All Chapters of TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS : Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

Cameron The air smelled of sweat and cologne as Franklin dodged my strike and chuckled, that smug look already on his face. I waited for an opening and drove a hit into him that made him gasp and fold.“You evil beast,” he said through his teeth.“All’s fair in war.”He scoffed, still laughing. “Which is why you should stop burning it off in training twice a day and go see the woman you love.”“Stop it,” I said.“Round two,” he said, already moving, matching me hit for hit.Around us, the young scouts trained, watching us like it was a show. They liked it, took pride in it. Training with their alpha meant something.For me, it was just performance. I couldn’t remember the last time I actually smiled.I nodded at the guard who handed me water and a towel.“Done for the day,” I said. “Check the patrol borders. Sign the letters and shipments. And keep my cousin out of council meetings.”Franklin fell into step beside me.“I’m not an idiot, Cameron. That’s already my job.” He glanced at

Lisa I held the edge of the sink with both hands while my stomach emptied again. The tiles under my bare feet felt cool and slightly damp from the splash of water I had run earlier. I spat once, then again, and the bitter taste stayed on my tongue no matter how many times I rinsed my mouth. James stood in the doorway, phone pressed to his ear, his voice low and steady as he spoke into it.“Get here now, please.”He ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket. I had told him earlier not to call our mom, so he had gone straight to Franklin instead. I straightened up slowly, one hand still braced on the counter until the room stopped moving. The cramps had started the night before and had not let up. They came in waves that left me sweating and short of breath, and the lack of sleep made every movement feel heavier than it should.“I’m fine,” I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.The words came out flat. I knew they were not true, but I kept my face calm so he wo

Franklin raised the hospital bed, and the tube in my arm tugged when I shifted. The monitor around my stomach kept a steady rhythm, tracking the baby. I watched the screen, then turned my attention away.I didn’t like how steady that sound was. It felt too calm compared to everything happening inside me. If something was wrong, it shouldn’t sound this normal. That part unsettled me more than the pain.James dropped my bag onto the chair. “I didn’t know what to pack.”“You brought going-out clothes. Planning to sneak me out?” I said with a chuckle.“I panicked. I don't know how long you'll be staying.”“She’s staying as long as she needs to. Even if it means spending the remainder of her pregnancy here,” Franklin said, causing me to roll my eyes.A nurse walked in, connected the IV line into my arm, made sure I was comfortable, and left.“What if this isn’t food?” I said to Franklin. “What if my body is rejecting the pregnancy?”Franklin scoffed. “You’re not a doctor. Let them do their

Evangeline POVCameron slept in the chair beside my bed. His head rested against the high back with his neck bent at an angle that would ache later. One arm hung over the side and his fingers brushed the floor. I watched him with a smile. My lips curved up on their own while I studied the slow rise and fall of his chest under the thin hospital blanket I had draped across him earlier.I asked him to stay, and he did. No argument, no resistance. He chose to be here even if his head wasn’t. I didn’t need him awake to feel it. Even like this, there was distance. His body stayed in the chair but the rest of him had already drifted somewhere else. Still I had him with me, and that was enough for now. I reached out and traced one finger along the edge of his sleeve. The fabric felt warm from his skin.His phone buzzed on the table within reach. The vibration rattled against the plastic tray. I brushed my fingers against his hand, light enough not to wake him. His skin stayed still under mine.

Franklin POVThe ceiling fan in the doctor’s office hummed at a frequency that vibrated inside my skull. Dr. Aris rubbed the bridge of his nose, his skin sallow under the harsh light. He slid Lisa's results toward me. The paper felt heavy, the ink crisp and undeniable.“Will this affect the baby?” I asked.“We hope not,” he said. “Whatever she ingested was designed to disrupt the pregnancy.”The air in the room felt thin. Every breath I took tasted like ozone and antiseptic. I had failed. As Beta, my primary function was the safety of the pack, yet I had allowed a predator into the inner circle. “So what happens if she doesn’t improve?” I pressed.“If her vitals become unmanageable without aggressive intervention, we may have to choose between stabilizing her and continuing the pregnancy.”The word left me before I could stop it. I dragged a palm down my face, feeling the stubble prickle my skin.“Do everything possible, please” I said, knowing Cameron cannot handle the loss.“Until h