TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 351

Three hundred and fifty one

+15 Bonus

Author note: I’m so sorry, everyone!i 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 Cameron and Isabella’s conversation and their dynamic, while this chapter is simply a continuation of that.

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’ll 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 me, 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

+15 Bonus

earrings and heels 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.”

Tries hosted and fifty one

haffy

+15 Bonus

Barbara’s lips parted.

“So that’s it…”

She looked at Luna Lisa.

“You’ve chosen her.”

“Barbara, we don’t have to make this more complicated than it already is. I’m not asking you to understand everything. But I need you to move forward.”

Barbara laughed bitterly. “Move forward? After you announced to the pack that Wesley and I were together?”

“It was an arrangement,” Luna Lisa said calmly. “Wesley never promised you a relationship. It was meant to satisfy the council.

If you hoped it would become something more, I’m sorry. That wasn’t what happened.”

The look on Barbara’s face was almost enough to make me smile. She squeezed fer eyes shut, the muscles in her neck

tightening.

A warmth spread through me. She had spent so long hurting me that seeing her finally lose control felt like something inside me had been released.

When she opened her eyes, they were filled with tears.

“You’re going to let this happen, Luna?”

She looked at me.

“You support your son being with this trash?”

Luna Lisa frowned.

“Mind your language, young lady.”

Barbara rose and pointed at me.

“I mean every word. She’s nothing but a gold-digging tramp who wants to get her hands on the Alpha’s name and wealth.”

“What a joker,” Wesley muttered.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify