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One hundred and eighty

Author: Luxie
last update publish date: 2026-05-05 23:59:37

Evangeline POV

Nadia marched past the hallway with a ceramic bowl gripped in both hands. I shrunk behind the marble pillar, my heart hammering against my ribs as I watched her retreat. Within seconds, a sharp, biting scent of salts filled the air, cutting through the heavy smell of floor wax.

She stood in the center of the living room and tilted the bowl. She began scattering white grains across the hardwood while her lips moved in a fast, rhythmic prayer. The salt lined the edges of the walls,
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goodnovel comment avatar
woodrocketdog
They are closing in. Hopefully Cameron can be pulled out before it’s too late.
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  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Two hundred and forty two

    Lisa POVMom laughed as I dropped my backpack on the bed, then stepped forward and wrapped me in a warm hug."All I want is a hot bath to wash away the chapter house and everything I saw inside it," I said.She pulled back to look at me, then knelt to help me slide off my sandals. My feet were swollen, leaving deep red marks across my skin. I let out a long sigh the moment they were free.The bathroom filled with steam while I soaked until the heat reached my bones. When I finally climbed out, the heavy weight of the past few days felt smaller. I changed into an oversized shirt and loose shorts before climbing onto the bed. The mattress dipped under my weight, and I let out a soft groan."I missed this," I murmured as Mom lifted my legs onto her lap and started rubbing my tired feet."I figured you would," Mom said, keeping her strokes steady. "Pregnancy and narrow beds don't mix well."I closed my eyes and smiled, breathing in the familiar scent of home. My eyelids grew heavy as I cu

  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Two hundred and forty one

    Lisa POVJoanna had asked for my expected delivery date. She explained that over the next few months, I would spend designated nights at the chapter house. The closer I got to giving birth, the more often they would ask me to stay because they were watching for opportunities.Over the next few days, the chapter house slowly revealed itself to me.It wasn't only a shelter. It was evidence. Preparation.The Daughters didn't treat every case the same because the Meridian didn't destroy every life the same way. They studied the damage, adapted to it, and built their response around it.The house ran on routines that felt ordinary until I looked closer.A board near the entrance listed rules instead of welcomes.Never reveal another sister's location.No visitors after curfew.No private contact with a partner still under Meridian influence while staying in the house.Older women who didn't bother greeting newcomers claimed the front porch every evening. They watched me come and go with di

  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Two hundred and forty

    Cameron POV My fists stayed clenched as Nadia blocked the shortest path to the door without making it obvious, while Franklin seized the overnight bag I'd packed to leave."Cameron, nobody's asking you to stay with her forever," Nadia said. "We're asking you not to make a permanent decision while you're furious."I threw the stack of reports onto the desk."I've never been more certain of anything." My voice shook with anger. "She was filing reports and progress updates on me while I was carrying her to doctors because I thought she was dying."Every panic Evangeline had caused us was a lie. They had taken something as sacred as trust and reduced it to measurable progress inside an operation."There's nothing left to fix. She made it clear that I'm just livestock. Stop standing in my way.""We're trying to keep you alive," Franklin said. "If dissolving the bond were as simple as doing the rejection ritual, I'd drive you there myself. But we don't know enough. Every person we've spoke

  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Two hundred and thirty nine

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  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Two hundred and thirty eight

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  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Two hundred and thirty seven

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  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Fifty-Two

    Lisa POVThe dance floor was crowded. Cameron and Evangeline moved at the center of it, surrounded by other couples. I focused on Kade instead as he guided me into the waltz.His hand settled at my waist. I shifted to create space, but he drew me closer.“You look beautiful tonight.”“Thank you.”“I

  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Fifty-One

    LisaI stood in the corner of the ballroom, a glass of white wine I hadn't touched warming in my hand, and tried to make myself invisible.The ball was in full swing around me. Hundreds of Lycans in beautiful outfits, music from a live orchestra. Everything was gold and burgundy and opulent in a way

  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Fifty

    Lisa POVKade crossed the room and stopped too close. Not touching, but close enough that his shoulder blocked the rest of the room from view.“How have you been, Lisa? I’ve been worried about you.”“I’m fine.”“Are you?” His gaze moved across my face, searching. “Because you shouldn't be here. What

  • TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS    Forty-Nine

    Lisa POVI stood in front of the mirror in my room, looking at the navy dress hanging from the closet door. The ball was only hours away and I felt nothing.I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to walk into a room full of Lycans, and I definitely didn’t want to spend the night watching Cameron play th

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