TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 306

Three hundred and six

Wesley POV

I gripped the railing and stared out at the water, toward the city beyond. The afternoon breeze brushed the healing welts across my back, making them sting.

I tried to breathe through the anger, the humiliation, the helplessness twisting inside me.

Charlie’s footsteps came from behind me. I didn’t turn around. I didn’t tell him to leave either. None of it was his fault, but seeing him still soured my mood.

He was everything I wanted to be. Grandpa Kieran handed him the Alpha title four years ago. His wolf was stable. No fortnightly beatings or treatments. He’d stepped into the life he’d been raised for. The only thing we had in common was that neither of us was married or had pups yet. Beyond that, we were worlds apart.

Charlie leaned against the railing a few feet away, his eyes on the water instead of me, giving me room to breathe. He always seemed to know when silence worked better than words.

“It’s just tiring,” I admitted. “Look at the guys we went to Alpha Academy with. All their fathers have already stepped down. Some of them are years younger than me and already preparing to take over.” I looked at him. “My dad doesn’t seem interested in letting go. It feels like he’s holding on to the title.”

Charlie sighed.

“You know that’s not true.”

“I’m tired of hearing that. I’ve heard it since my first shift – he’s only looking out for me. At some point it stops sounding comforting and starts sounding like an excuse.”

Charlie stayed calm.

“Wes, whenever Uncle Cameron looks at you, he still sees the boy who almost lost his wolf. And whenever you look at him, you see the father who won’t let go. Neither of you is wrong. You’re both just stuck remembering different versions of the same day.”

I stared at the water without answering.

He let the silence settle.

“You know he almost died trying to save you during your first shift. Imagine living with that if he’d died.”

The memories hit anyway.

Blood. Dad, Uncle Franklin screaming after losing a finger.

I shoved the memories away.

“Try looking at it from his side,” Charlie said. “If you had a son and almost lost him that way, would you ever stop worrying?”

I rubbed a hand over my face.

“That was ten years ago,” I said, my voice rough. “I’m not that terrified kid anymore. I know how to control myself now.”

Charlie nodded.

“I know. Everyone’s seen how hard you’ve worked. You’ve done more than anyone expected with a wolf that barely communicates with you. But your dad isn’t old, Wes. He’s got time. My own father was older

than Uncle Cameron when he had me.”

He smiled.

“He’s not holding on because he loves power.”

I scoffed.

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Charlie said. “But why should your family let the world decide what’s best for you? Why rush just because everyone else is doing it?”

The anger drained out of me, leaving nothing but exhaustion.

“Everybody keeps giving me hope. My dad. Mom. The healers…”

I looked at Charlie.

“Even you.”

He shrugged.

“You’re still alive. That’s enough reason to keep hoping.”

I laughed, humorless.

“Even for ridiculous things like finding my mate?”

Charlie watched me. I rested both forearms on the railing.

“You don’t think you’re trying to replace Beatrice with Barbara? There are thousands of women out there,

Wes. Barbara deserves someone who chooses her because she’s Barbara. Not because she reminds him of someone he lost.”

I studied him.

“Why are you so bothered by that?”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t she deserve someone looking out for her too?”

There was an edge to his voice. I pushed the thought aside. Charlie had always been protective. This was probably no different.

I pushed away from the railing.

“I need to snap out of this.”

I stretched, and my back protested.

“Easy,” Charlie said.

“I have to make it to Anita’s gig. She’ll never forgive me if I miss it.”

Charlie scoffed. “I hope it’s worth it. I cancelled everything to come down here. It’ll be good for all of us to hang out.

“Emma will be there too,” I said.

Charlie stopped smiling.

“Oh. That’s… cool.”

“What’s with you and Emma? You two act like somebody poisoned the other’s cooking.”

Charlie looked back toward the water.

“I don’t have a problem with Emma. She just hates me. And I can live with it.”