TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 290

Two hundred and ninety

Isabella POV

Just like last Saturday night, I threw myself into helping around the Alpha House while Alpha Cameron and his family gathered for their family dinner, except that tonight, I steered clear of the dining area.

Keeping busy was easier than sitting alone, wondering why my mate could flirt with me one minute and pretend nothing existed the next. Wesley had arrived earlier and gone straight to Grandma Cassidy, and after catching a glimpse of him, I’d made sure to stay as far away from them as possible.

The backyard was busy enough. The grills were going, smoke drifted through the evening air, and the cooks still had meat roasting while they prepared a smaller batch for themselves after dinner.

“I’ve got it,” I said, taking a stack of serving trays from one of the maids before she could carry them herself. I set the trays beside the washing station before counting what was left to clear.

She smiled, letting me have them. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d think Luna Lisa hired you. You’ve been helping since this afternoon. I’d have been hiding somewhere the moment the guests arrived, but you always find something to do.”

“I don’t really like sitting still.”

“I can see that.” She wiped her hands on her apron before glancing at me curiously. “Are you from

around here?”

Not again.

“No.”

“Which pack?”

“My son and I moved here recently.”

The answer seemed to stop the questions and show her that I didn’t wish to talk about myself. She went back to her work without another word. People usually stopped asking once they realized I wasn’t going to volunteer anything else.

I wasn’t only avoiding Wesley. I was avoiding Barbara and Anita too.

My father and his wife were here tonight.

Just breathing the same air as my father and Gwen made my heart pound erratically. Seeing Gwen step into the backyard confirmed the fear I’d been carrying all evening.

“Can I help you, my lady?”

I lowered my head on instinct and stepped behind the serving station, pretending to rearrange a stack of clean platters.

Gwen stood beside Grandma Cassidy near the head cook, wearing the same warm smile I’d learned to

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fear. It was the smile she wore just before she said something that left a bruise no one else could see.

“I only came to thank the chef. Dinner was wonderful.”

The head cook beamed. “You’re too kind. Honestly, this was one of our simpler meals.”

“Simpler?” Gwen looked genuinely surprised. “Then I’d love to see what you consider a feast.”

The cook laughed so loudly that even the assistants looked over.

“You’ll have to come back for one of our festivals. We’ll send you home with enough food to feed half your neighborhood.”

“I may just hold you to that. Luna Lisa is lucky to have you,” Gwen continued warmly, her eyes drifting over the backyard.

I lowered my head and stepped behind the serving station, where stacks of clean platters waited to be

taken inside.

Grandma Cassidy watched her for another moment before asking, “Were you looking for someone?”

“Oh.” Gwen smiled almost apologetically. “Actually, yes. There was a young woman Luna Lisa took in recently. I met her at the hospital a few weeks ago. Her little boy, Maverick, wasn’t well, and she looked so frightened. I’ve been wondering how he’s doing.”

“What do you need her for?” Grandma Cassidy asked. She didn’t sound suspicious enough. In fact, I’d say she was merely curious.

“I noticed her earlier, but she seemed busy, and I didn’t want to interrupt. Since we’re about to leave, I just wanted to check on her and make sure everything turned out all right.”

I hadn’t left the backyard all evening, and I hoped Grandma Cassidy would notice the lie.

The head cook looked around before pointing toward the serving station.

“Oh, she’s right over there.” She smiled. “Isabella, dear, someone’s looking for you.”

I forced myself to straighten before stepping out from behind the serving station.

Gwen’s face lit up the moment she saw me.

“My dear.” She closed the distance between us, wrapping me in a warm embrace. “I’m so happy to see you again.”

Every muscle in my body stiffened. The smell of her perfume hit me first, followed by the familiar pressure of her hand against my back. Those were the same hands that had hurt me. It irritated me that even now, my first instinct was to pull away, but I settled for an obvious, fake smile.

“It’s good to see you too.”

“How’s your little boy?” she asked brightly. “I hope the hospital took good care of him.”

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“They did. Thanks to kind people like Luna Lisa.”

“I’m so relieved. Would you walk with me for a moment, dear?”

I couldn’t refuse without attracting attention. Grandma Cassidy and the others were paying us no attention. I fell into step beside her, waiting until we’d crossed the lawn and the voices behind us had faded into little more than background noise before stopping beside a stone path lined with flower beds.

“What do you want?”

Gwen scoffed.

“It’s beautiful here,” she said, looking across the gardens. “Lisa has built quite a home. She’s also been

very generous.”

I remained silent. She spoke like someone commenting on the weather. She looked around the gardens before speaking again.

“I suppose it’s easy to feel comfortable when people are kind.” She looked back at me with the same pleasant smile. “Sometimes kindness can be mistaken for belonging.”

“Does Luna Lisa know who you are?”

I met her eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I asked.” Her voice remained gentle. “Does she know you’re Velari? Or have you decided that part of your life no longer matters?”

I looked away.

“If she knew,” Gwen continued, her voice sugary, “do you think she’d be so comfortable having you around her husband and her son?”

My heartbeat picked up.

I wasn’t going to give her the reaction she wanted.

“Isabella, dear. Secrets have a way of introducing themselves eventually.”

I held her gaze.

She studied me for another moment before continuing.

“Your sister Barbara will be spending much more time here now. Wedding planning has a way of bringing families together.” Her smile softened. “There’ll be more visits, more dinners, and more opportunities for everyone to get to know one another.”

The mention of Wesley’s wedding made me tremble.

“Your father keeps asking you to come home,” she went on. “He wants to provide for you and your little

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boy. Yet here you are, pretending none of us exist.” She sighed lightly. “Be reasonable while nobody knows anything. Leave with your reputation intact.”

I sighed.

“I’m not the only one who has something to lose.”

“Really?” she asked. “Tell me who else.”

“Luna Lisa doesn’t strike me as someone who appreciates lies.” My voice stayed calm. “If people found out her future in-laws had spent years pretending an illegitimate daughter didn’t exist, I imagine that would become everyone’s business.”

She chuckled while shooting me an icy glare.

“You’ve thought this through.”

“I’m a mother. I need to take care of my child.”

“So am I.”

“Exactly.” I nodded. “You’re protecting Barbara. I’m protecting Maverick. I don’t want trouble. I haven’t asked anyone for anything or told anyone who I am. I just want to work, raise my son, and give him the basics he needs.”

“Oh, enough with the sob story.” Gwen’s tone remained almost affectionate, which somehow made the words sting more. “Your father has already offered all of that. If you refuse, then perhaps you’re looking for something else.”

“I’m not.”

“We’ll have to disagree.”

She smoothed an invisible crease from her sleeve before taking a step back toward the house.

“You know where to find us.”

She smiled one last time, warm enough that anyone watching would think we’d shared a pleasant conversation between two acquaintances.

Then she walked away.

I remained where I was until she disappeared inside. Only after the door closed behind her did I breathe.

She’d never once said she would expose me. She hadn’t needed to. She’d simply reminded me how close she was now to the family I needed more than anything else.

Somehow, the things she hadn’t said frightened me far more than any open threat could have.

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