TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 184

ne hundred and early four
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“I hate when you’re upset with me.”
“I’m not upset. I need things to calm down.”
“They will.”
Silence settled between us. My thoughts drifted to Lisa.
The curve of her stomach under my hands. The heat of her skin. Her body…
Desire hit hard enough to irritate me.
Franklin and Nadia were wrong.
I was not under anyone’s control.
Leaving a recovering Evangeline because I wanted to see Lisa would make me look like an asshole. Still, the thought kept coming back. I wanted her.
Evangeline opened her eyes. “A penny for your thoughts?”
I looked at her. “I want you to get well.”
Her lips formed a smile.
The drive to the safe house grated on my nerves. The headache was returning, traffic dragged along in fits, and I kept replaying yesterday’s argument.
Every accusation sounded more absurd the longer I sat with it. Kieran had looked deadly serious while saying it, which made it worse.
By the time I reached the property gates, my patience was hanging by a thread. The guards straightened when they saw my car. The place felt too quiet the moment I stepped inside. I checked the sitting room first, then the kitchen, then the upstairs halls.
No Lisa. No Susan.
I headed out.
“Where’s everyone?”
The guards didn’t answer right away. That silence pissed me off.
“I asked a question.”
“Ms. Lisa and Susan aren’t here, Alpha.”
My head snapped toward him. “What do you mean they aren’t here?”
The younger guard spoke after hesitating. “They left earlier.”
“With who?”
Silence came again.
“Beta Franklin gave the order.”
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One usted and enghty tour
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Her reply didn’t come. I stared at the message for a while before locking the phone.
We were almost at the border when my phone rang again.
Luna Catherine.
I answered at once.
“Cameron, please, we need you! Evangeline collapsed while standing. It looked like another dizzy spell.”
My grip tightened around the wheel.
“Is she conscious?”
“Yes, but she almost hit the floor. Cameron, I really think you should come back. She doesn’t look good.”
I closed my eyes briefly.
Perfect timing.
Franklin’s car stopped, and he watched me through the open window.
“What now?”
“Evangeline collapsed.”
He burst out laughing.
“You cannot keep doing this.”
I looked up sharply. “Doing what?”
“Running to her every single time something happens. She is manipulating you.”
Anger surged through me. “Enough, you fool. She’s sick.”
“No. You listen to me for once.” He moved closer to the car. “Open your damn eyes. Every time you try to move toward Lisa, Evangeline pulls you back. That’s not a coincidence. That is control.”
I looked away from him toward the road ahead.
The thought hit me only for a moment. The timing was strange. I knew that. But what was I supposed to do? Ignore a call saying Evangeline collapsed?
Franklin must have seen the hesitation in my face because his voice softened a little.
“I’ll take care of Evangeline. Go to Kieran’s pack. See Lisa. Just this once.”
I rubbed a hand over my face.
Evangeline could barely stand yesterday. The doctor had warned me again and again about stress. If something happened to her while I ignored the call just to chase suspicion, I would never forgive myself.
“She needs me,” I muttered and started the car. “I’m going home.”
Franklin looked wrecked by the answer.
“That is exactly what they want you to believe.”
He stepped back slowly, disappointment stamped across his face.
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