybe a little,” I said.

“When?””

“This morning. It passed.”

He pulled out a notebook and pointed toward the sofa. I lowered myself onto the seat while he snapped his blue

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latex gloves on. He pressed his fingers to my pulse, his eyes fixed on my throat.

“Do you feel like something is wrong right now?”

The question was so blunt it made me blink. I looked at him, searching for a hidden meaning. My mother, who was still hovering by the sofa, answered for me.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“I just want to know what feels wrong,” he said.

I opened my mouth, then shut it. How could I explain that the man I cared for was becoming a stranger? How could I tell him I didn’t feel safe in my own skin?

He reached for a needle. “I need to take a blood sample for an examination.”

My mother stepped closer. “Is that necessary? She told you she’s fine. Is there something you’re not telling us?”

“Of course not,” he replied. He worked quickly, not looking up from his kit. “I’m just not taking any chances.

My stomach knotted as I watched him tap the syringe.

“You didn’t find anything in the last blood test,” I said.

“That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to find.” He took my arm and wiped the skin with a cold alcohol swab. “This will be quick.”

The needle stung as it sank in. He worked in silence, sealing the vial and labeling it. He went through the motions, checking my vitals and writing in his book.

Everything looked normal, but nothing felt normal.

I watched his every move.

“You ran Cameron’s blood too. What was the result?”

“He’s fine.”

The answer came out too fast. I stared at him until he set his pen down and let out a sigh.

“I’m not saying something is wrong,” he said. “But there is definitely something off.”

Mom stepped right up to the table. “What does that mean?”

“It means I don’t have a medical explanation yet.”

“That’s not helping, Doctor.”

He reached back into his bag and pulled out another notebook. “I’ve seen this before. It doesn’t happen often enough to be a pattern, but I’ve noticed it.”

I leaned forward as he flipped the pages.

“Patients have symptoms that don’t match their labs. Everything looks healthy on paper, but the person is fading. First it was you, Lisa. Now it’s Cameron.”

His voice stayed flat, but his hands were shaking slightly.

“What about Cameron?” Mom asked.

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“He’s not as bad yet,” Harry said. “But the symptoms overlap.”

“In what way?”

He paused, biting his lip like he was counting the cost of his words.

“His sample doesn’t match any toxin or chemical I know. I’ve seen these cases before in certain high-ranking circles. They don’t just pop up in random places.”

My mind jumped to the only logical conclusion. High society. Power.

“Who else?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I can’t give you names.”

“Then why hasn’t it been stopped?”

“That’s the problem,” he said. “Medicine doesn’t touch it. Also, I’ve been told to stay away from you.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. “Why?”

“My superiors advised me to transfer my cases. They want me out.”

Mom’s voice went shrill. “Based on what?”

“A formal complaint. Someone said I’ve crossed professional lines with Lisa.”

“Who said that?!” Mom cried out. “How convenient that someone wants you gone right now!”

Alpha Kieran’s warnings about the whole thing being compromised flashed in my mind.

“I had to run Cameron’s blood manually,” Harry said. “I couldn’t trust the hospital computers.”

I felt the air leave the room. “What did you see?”

He looked at me, then down at his notes.

“That’s the thing. I can’t explain it. If it isn’t chemical, then I can’t treat it. You might need help from someone who doesn’t wear a white coat. If Alpha Cameron agrees, we have to move fast,” Harry said.

The room went dead quiet.

The words felt heavy. I felt Mom’s gaze on me, but I didn’t turn. My brain was already miles ahead. I could tell Harry the truth about the sect and the shadows, or I could stay quiet to protect him. If I spoke, I was dragging him into the fire.

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