Lahat ng Kabanata ng TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS : Kabanata 171 - Kabanata 180

The moment those words, “I love you,” left my mouth, it felt as though I had done something forbidden and something exhilarating at the same time. Even I didn’t know how or why I said it at that point, when it wasn’t as though we were having sex for the first time. We’ve had it countless times, but somehow I just felt like saying it then.His muscles locked under my touch, or perhaps it was just a fragment of my own imagination from the dread I felt after saying “I love you” to someone who was already mated to another woman. I bolted upright, dragging the blanket over my chest and sliding to the far edge of the mattress.“I didn’t, I didn’t mean it. I mean, you should ignore me. I wasn’t thinking straight.”His eyes remained on me, lids heavy and unfocused in the post-sex haze, or whatever it was that made him look more frail than usual.“You shouldn’t apologize,” he said, curling his fingers around my hand and tracing a slow circle over my knuckles with his thumb. “I don’t mind it.”

Lisa POV“Lisa, please. This is not something you need to be part of.”The urge to scream climbed up my throat.“You’re already talking about me. So I am part of it.”My chest tightened, and I could hear the thud of my blood in my ears. Alpha Kieran looked at my mom, then back at me, his mouth opening and closing as if the words were stuck in his throat.I stared at them across the small gap. Alpha Kieran's eyes stayed on my mother, waiting for a nod that did not come. "Mom, let him talk," I snapped. "If this is about me, you have no right to hide it.""This is not your burden," my mom said. Her hands shook as she smoothed her skirt. "You are a surrogate. That is your only role. You do not need to drown in the mess of Cameron’s life."The words "just a surrogate" stung like a slap, but I kept my eyes locked on Kieran.“I’m not just a surrogate, mom. If something is wrong, it affects me too. I deserve the truth."Kieran gave a slow nod. "You do. But this truth is…dark." He hesitated

Cameron POVFranklin didn’t follow her right away. He lingered, shifting his weight and looking from me to Evangeline like he was weighing which fire to put out first.“Go after her,” I said.He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.“Go!” I barked.He gave a stiff nod and hurried out the door. The heavy silence that followed wasn't peaceful. It pressed against my eardrums from all sides. I hated it.I rubbed my palms over my face and turned away from the entrance. Evangeline stood a few feet away. I didn't need to look to know she was there; the air felt thick around her.When I finally turned, she was staring at me. Her cheeks were wet, stained with streaks of mascara.“You’re just going to let your sister assault me like that?” she asked. She hugged her arms across her chest. “You heard everything she said. As if the lies weren't enough, she actually hit me.”“You provoked her.”Her jaw dropped. She looked back at me with a mix of shock and growing heat. “You think I dese

Lisa POV“Should we even trust him?” my mom asked. Her eyes never left the window, tracking the car as it rolled toward the porch.“Mom, now you're being paranoid.”“I should be. For all we know, he could be part of it. He presents himself as honest, but that is exactly how they get close.”Her words left an oily feeling in my stomach.“We can't just throw accusations at everyone. We need to be sure. I have to believe he’s trying to help.”“I didn’t say he was one of them.”“You’re thinking it.”She didn’t answer. She pulled the curtain back a little further.“He wouldn’t be able to fool Cameron,” I said, “and definitely not Franklin.” The words sat between us. I heard the tremor of doubt in my own voice and hated how weak it sounded.Mom’s face fell into a mask of quiet sadness. “Cameron didn’t see through Evangeline either.”A knock at the door made her give me a pointed look to behave, then she headed for the foyer.The baby shifted low in my belly. It was like he was reading the s

Evangeline POVMy eyes locked onto Cameron’s. He wore a dark frown.“That sounds like your voice,” the counsel said, his lips curling into a smug line.“It is. But I never confided in Desmond,” I replied, keeping my back straight against the wood of the witness stand. “I warned him to keep Cameron’s name out of his mouth.”“About what, exactly?”“Desmond was already ruining his relationship. I told him not to drag us into the mess.”Desmond sank into his chair and watched me. A scoff escaped him.Bastard.“So you deny sharing any sensitive details?” the counsel asked.“I deny it,” I said. I tightened my grip on the edge of the railing. “I was dealing with my own crisis at the time.”“And what crisis was that?”“A private health issue.”A heavy silence followed.“You expect this court to believe that recording is unrelated to these charges? You used the specific words ‘Cameron’s infidelity.’”“I expect the court to understand how words are twisted,” I said. My voice didn’t waver. “Desm