TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 358

Three hundred and fifty-eignt

sabella POV

About an hour later, my stomachrprotested the fact that I had barely eaten. I slipped into the kitchen, took two slices of bread, spread jam across them, and reached for a drink.

Footsteps approached behind me. I turned and found Charlie standing in the doorway.

My discomfort grew. Charlie didn’t seem like a bad person but after everything that had happened, I couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d done to Wesley and how close he was to losing the friendship he valued so deeply. Hearing his conversation with Anita hadn’t helped either.

He remained by the door for a moment before approaching the island.

‘I don’t expect you to think highly of me after today.”

I lowered my gaze to the bread.

‘Wesley was right. It doesn’t matter that he and Barbara weren’t actually together. I should have known better.”

I spread more jam across the bread.

‘Do you want some?”

He looked at me, surprised by the offer.

“Maybe a slice or two before I hit the road wouldn’t hurt.”

I handed him a plate and reached for another slice. I made him a drink and carried everything to the island. He sat across from me, looking more subdued than before.

We ate in silence for a while.

“I misjudged you,” he said. “Barbara painted a completely different picture of you. She made you sound like…”

He stopped.

“A slut?”

His silence answered for him.

“Or a tramp,” I added with a chuckle.

He looked away, uncomfortable. I chuckled.

“I was only trying to protect Wesley,” he said. “I wanted him to make the right choice.”

“I get that.”

His eyes lit up.

“Do you?”

I nodded.

“Your relationship with Wesley is something most people would envy. You two are closer than most brothers I’ve seen. But you have to be careful not to let what happened with Barbara destroy that. Give him some space. Let things cool down, then try to

reconcile.”

A smile touched his mouth. “In a few days, he won’t even remember all this. He’ll be too busy enjoying his newfound freedom through his mate bond.”

+20 Bonus

I hid my discomfort behind another bite. Anita shouldn’t have told him yet, but on second thought, I could use it to my advantage.

“What are you going to do about Bafbara?”

Charlie sighed and turned his cup between his hands.

“I like her. I’ve liked her since high school. It wasn’t something that started because of Wesley’s relationship with her.”

“Even when Beatrice was alive?”

He stared at his cup.

“I wouldn’t say yes or no,” he said, lost in thought. “When I asked Barbarà out, she refused. She always had her eyes on Wesley. She wanted to be wherever he was.”

What Charlie called affection sounded more like obsession to me. An obsessed person could go to great lengths to destroy anything that stood in their way, just like Alpha Desmond, who got me pregnant yet wanted me to remain in his harem so he could continue assaulting me.

“You can help Wesley without groveling or trying to prove yourself to him.”

His brows drew together.

“How?”

“Stay close to Barbara and find out what she’s really after. If you have to, let her think you’re being manipulated. Let her believe you’re choosing her over Wesley.”

“How does that help?”

“It could tell us why she’s so determined to have Wesley. You care about her, so this might be difficult for you. But if you want to prove to Wesley that you’re sorry, this is one way to do it.”

Charlie leaned back, thinking.

“You think she’s obsessed with him. And you want me to keep comforting her and pretending I’m on her side?”

“Just stay close enough to find out what she’s planning. Right now, she’s losing access to the people who used to support her. Luna Lisa chose her son, and her best friend, Anita, knows the truth. She won’t have the same access to the Alpha’s family anymore. She’ll need someone, and that person is you.”

Charlie rubbed his jaw.

“If I can, I should feed her information, too. Give her things she wants to hear and see what she does with them.”

“Exactly.”

He stared at his cup.

“I’ll think about it.”

I took another bite of bread.

“Did Barbara ever tell you that she’s my sister?”

The cup stopped halfway to his mouth. He swallowed and suddenly coughed. The sound was rough, and he bent forward as the liquid caught in his throat. I pushed a bottle of water toward him. He grabbed it and drank.

His eyes widened.

“You’re Barbara’s sister?”

+20 Bonus

Half-sister. We share the same father”

He stared at ine as thought just changed the entire shape of the room.

“The Alpha and Luna already know. They’re planning to summon Barbara and her parents to answer for how badly they’ve treated me and my son.” 1

Charlie lowered the bottle. His expression shifted as he processed everything.

I heard the front door open and jumped off the stool.

“If you want to prove that you’re sorry, be the wild card Barbara doesn’t see coming.”

Charlie nodded.

I moved to the other side of the kitchen and picked up my plate, making it look as though we’d never been talking.

My phone had been vibrating almost nonstop. I glanced at the screen and saw my father’s name.

Again.

I didn’t need to answer to know why he was calling. Luna Lisa must have sent the summons.

I was expected at the meeting, and there was no way around it. Wesley’s mood had been ruined by what happened with Charlie, and he had gone to the mines without saying much. I hadn’t told him I was leaving.

Emma had already gone home, while Anita was asleep in the guest room.

I found the chef in the kitchen.

“If Wesley comes back before I do, tell him I left to take care of my son.”

The chef nodded.

I picked up the overnight bag I’d brought with me and left.

My father’s calls followed me all the way to the Alpha House. I ignored them. The meeting was scheduled for noon. I arrived with time to spare, and as soon as I entered the reception area, I saw them.

thoug

My father sat with Stepmother Gwen and Barbara. He sprang to his feet as though the chair had burned him.

“Isabella. Why haven’t you been taking my calls?”

The desperation in his voice didn’t match the expressions on Gwen and Barbara’s faces. They looked at me with pure hatred.

Barbara rose from her seat.

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