TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 90

Ninety

Cameron

The door clicked shut behind Evangeline, and the noise lingered in the room, settling into the walls and furniture.

I stared at the door she had just walked through, hating myself for using that tone on her. Pressure built under my. ribs. Her glossy eyes kept replaying in my head, that devastated look on her face.

I should have stopped talking when I saw that.

Needing help, I grabbed my phone off the table and called Nadia. The line rang in my ear. It kept ringing.

Nadia always answered, even when she was drunk or busy. If she missed a call, she would call back quickly, usually with a joke about me being dramatic. 1

It went to voicemail.

I walked toward the window and shoved the curtain aside, staring out without seeing anything.

It went to voicemail again.

Franklin picked up on the first ring.

“Where is Nadia?”

“She left earlier,” he said. “Probably with Desmond.’

“She isn’t answering, and that’s not like her. Send your men to Desmond and confirm she’s there. Check her usual spots too.”

“Got it.”

I ended the call and dialed Desmond. Voicemail.

The screen went dark, waiting for his name to reappear.

Restless with pulled tight emotion, I paced the room, phone tight in my grip, running through places she might go. A bad feeling started creeping up my spine, the kind that signals something is about to go wrong.

Downstairs was empty, with most lights lowered. The maids had gone to their quarters for the night. I went straight to the wine cabinet, pouring more than I normally would, and swallowed it in one pull.

Heat dragged down my throat and spread through my chest. One that didn’t calm the tension in my body. It only made the exhaustion more obvious.

Footsteps echoed behind me on the floor. I set the glass down and turned toward the sound.

Evangeline stood at the entrance to the room. Her face looked pale, but her eyes were sharp.

She looked at the glass in my hand. “You’re drinking now? Prime example of someone tired of their nagging partner.”

“Eva. Please stop this.”

“You must end this contract if you truly love me as you claim,” she said. “Lisa must terminate the pregnancy. We’ll find someone else.”

The words did not make sense at first. Then they did.

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“What?”

“You heard me. I don’t want her carrying our child.”

The words hit hard, heavier than anger, heavier than anything I expected her to say. I was shocked.

“Why would you even suggest that?”

“Because I’m your mate! And you are humiliating me. You keep defending her.”

“I’m not defending anyone. Please keep your voice down.”

“Choose! Me or her. 3 days. That’s all I’m giving you.”

The answer came out before I could think it through.

“I can’t do that.”

Her eyes widened.

“We signed a contract, and she trusted us with this. We must be responsible for her safety and the child’s. It’s foolishness to get rid of the child because you are upset.”

Her mouth tightened, and something in her eyes hardened.

“So that’s it. You’re choosing her.”

“I am not choosing anyone,” I said. “Everything is confusing right now. The bond feels wrong. Things smell wrong. It’s been like that for a while, and I don’t understand why.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

She shook her head.

“Men will always be men. You get bored. You find someone younger. Then you blame the bond. You promised to love and take care of me. Now I’m sick and you’re enjoying yourself with her. I’m dying, and you’re replacing me.”

Guilt hit hard, knocking the air out of me.

“I’m not replacing you,” I said, stepping closer. “Eva… I’m trying.”

She shook her head and turned away from me.

“I can’t stay here and watch you make me look like a fool. If you won’t end it, then I will.”

Footsteps echoed on the staircase.

I looked up and saw Lisa at the far end. She must have heard us shouting. Her hair was loose and uneven, like she had just washed it.

Evangeline saw her at the same time. Her face hardened, eyes locking onto Lisa.

“Homewrecker,” I heard her mutter.

She lunged forward and rushed toward Lisa. I did not wait to see what she planned to do. I stepped between them and caught Evangeline around the arms.

“Eva. Stop.”

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She fought against my hold with surprising strength. Her nails dug into my forearm.

“Let me go! You’re letting her ruin us.”

Lisa’s eyes were wide, filled with real fear. Seeing that fear made my grip tighten.

“Go back to your room. Now. Lock the door.”

She hesitated.

“Lisa.”

She nodded and turned, heading back toward the hallway. Her door slammed shut down the hall, followed by the click of the lock.

Only after I heard the lock did some of the tension leave my body.

Evangeline was still fighting my hold.

“You see? You care more about that girl than you care about me.”

She twisted in my arms again, trying to pull free.

“I will tell everyone! I will tell the whole pack what you’ve done. How you abandoned me for some cheap slut carrying your child.”

My grip loosened as the words hit.

“This isn’t abandonment,” I snapped. “You’re not thinking clearly.”

“Oh, I’m thinking very clearly. The contract is over. Do you hear me? Over.”

Pressure built behind my eyes.

“Eva. Stop. You’re exhausted.”

She laughed again, but the sound came out strained.

“You’re embarrassed by me,” she said. “You want me gone so you can play family with her.”

Her weight shifted heavily against me.

The fight left her body, and her weight sagged against me. Her breathing turned uneven, and her head tipped forward.

“I feel… strange,” she said.

I shifted my grip, holding her upright as worry took over. Her skin felt clammy under my hands.

“Look at me,” I said.

She tried, but her focus did not hold.

The anger drained out of the moment, leaving a sick woman who could barely stand.

A cold weight settled in my gut.

I sent for her doctor. Evangeline’s fingers tightened weakly against my shirt. 1

“You’re killing me,” she said, her voice barely holding. “You and that girl.”

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The words landed heavily, but there was no time to respond.

By the time the doctor arrived, I had moved her upstairs and covered her with a blanket. Her breathing stayed shallow. Her eyelids fluttered.

The doctor came in with her bag already open.

“What happened?”

“She became dizzy.”-

She checked her pulse, eyes, and breathing.

“She needs rest. Her system is under strain.”

She prepared an injection. I held her arm steady while he administered it. Within minutes, her body relaxed further. Her breathing evened out.

Evangeline lay there, sedated, fragile again. The anger from earlier felt distant.

Nothing about tonight felt under control anymore.

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