TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 350

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Three hundred and fifty

Isabella POV

It felt surreal stepping into the Alpha House as a guest invited by the Alpha, not as his wife’s charity case.

I was led into a private, secluded part of the house with a sitting room that already felt like where Alphia Cameron and his family spent most of their time.

Photographs covered the walls, most of them showing Wesley and Anita at different stages of their lives. Since the Alpha hadn’t joined me and Luna Lisa wasn’t home yet, I took the liberty of looking around, studying the photographs for any sign of when Wesley had changed.

In one, he was a bubbly little boy with expressive eyes and a zest for exploring, while his father tried to face the camera and keep him from wandering out of the frame. Another showed Wesley at around nine, perhaps on his first day at the Alpira Academy.

It made me wonder how horrific his first shift must have been. Most werewolves experienced their first shift between thirteen and fifteen, and I couldn’t imagine the burden he carried from such a young age. It showed in his photographs. As he grew older, especially through his teenage years, the boyish liveliness faded from his face. His features sharpened, his body grew leaner, and his smile became less frequent. Perhaps he had learned to compartmentalize his trauma and show the world only what he

wanted them to see.

My gaze remained on one particular picture. Wesley was already an adult, standing beside Anita, her hard resting on his shoulder. Charlie stood beside them with a goofy grin, when footsteps approached.

My heart began pounding at the thought of standing before Alpha Cameron. I bowed my head as he entered the room.

He wore a small smile and offered his hand.

“I don’t bite.”

I took it, and he held my hand a little longer than I expected before letting go. He gestured toward the seat across from him,

then sat opposite me.

“Isabella,” he said, as though testing my name. “It’s good to finally put a face to the name.”

I managed a nod. It felt as though I were standing before a court waiting for a verdict.

He sighed and leaned back.

“My wife and Cassidy filled me in about the preliminary results. They support the possibility that you and Wesley are mates.”

I nodded.

“That could change a lot of things. But I won’t pretend I have no concerns.”

Wesley was his son. As a father, he needed to know this wouldn’t become another burden for him.

“If the results confirm you are his mate, you don’t owe Wesley your life because the Moon Goddess decided to put the two of you together. If this becomes too much for you, you are free to walk away.”

“Yes, Alpha.” I looked up. “I want the best for myself and Wesley. If he can be saved and being with him doesn’t put my life in danger, I won’t walk away.”

Alpha Cameron’s eyes stayed on mine.

“That’s a dangerous promise. But I won’t take it for granted.”

The door opened behind us. Luna Lisa stepped into the room with a smile and came straight toward me, pulling me into a hug

“Thank you for coming, Isabella.” She released me and glanced at Alpha Cameron. “I have good news. Most of the results are

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back, and they’re matching.”

My heart jumped.

She couldn’t hide her smile. “Everything we’ve seen so far poirits in the same direction You and Wesley are a match.”

Alpha Cameron looked relieved.

“Slow down, Lisa.”

“Why? I’m not saying anything that isn’t true.”

“You’ve already decided the wedding date in your head.”

She laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. We still need the complete results, but I’m confident enough in what we’ve seen to know this isn’t something we should dismiss.”

Alpha Cameron nodded. “Wesley should hear this from us before he hears it from someone else. He’ll be pissed if he finds out we’ve known and kept it from him.”

“We’re not keeping it from him forever,” Luna Lisa said. “We just need to understand what we’re dealing with before we tell him. Let’s finish what needs to be done, then we’ll tell him.”

The conversation continued, and Luna Lisa and Alpha Cameron made it easy enough for me to stop feeling like a guest being inspected. They didn’t praise me for being Wesley’s mate, which helped more than they could imagine. I was still conscious of whose presence I was in, but I no longer felt as uneasy as I had when Alpha Cameron first walked in. When Grandma Cassidy joined us, the atmosphere warmed further, even as they discussed the challenges I might face if Wesley’s fragmentation could

be treated.

A maid came in to refresh the pitcher of freshly squeezed mango juice and informed Grandma Cassidy that Wesley was downstairs looking for her. The glass in my hand trembled.

