Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
In the past seven years, she’d done well. She loved the Silver pack, and they had grown to love her. When she first arrived, she spent a couple of weeks just crying, and that had irritated her even more.
Why would she cry over a guy she barely knew, about circumstances she didn’t quite understand? It made absolutely no sense to her.
She hated crying.
She hated feeling hurt.
She hated the pain.
Eventually, it had faded, or she’d buried it deep down so she could function.
“Hey, girlfriend,” Franny said, stepping into the shop.
Harper smiled. Her best friend never failed to surprise her.
“Sheila is looking mighty fine,” Franny said.
“Well, thank you. It’s her and Thomas’s anniversary, and she wanted to do something special for him.”
Franny smiled. “That’s sweet. Don’t you think that is sweet?”
“I do, actually. So, what brings you by?” Harper asked.
“I came with a warning.”
“Warning?”
“Your mate—”
“He’s not my mate.”
Franny opened and closed her mouth.
“What?” Harper asked. “How can someone who rejects you and then banishes you so he doesn’t have to look at you, be your mate? Did I ever tell you that we’ve never even kissed? Just by looking at me, he didn’t want me. That man is not my mate. That man is nothing to me.”
The smile on Franny’s face fell. “You’ve never said anything like that before. Are you okay?”
“No, I don’t think I am.” She collapsed into a chair and felt exhaustion sweep across her.
“Anyway, what is it about Mateo?”
“He hasn’t left, and, well, I think he and my father are actually heading over here right now.” Franny quickly got to her feet and Harper couldn’t believe her friend, and followed suit.
Sure enough, seconds later, Silver along with Mateo stepped into her shop. Now she wished she had a ton of clients waiting to be seen. Today was a slow day. It was rare for a Saturday to be slow, but she’d also had a delivery of the latest stock, and the pack ladies liked to give her time to display it.
Being banished to a pack she didn’t quite know, not being able to see her parents, having the big question mark as to why her mate didn’t want her, she hadn’t exactly gotten the ability to blend in without too much trouble. However, what she could do was make many beautiful displays in her shop window, and around the small store.
The ladies loved it, and she already knew they were planning to come around on Monday. It gave her today to set everything up and try out a few of the products, before helping them on Monday. New deliveries of fresh products were always a hit.
“Alpha,” she said, bowing her head, and showing him the respect he was due.
In response, Mateo growled, and she felt her skin tighten.
Her wolf was happy at showing him no respect, because she was speaking directly to Silver. He’d lost the right to be called her alpha. She would never say those words again.
“Hello, Harper, I know how busy Saturdays can be for you, but I also heard of a new shipment. My mate is talking about it.”
Harper smiled at him. “Yes, I’m about to get ready to set it up.”
“I was hoping you and I could have a talk,” Silver said. He turned toward Franny. “Would you please show Mateo the sights?”
“Me?” Franny asked. “You want me to be nice to him?”
“I want you to do what your father and Alpha have told you to do.”
Franny groaned. “Oh, man, you used the father and alpha card. Damn it. Come on, be glad Daddy used those words.”
“Silver!” Mateo said.
“Do as I ask,” Silver said.
Harper watched the exchange, and she felt nothing.
He was not the boss here. He was not the one running the show. This was all Silver.
The shop closed with a reluctant Franny and Mateo leaving.
“Do you need me to cut your hair?” Harper asked.
His mate had asked her to keep him well-groomed. Silver tended to let it grow a little too long for his mate’s liking. She was pretty sure he did it from time to time just to annoy her, which was cute.
She didn’t get the mated couple, but they were very much in love, at least she could see that and to a point understand. They were a cute couple.
“No, not today.” Silver sat down in one of her chairs. “Please, take a seat.”
Harper wanted to argue, but she had a feeling she would need to sit down to hear whatever he wanted to tell her. Not a good start to the weekend.
“You know everyone in the pack adores you, Harper, and your position here is not in any danger.”
“Okay.”
“But I also have to consider what another alpha would like.”
She gritted her teeth. There were so many words she wanted to say, but instead she stayed completely quiet, even though it was so fucking hard for her to do.