TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 27

Twenty–Seven

CAMERON POV

I slept eight hours last night.

Eight uninterrupted hours, the longest stretch I’d managed in months. I woke clear–headed in a way I hadn’t felt in years. It should have been a relief, yet the feeling unsettled me because I knew exactly why I’d slept so well.

The knotting. The satisfaction my body found in Lisa’s bed.

I pushed the thought aside and focused on work.

The morning was consumed by resource distribution meetings, one of the few Alpha duties I actually tolerated. Unlike the Council of Elders, who spent every session questioning my authority, allocation was simple. Numbers. Decisions. Results.

We reviewed crop yields from the southern farms, timber production from the northern forests, and water rights along the eastern tributaries. Silver Creek controlled over eight hundred square miles of land that required constant management.

“The harvest projections are up fifteen percent from last year,” my agriculture minister said, sliding a chart across the table. “But we’ll need more grain storage if we want to stockpile for winter.”

“Approved,” I said. “Coordinate with the treasury and start construction.”

“The logging operations are stable,” the forestry director added. “We’ve replanted twice as many trees as we harvested.”

“Good. Continue the current schedule.”

This was what being Alpha should feel like. Making decisions that protected the pack instead of listening to Elder Richmond question whether a bastard son had the right to lead.

My phone buzzed.

Luna Catherine: Marcus and I will visit this weekend to check on Evangeline. Saturday morning.

I typed back

She’s doing much better. The crisis passed.

A reply came immediately.

Luna Catherine: We still want to see her. And discuss the treatment plan.

I stared at the message.

Evangeline had received all her care here at Silver Creek instead of Creek Keepers. Lycan medicine was superior. Better facilities. Better physicians. Treatments most werewolf packs couldn’t afford.

Dr. Beauty was one of the best.

Evangeline was receiving the best care available.

But Catherine and Marcus were not coming only for medical updates. They wanted to see whether the contract arrangement was working.

I typed a short response.

See you Saturday.

I set the phone down and tried to return to the reports.

My attention drifted anyway.

My thoughts kept circling back to last night. Lisa on all fours. The way she had taken me. The moment I nearly lost control and knotted inside her again.

And how good it had felt.

I forced myself to refocus.

The door opened and Franklin stepped inside carrying a tablet and a stack of security reports.

“No rogue activity this week. Perimeter is quiet,” he said. “I deserve a raise.”

I nodded without looking up.

Franklin watched me.

“You alright?”

“Fine.”

“You look distracted.”

“I’m not.”

He walked to the coffee station and poured two mugs, black the way I took it. He set one in front of me and leaned against the desk.

“Where did you take the girl yesterday?” I asked,

Franklin raised an eyebrow. “The girl has a name

I stared at him.

“Market. Bakery. Park,” he said after a moment. She liked it. First time she’s looked relaxed since she arrived.”

I said nothing.

Franklin crossed his arms.

“So,” he said, studying me, “how was the sex?”

I looked up sharply. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Pain level for her. Or maybe I should ask about the pleasure level.” His grin widened. “You look very well rested this morning, Alpha.”

Anger hit fast and cold.

“Get out.”

Franklin didn’t move.

“You know I’m right,” he said.

“I said get out.”

He raised both hands and stood. “Alright. I didn’t mean to-”

“Now.”

He grabbed his tablet and walked to the door but paused before leaving.

“For what it’s worth,” he said, his voice serious now, “I hope she gets pregnant quickly so you can stop torturing yourself.”

I didn’t answer.

“And maybe that’ll happen faster if you treat her like a person instead of equipment.”

The door closed behind him.

I sat there staring at the desk.

He wasn’t entirely wrong, and that irritated me even more.

My thoughts spiraled through the afternoon. Why did each night with Lisa feel different?

Her scent when she was aroused drove my wolf restless. My instincts pushed forward every

time I touched her.

Her body reacted to me in ways Evangeline’s never had.

Tight. Responsive. So receptive that I had to fight myself not to lose control.

I had never knotted Evangeline.

Not once.

Yet with Lisa I nearly did every time.

A woman I barely knew. A woman hired for conception.

I needed distance. If I kept things mechanical enough, the reactions would stop.

They had to.

My phone rang.

I remained silent.

“There’s an easy way to find out,” Franklin said carefully. “Ask her.

“No.”

He waited.

“I’m not getting involved in family drama,” I continued. “Catherine approved the contract. If there’s a problem, it’s her responsibility. Block Richard Hartwell from contacting me. Any communication goes through you.”

“Understood.”

He left.

I sat alone staring at the bank statement.

Why would someone like Lisa sell her womb?

Money, obviously.

But for what reason?

Manipulation? Desperation? Loyalty?

At nine o’clock I stood outside her door.

I considered asking about her family, but the thought faded. It didn’t matter. She was under contract.

I opened the door.

Lisa was already on the bed, naked and waiting.

Anger flared before I could stop it. At her. At myself. At the entire situation.

I crossed the room and pushed her down onto the mattress and paused long enough to see if she would refuse.

She didn’t.

So I continued.

I took her hard. Not violent, but without restraint I needed the friction, the rhythm, something strong enough to burn through the frustration that had been building all day..

The bed frame knocked against the wall as I thrust.

Lisa didn’t cry or pull away. She took it, breathing hard, her body yielding.

I turned her onto all fours and drove into her from behind, chasing the moment when thought disappears and instinct takes over.

The knot tried to form again.

I forced it down..

Not again.

I pulled out before it locked and finished with one hand gripping her hip while the other steadied me against the headboard.

When it was over I stepped back.

Lisa stayed on all fours for a moment, breathing hard.

Sweat covered her skin.

She looked small in the center of the bed.

I started cleaning up, ready to leave like always.

Then I felt her watching me.

“Are you alright, Alpha?”

The question caught me completely off guard.

I looked at her.

This girl I had just used. This stranger carrying my potential heir.

And I didn’t have an answer.