All Chapters of TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CAMERON'S POVHearing Evangeline's wheezing breathing as I held her against my chest made every hope I had crumble.The false assurance I gave myself that she was going to get better wasn't working. Her skin stayed cold, no matter how long I held her, no matter how tightly I wrapped my arms around her fragile frame. The monitors beeped steadily in the background, tracking a heartbeat that seemed weaker every day.Four years. Four years of loving her harder, protecting her more fiercely, giving her everything I had. And she was still slipping away.I'd believed my love could save her. That if I just tried hard enough, fought hard enough, she'd get better. That the mate bond would be enough to anchor her wolf and keep her alive.What a fucking irony.The door opened quietly. My twin, Nadia, stepped inside, still wearing yesterday's clothes. She must have slept in the waiting room again.Her eyes found mine across the room, and I saw that same terrible sadness that had lived in them for m

LissI sat in the back seat while Franklin drove, my hands folded in my lap like a child being brought home from school. The hospital disappeared behind us, but I could still feel Evangeline's ice-cold fingers wrapped around mine.She'd called me sister.I stared out the window at the passing landscape, all of it blurring together into nothing. My brain felt sluggish, like I was trying to think through fog.What had just happened?Evangeline's words kept replaying in my head.I wish I could carry his child myself. I'm so sorry for putting you through this.She'd been so kind. So gentle. So genuinely grateful.And I felt like a monster.Like I was stealing something that wasn't mine. Like my very existence in that room had been an insult to their love.Cameron hadn't looked at me. To him, I was unworthy of attention.The way he'd looked at her.I'd never seen anything like it. That kind of desperate love. That kind of devotion."You okay back there?" Franklin's voice cut through the sil

LisaMy body had given up on sleep entirely.The sky outside my window was still dark. No movement on the grounds below.I remained in the room. Mid-morning came and I couldn't stay in my room anymore. The walls felt like they were closing in.I left my room and wandered the mansion, taking hallways I'd never explored before. Most of the doors were closed. A few were open sitting rooms, a music room with a huge piano, and a library.I found a balcony at the end of a long corridor. It overlooked an interior courtyard. The space was beautiful. Stone pavers. A fountain in the center. Training equipment set up in one corner—punching bags, weights, sparring mats.I sat on one of the wrought-iron chairs and tried not to think.My phone buzzed. Sasha. Soooo…. Has the big bad wolf touched you? I stared at the message for a long time before responding.Tonight.The reply came immediately.Sasha: Oh god. Are you ready for this?I don't know.Sasha: You can still leave. You know that right? J

Lisa The cars started arriving around noon. Cameron’s jeep pulled up first. He got out and walked around to the passenger side. Evangeline emerged slowly. She wore a soft cream-colored dress that made her platinum hair look almost unreal. Even from my second-floor window, I could see how fragile she looked and how carefully Cameron supported her weight.More cars pulled up behind them. Women in elegant dresses rushed forward to greet Evangeline.“Welcome home, Luna!”“We missed you so much!”Evangeline smiled and waved weakly. Cameron’s arm never left her waist. He was holding her up.They disappeared into the mansion and the celebration began. Music drifted up through the vents, along with laughter, the clink of glasses, and someone giving a toast.“To our Luna! May she grow stronger every day!”Cheers followed.I stayed in my room. I could smell the food, something rich enough to make my stomach growl despite my lack of appetite.Hours passed and the celebration showed no signs of

Cameron stood in the hallway, tall and broad-shouldered, his dark eyes fixed on me with a detached look.I stood there like an idiot, blocking the doorway, forgetting how to move.He waited.I realized what I was doing and stammered, “I’m sorry.” I stepped aside quickly and gestured to him.He walked past me without a word. His presence filled the room instantly. He looked around with something close to boredom, like this was a chore he’d put off and now had to finish.I closed the door and turned to face him.The silence stretched.Slowly, I reached for the tie of my robe. My fingers fumbled with the knot. I pulled it loose and let the fabric slide off my shoulders, pooling at my feet.Next was the lingerie. I unhooked the bra with shaking hands and let it fall. I pushed the underwear down my legs and stepped out of it.I stood there, completely exposed, and forced myself not to cover my body.Cameron’s gaze moved over me. It was quick enough that I almost thought I imagined it. His