TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 333

Three hundred and thirty-three

Isabella POV

The restaurant had grown quieter as the evening wore on. The men near the bar had left, and one of the couples was gathering their things. Our plates had been cleared, along with the beef special–a kebab drenched in rich, spicy sauce.

Wesley pushed another glass toward me. The drink was creamy and sweet.

“Easy,” he said when I took another sip and felt warmth spread through me. “It’s still a weekday. I’m not covering for you if you decide you can’t make it to work tomorrow.”

I laughed. “I’m nowhere near drunk.”

“I know. I’m just making sure you remember that you have a job.”

We talked about everything, and even though we’d covered some of it at his place, none of it felt boring. The longer we stayed together, the more we seemed to discover about each other.

I learned that Wesley was closer to his mother, while Anita was closer to their dad. He told me about Luna Lisa’s mother, who’d been cheated on by a Beta and later married an Alpha, who then fathered Wesley’s uncle, Charlie, only a few months younger than Wesley. There were so many little details about his family that I could almost picture their dynamics in my head.

“I’ve been talking about myself, so it’s your turn,” he said, pouring himself another drink.

“I’ve told you everything about me.”

“No,” he said. “You’re still holding back. What do you love to do?”

I turned the glass between my fingers.

“I like running,” I said.

I didn’t tell him I’d spent years running up and down the stairs in my father’s house, making sure every need of Gwen and Barbara was met.

“I like running in my wolf form.”

He took a long sip of his drink, and I smiled into the distance.

“I could stay like that all day if I could.”

“Do you enjoy shifting that much?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Everything feels different when I’m a wolf. And when I run, I don’t have to think about anything else.”

His fingers slipped over mine, idly playing with them.

“Maybe I’ll get to see you in your wolf form someday,” he said softly. “I bet she’s beautiful.”

I lowered my eyes to my glass, fighting a smile.

“You’ll have to be the judge,” I said. “What about you? Do you prefer your wolf form or your human form, since you said you don’t shift much?”

1/4

+15 Ber

He poured his drink.

“Well, I guess I won’t have a choice. I have to go through some rites soon, the kind that come with becoming Alpha.”

“Are you afraid?”

He sighed, heavier this time.

“I don’t know if I can do it.”

Wesley had his parents’ backing. He was strong and powerful. I couldn’t understand what made him doubt himself.

“You’ll figure it out,” I said. “You always seem to.”

He smiled and pressed a kiss to my neck.

“I don’t mean to be spooky or anything, but you kind of remind me of Beatrice.”

My heart stumbled.

“I know you two look nothing alike, but there’s something about talking to you that reminds me of her. She always knew what to say when I was doubting myself. She’d tell me I could do something even when I didn’t think I could.”

He kissed my neck again, and I slipped my arm around his midsection.

“Come home with me,” he said.

He laughed when I immediately pulled away and shoved my chair back to its former position, facing the room while Wesley had his back to it.

Two people walked past toward the other end of the restaurant. When my eyes met one of them, recognition hit

Emma.

She was with a man, and her eyes landed on me too.

I looked away.

“Oh, my God.”

I glanced at Wesley.

“Don’t turn around,” I whispered.

His brows pulled together.

“Why?”

“Emma.”

He didn’t move.

“She’s here?”

I looked toward Emma again. She’d moved farther inside with the man, but I could still see her.

2/4

+15 Benus

Fear shot through me.

“She can see your back. She’ll know it’s you. We need to leave.”

Wesley looked amused.

“She didn’t see my face, and it’s not a crime for you to have dinner with someone else.”

“She’ll recognize you,” I said through gritted teeth.

He reached across the table and took my hand.

“Calm down.”

I pulled away.

This was getting messy.

“Okay, fine. I’ll leave without turning around. You wait a little, then leave.”

I nodded. He stood and headed for the exit without looking back while I kept my eyes on my glass, pretending to be interested in my drink until I mustered the courage to get up and leave.

Outside, Wesley sat in his car. The moment he saw me, he started laughing.

“You’re enjoying this a little too much,” I said, frowning as I got in.

He tried to pull me closer, but I refused to let him kiss my mouth, so he kissed my cheek and neck instead.

“I’m pretty sure Emma didn’t see me,” he murmured between kisses.

“That doesn’t make me feel better,” I said, hoping Emma genuinely hadn’t figured out it was Wesley.

When I got back to the lodge, I was about to plug in my phone when Wesley’s message came through.

I just got off the phone with Emma.

Oh, God.

My fingers trembled as I called him immediately.

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