TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 336

Three hundred and thirty-six

Wesley POV

I headed toward the main house, searching for Anita and hoping this chaos would finally end. She wasn’t in the main hall, and I was about to check the annex when I found the elders dressed in white, singing and clapping. Barbara stood among them as they praised her, calling her their future Luna.

“There he is!” one of the elders said, spotting me. I pretended fiot to hear and kept walking.

Barbara hurried after me, laughing. I stopped once we were far enough from the elders that they couldn’t hear is. Her heels wobbled, and I steadied her until she found her balance. She slipped her hand into mine, falling back

into our familiar act.

“I couldn’t exactly run away from the elders. They wanted to give us a blessing to keep our relationship on the right path and make sure our future together is peaceful. I didn’t want to offend them by refusing.”

“Can things get any more complicated than this?” I muttered.

“You’re their future Alpha. Of course they’re going to have expectations.”

“I think we should end this.”

She stopped laughing. Her gaze searched my face.

“Something is eating you up, Wes. If you’re worried about the blessing, I’ll go home. You said we’d push the relationship until your father announced the date for his handover.”

“He already has. I forgot to inform you.”

“Oh… I see.”

“I’ve found someone. I like her, and I’m willing to give it a real try.”

Her eyes widened. I glanced around, checking that no one stood close enough to listen.

“Wesley?” she whispered. “That’s reckless. If we’re going to break up publicly and you suddenly bring out someone else, what do you think people will say?”

“I’m not rushing anything.”

“It’s strange you’ve gotten over Beatrice,” she said.

“It’s been five years, Barbara. I’ll never forget Beatrice, but it’s time to move on.”

Her brows drew together.

“Of course, I get that. Is she someone I know?” she asked, studying my face. “Someone in our circle?”

“You don’t know her, and she’s not in our circle.” I glanced toward the main hall. “We’ll talk later. I need to find Anita.”

“Wesley.”

“Later, Barbara.”

Anita was in the other hall, surrounded by friends, a drink in hand and laughter spilling from the group. The festival had split everyone into their age groups, with the elders and parents gathered among themselves while

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the younger wolves claimed their own spaces.

“Sorry, guys, I need to borrow my sister for a bit.”

One of the girls smiled at me.

“Of course, Alpha.”

I’d grown used to that look from unmarried women whenever I walked into a room.

Anita linked her arm through mine as we left, already giggling.

“Of course, Alpha,” she mimicked the girl who’d been ogling me.

“If looks could get someone naked, those girls would have done it by now,” I muttered.

“If looks could kill, half of Mom’s friends would have buried me already. Apparently, I’m supposed to wear a long skirt, sit quietly, and look available for a husband. As if I’d wake up one day and develop a taste for cock.”

I chuckled. She was in such a good mood that I hated that I was going to ruin it.

We headed upstairs. It was empty. Anita dropped into a chair and looked at me.

“What’s up?”

I sat across from her and waited.

“I’m breaking up with Barbara.”

The playfulness vanished from her face. Her mouth fell open.

“Why? Is it because I hinted that you two don’t have chemistry?”

“Partly.”

“But that’s not enough reason to break up with her.”

“There is no chemistry because Barbara and I were never really together.”

“What do you mean?”

She leaned closer.

“I lied about us being together,” I said with a sigh. “We agreed to pretend, for the optics. I needed the council to stop looking too closely at my issues.”

Anita gasped.

“What the hell, Wesley?! You lied to everyone? Including Mom and Dad? And Barbara agreed to it?”

I nodded.

“That’s crazy.”

“At least she’s not getting her heart broken,” I said.

“Still, that was careless. You didn’t even tell me. You could have told Emma or me, and we could have figured out how to keep it contained.”

“I guess it’s a little too late for that.”

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“You two actually looked good together, you know. Alpha and Luna. I hope you’re not doing it tonight. Who else knows about this madness?”

“Grandma Cassidy.”

“Of course.” She raised her hand. “I trust you to avoid telling Mom anything that might cause trouble and go straight to Grandma instead. You didn’t even tell Charlie?”

I shook my head.

“There’s something else,” I said. “I’ve found someone.”

Excitement lit up her face. She reached for my hand.

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know how you’re going to take it.”

Her smile faltered.

“Why? Is it that bitch, Tina? I can’t stand her, but if you like her, I mean… that’s your business.”

“It’s not Tina.”

“Oh. Then who?”

“Isabella.”

Her brows knit together. She searched my face, trying to place the name. Then she yanked her hand from mine and burst out laughing so hard she clutched her stomach.

“You’re trolling me,” she said between laughs. “You didn’t actually break up with Barbara, did you?”

“I’m serious. Isabella and Grandma Cassidy are waiting downstairs for you to apologize.”

Her laughter died.

“Wesley, don’t play with me like that. It’s not funny.”

“I’m sorry.”

Her eyes filled with shock and pain.

“Did you fuck her?” she said, her voice level. “When did this happen?”

I didn’t respond.

“She… she has a boyfriend.”

I shook my head.

“She came to your gig with her friend to make you back off.”

Her jaw dropped.

“Anita, I’m sorry. And I’m not asking you to pretend it doesn’t hurt. But Isabella was never interested in you, and you knew it.”

“And you slept with her anyway.” She nodded slowly. “Got it.”

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She rose.

“Where did you say she was?”

“Downstairs, in the backyard.”

Anita headed for the door.

“Anita, wait.”

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She didn’t stop.

I hurried after her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. We had to tell you so we wouldn’t keep leading you on.”

She didn’t stop until we reached the backyard, where Grandma Cassidy stood in front of Isabella. Isabella wiped her face while Grandma Cassidy met my gaze, then Anita’s, her eyes unsettled.

Anita marched toward them and slapped Isabella. The crack rang through the air. Isabella clutched her cheek, and I caught Anita’s hand too late.

Grandma Cassidy blinked, as if the slap had snapped her back to attention.

“You didn’t have to slap her,” she said.

“I’ll slap her again and again until those lying teeth fall out,” Anita spat, yanking against my grip.

“Calm down, Anita.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” she yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you? What’s wrong with all of you?”

She turned on Isabella.

“You stood there silent, accepting my compliments, while you were fucking my brother behind my back.”

“Anita, honey, don’t…”

“Stay out of this, Grandma. I know you baby Wesley, but this is too much.”

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