TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 352

Three hundred and fifty two

Isabella POV

“I can’t believe Lama Lisa actually told her to do her worst,” Iris said, laughing. “I’d pay a fortune to have been there.”

I shook my head, smiling. “It’s good that people are seeing her for who she is. Barbara has always been delusional.”

“How would you know? She’s always been graceful and charming, always saying the right thing. People adore her.”

Her words reminded me that I hadn’t told her about my relationship with Barbara With so many secrets surfacing, I didn’t want Iris finding out from someone else.

“Barbara is my sister.”

Iris burst out laughing until she realized I was serious. Her laughter faded as she stared at me.

“Wait. What?”

I nodded.

“We share the same father but different mothers.”

Her mouth fell open as she struggled to process the words.

“That’s crazy, Isabella! Why didn’t you tell me? Does Wesley know? What about his parents?”

I shook my head, making her let out a loud groan.

“Isabella, why have you kept this to yourself?”

“I don’t know. A lot has happened in such a short time, and I didn’t know what would happen if I told anyone.”

“Alpha Cameron and Luna Lisa will be mad if they find out later and this blows up in your face. At least tell Grandma Cassidy. The Alpha may need to summon your father and stepmother, and they need to answer for what they did to you.”

She was right.

“Barbara can’t keep hiding behind that perfect image if the truth comes out. You have leverage now. This isn’t about revenge. It’s about telling the truth.”

“I’ll tell Grandma Cassidy everything.”

“You’d better.”

Returning to work was easier than I expected. Most of the accounting staff knew nothing about what had happened, except Emma and Harrison, so I slipped back into my routine. When anyone asked about my absence, I said I’d taken sick leave. I buried myself in work, planning to visit Grandma Cassidy after work and tell her everything about Barbara. I needed her to know the truth before this madness grew worse.

The next day was the quarterly meeting, with staff from several departments gathered in one of the larger rooms at the office. I dreaded it because Anita was back. I had no idea how she would act around me, and I didn’t want her making things uncomfortable.

Luna Lisa was leading the meeting with the senior staff, while Wesley, Anita, Emma, and the others sat around the table. I tried to make myself as invisible as possible during the meeting, keeping my attention on my notepad whenever I felt Anita’s gaze on me. She kept shooting me hard looks, and I pretended to scribble until the meeting ended. I felt relieved, but the discomfort followed me back to accounting because I knew Anita would come there eventually.

She did, walking past my desk with a glare.

“Look at you, acting all innocent. So you really had the nerve to show your face here again?”

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I kept my eyes on my work and watched her continue toward Emma’s office. I was too distracted to keep working. I could only wait, knowing I’d be summoned.

When it came, the walk to Suma’s office felt like walking into a cage. Anita sat there, still arguing with Emma, and the heated look on her face told me she was only getting started.

“She manipulated Wesley, and now she’s turned our parents against Barbara too. How much more does she want?”

“Anita, let it go,” Emma said. “Wesley’s an adult. He can make his own choices.”

“Not when she has him wrapped around her finger. Girls these days will go as far as using a love potion to turn a man against his family.”

“Or he knows what he wants,” Emma replied. “I believe Wesley when he says the relationship with Barbara was fake. It sounds like Barbara hoped it would become something more, and she’s angry that it didn’t.”

“If Wesley loves Isabella and Isabella feels safe with him, let them be.”

Anita still had more to say. I hadn’t planned to speak. The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

“Wesley is my mate.”

Silence filled the office. Emma’s mouth fell open. Anita threw her head back and laughed.

“What do you mean?” Emma asked. “Don’t joke about something like that, Isabella.”

“I’m serious.”

Anita’s laughter faded. “You’re not only a liar. You’re a terrible one. How can Wesley be your mate when he hasn’t told anyone?”

“He’s not aware yet.”

The words sounded weak even to me. Anita doubled over laughing again while Emma looked even more confused.

“If you think I’m lying, we can go to Luna Lisa and confirm it.)

Anita stopped laughing. “Oh, you’ve got guts.”

She pushed herself out of the chair and headed for the door. Emma followed, grabbing my arm as she passed.

“Are you serious? How long have you known? Why are you keeping it from Wesley?”

I didn’t answer since answering her might fuel her confusion. We reached the quter office, where Harrison looked up from his desk. His eyes moved from Emma to me, his concern clear. We continued toward Luna Lisa’s office. She was inside with several women, apparently still in a meeting, so we waited outside. Iris walked in and stopped when she saw me with Wesley’s sister and cousin. She gave me a look that clearly asked what was going on. I could only manage a nod.

Anita paced while Emma kept looking at me, trying to make sense of everything she’d just learned.

“How long are we supposed to wait?” Anita snapped at Luna Lisa’s assistant.

“Patience, Anita,” Emma said. “It won’t kill you.”

Luna Lisa’s meeting ended, and the women gathered their things before leaving. I remained outside the door while Anita stormed past them without a word. Knowing she was Luna Lisa’s daughter, they said nothing. Emma greeted them and apologized before following Anita inside.

Luna Lisa’s gaze moved from Anita to Emma, then to me.

“Should I be worried?”

“What the hell is going on?” Anita bellowed.

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Emua shut the door. Luna Lisa scoffed as she returned to her seat and poured herself some coffee.

“That depends on what you’re asking.

“Is it true?” Anita demanded. “She told Emma she’s Wesley’s mate.”

Luna Lisa’s head turned toward me.

“I’m sorry, Luna. I didn’t mean to say it like that. I wasn’t trying to reveal something Wesley doesn’t know yet. I just…”

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Isabella. Perhaps it’s time they knew.”

“Is she really telling the truth?” Emma asked.

Luna Lisa nodded.

Anita’went still.

Luna Lisa took a sip of coffee and set the cup down.

“The tests aren’t complete yet, but everything we’ve found so far points in the same direction. There’s a one-sided bond between Isabella and Wesley. Wesley’s fragmentation prevents him from recognizing it, but the markers we’ve found are consistent with a mate bond.”

She waited for Anita to respond.

“So Isabella wasn’t lying?” Emma asked, bringing a hand to her mouth.

“No.”

Luna Lisa’s gaze remained on Anita.

“If you love your brother, you should understand what this means. His mate needs support, not more pressure. Whatever happens with the bond, she didn’t choose this to hurt anyone. She’s not playing games, and this has nothing to do with the privileges that come with being with an Alpha.”

Anita remained silent.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I said. “I’ve known Wesley was my mate since the moment I saw him, even before I met you. But he never acknowledged it. Everything I’ve done since then has been because of the bond. If it weren’t there, why would I choose a relationship that would bring me this much trouble?”

Anita’s lips trembled as she sank into the nearest chair.

“I get it now,” Emma said, as though something had clicked. “Anita feels a pull toward Isabella, just like she sometimes feels Wesley’s pain. Could it be connected?”

“Most likely,” Luna Lisa said. “She’s always had that strange connection to Wesley. If she can feel his pain, it makes sense that some of what he experiences could reach her through his mate.”

Anita looked up.

“So that’s it. I should have helped, but I was tearing her down.”

“Don’t say that,” Emma said, moving toward her and wrapping her arms around her shoulders. “Don’t do this to yourself.”

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