Wesley would wonder why I was here without telling him. Worse, he might assume his parents had summoned me to question

1. me.

“I should go before he sees me,” I said.

Luna Lisa waved me off. “I invited you, didn’t I? You have nothing to feel guilty about. Besides, you’re staying for dinner.”

I nodded and remained seated.

Grandma Cassidy left to meet Wesley, and his voice reached us before he did. He sounded tired from the day.

When he stepped inside, the bond hit me as usual. His presence carried that familiar feeling of coming home, settling through

my body.

His eyes landed on me, and his expression shifted from confusion to surprise. He looked at his parents, then back at me.

“What is she doing here?”

“Easy, Wes,” Luna Lisa said. “I invited her. We’re not holding her hostage.”

He looked at me again, checking whether I was comfortable. I nodded.

“I’m fine.”

He still looked puzzled, but he came over and sat beside me.

“No need inviting her over behind my back. I’ve made my decision. I love her, and I know what I’m doing.”

Alpha Cameron lifted an eyebrow.

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“I see”

Luna Lisa lowered her gaze, but I caught the smile tugging at her mouth.

“I don’t care that she doesn’t come from a noble family,” Wesley continued. “Neither do I care that she has a son. None of that changes how I feel about her.”

“I wasn’t aware we had asked you to defend your choice,” Alpha Cameror said.

“You didn’t have to. You haven’t exactly supported it.”

“Is that what you think?” Luna Lisa asked with a chuckle.

Wesley glanced at her. “What else am I supposed to think? You didn’t even believe me when I told you ray relationship with Barbara was fake. And now you’re interrogating Isabella to find something you can use against her.”

Luna Lisa laughed. “Listen to you. You sound like someone came into your room and stole your favorite toy.”

Alpha Cameron laughed with her.

Wesley frowned.

“Your father and I have no problem with Isabella,” Luna Lisa said. “I’ve liked her since I met her. In case you missed it, I invited her.”

Wesley still looked unconvinced.

“You’re doing this because you think it’ll make me happy.”

Luna Lisa and Alpha Cameron exchanged a glance before laughing again.

I watched them, realizing how easily they fell into this rhythm. Their affection showed in the way they looked at each other, the way they teased, the way they could laugh together even when Wesley clearly wasn’t amused.

“Wesley, you know me,” Luna Lisa said. “When I dislike someone, I make it clear. Why would I dislike Isabella and keep her under my roof, employ her, and invite her to dinner?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“Stop being defensive,” Alpha Cameron said. “Nobody is putting Isabella on trial.”

Wesley kept frowning. His hand found mine, and he linked our fingers. I squeezed his hand gently, hoping he would let the

matter go.

“You’re an adult,” Alpha Cameron continued. “I can’t choose whom you love, and I’ve never tried to.”

Wesley looked at him.

“When you had that ‘fake‘ relationship with Barbara, I didn’t choose for you. The same was true with Beatrice. If you love Isabella, who are we to stop you?”

The defensive look on Wesley’s face gave way to surprise. He looked between his parents, still trying to understand what had changed.

“Good for you,” he muttered.

Alpha Cameron pushed himself to his feet.

“This conversation has drained me. I’m hungry. Isabella, you’re joining me for dinner. Wesley, you can come too if you’re finished defending your lover.”

There hundred and fifty one

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Author note: I’m so sorry, everyone! accidentally pasted the previous chapter instead of the correct one, which made it a duplicate. I’ve already reposted the correct chapter, and it should be approved later today, so please check back. For anyone who may not, the previous chapter was Alpha Caraeron and Isabella’s conversation and their dynamic, while this chapter is simply a continuation of that. 1

Isabella POV

Wesley’s gaze followed his parents until they left the room. I waited until they were out of earshot before turning back to him.

“You were quite defensive back there,” I said, smiling.

“I meant what I said.” He cupped my chin and brushed his thumb over my right ear. “I know my father is the Alpha and my mom is Luna. You could feel pressured to’fear them and back off, but I won’t let that happen. I don’t want you thinking I‘!! change my mind because my parents don’t approve. I’m with you because I want to be.”

I smiled. “You made that very clear. Alpha Cameron just wanted to understand what was going on. I appreciate that he took the time.”

“If you say so,” he said, smiling.

I pulled his head down and kissed him. His arms tightened around me, guiding me toward the couch without breaking the kiss.

I pressed a hand against his chest. “Stop. This is your parents‘ house. It’s disrespectful.”

His mouth curved. “You’re the one who kissed me.”

“Does that mean we should turn it into something else?”

“Maybe.”

“Let’s join them before we offend the Alpha. You don’t keep an Alpha waiting.”

“All right, fine,” he mumbled, offering me his hand.

We headed downstairs to the dining room. Alpha Cameron was already seated while Luna Lisa dished out his food. Wesley pulled out a chair for me before sitting beside me.

I looked up and found Luna Lisa trying not to look at us.

One of the maids I remembered from my time at the Alpha House walked in with a covered dish. She glanced at ine, then quickly looked away, probably wondering why I was sitting at the table with the Alpha and his family.

I lowered my gaze to hide my smile.

The maid returned to the dining room and leaned toward Luna Lisa.

“Barbara has arrived.”

My chest tightened at the mention of her name.

“Really, Mom?” Wesley snapped, setting down his fork. “Why did you invite her?”

Luna Lisa remained calm. “This is my house, Wesley. I invite whoever I wish. I want this misunderstanding cleared up as soon as possible.”

“There’s nothing to clear up. Barbara wants drama, and you keep fueling her delusions.”

Before Luna Lisa could respond, Barbara walked in.

She wore a black–and–gold sequin bodycon dress with a neckline that highlighted her shoulders, collarbones, and neck. Drop

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earrings and livels completed the outfit. She smiled as she greeted Alpha Cameron and Luna Lisa, obviously pleased to have been invited and to find Wesley at the table.

Then her eyes landed on me.

The smile disappeared. She shot me an incredulous look that quickly hardened.

I took a breath and focused on my food.

“Hi, Wesley.”

He didn’t answer.

He hadn’t even looked at her.

Barbara kept her expression composed while Luna Lisa returned her greeting. Neither of them seemed to notice the look she had given me.

I knew that look. Barbara wanted to scream at me, threaten me, perhaps even drag me out of the dining room. She could only swallow that vendetta and save it for later.

Luna Lisa gestured toward the empty chair.

“Come and sit. How have things been at the hospital? I hear you’re handling quite a few new patients.”

Barbara smiled as she sat. “It’s been busy, but I’m managing.”

Her attention drifted back to me.

She was probably wondering why I was sitting beside Wesley while his parents treated me like a welcome guest.

She wouldn’t get the answer tonight. Wesley knew nothing about the bond, and his parents wouldn’t betray that confidence.

Besides, what could Barbara really do? She could tell them we were sisters, and that truth would come out eventually.

The idea of facing Barbara had frightened me more than her actual presence did.

Dinner continued with the clink of cutlery against plates, but conversation never settled. Barbara kept glaring at me whenever she thought no one noticed. At some point, Wesley noticed too, because she stopped looking at me whenever he turned her way.

Luna Lisa seemed to be waiting for the right opening. She found it when dessert was served.

“Barbara, dear, I know this situation has been difficult for you. Your feelings are valid, and I’m sorry if Wesley gave you the impression that your relationship was something more than it was.”

Barbara’s face tightened, but she said nothing.

“I know you cared about him,” Luna Lisa continued. “I don’t want you leaving here believing that anyone intended to humiliate or hurt you. We all care about you.”

Barbara smiled. “Thank you, Luna. That’s very kind of you to say. It’s just that I wonder why she’s here.”

Luna Lisa sighed. “She’s my guest.”

Wesley snorted.

Barbara’s gaze moved from him to Luna Lisa.

“You support this?”

“I support Wesley being with someone he loves.”

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