Page 23 of Alpha's Rejected Mate

“You’re lying,” Franny said.

Harper lifted her gaze and took a bite of her cinnamon bun. “He’s going to leave soon anyway, so it’s no big deal him being here.”

Franny stood up and approached the main counter. “Really, so you’re telling me your wolf isn’t a little excited at having your mate around? You don’t feel aroused and curious every time you see him?”

“Enough,” Harper said. “He might be able to hear you.”

“Trust me, he’s not going to be able to hear me. You’ve got him cleaning, and I got him his favorite coffee. Trust me, we’re alone. That man is nowhere to be found.”

Harper stared at her friend, a little confused at what she was saying. “Anyone ever tell you, you can sometimes act a little strange?”

Franny winked at her. “Did I ever tell you, strange is my middle name?”

She chuckled.

“And also, consider my name, Franny strange, stop changing the subject.”

“I’m not changing the subject. There is no point in talking about something that is not going to happen.”

“You’re not going to forgive him?” Franny asked.

“Look, I know it’s easy for everyone to think I’m the monster here, and I’m not even saying Mateo is the monster. He didn’t want me, and I’m not going to be one of these females that goes running back, begging him to take me. I’m not. He didn’t want me.”

“And what about now? What about the full moon?” Franny asked.

“I’ll deal with it.”

“Or, you could stop fighting, and maybe this would be the perfect time to start using Mateo for your own pleasure,” Franny said.

Harper looked toward her friend. “What?”

“Look, this is going to be the first full moon with your mate very much present. Now, I don’t know about you, but as I said, mates act differently with the full moon, and seeing as yours is now close by and within reach, there is a good chance you’re going to want to get down and fuck.”

“Franny!”

“All I’m saying is, rather than fight that urge, why not use Mateo? You’ve never used any member of the pack, and I’ve got this feeling you’ve never been with a man.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Harper, you transitioned at eighteen, you told me you’ve never even kissed a guy, and then you discovered you were mated to Mateo, all within one night. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out you’re still a virgin, heading toward your first full moon, with your mate close. Unless you do something about it, things are going to get a whole lot of sexy.”

****

“A whole lot of sexy? That’s what you could come up with?” asked Mateo.

“I was winging it. Harper is so determined not to have anything to do with you.” Franny took a large spoonful of chocolate ice cream. “Why did you have to be a total asshole to her?”

“I’m not getting into this with you.” Mateo was also eating ice cream, but he’d opted for the strawberry-cheesecake flavor.

She snorted. “Is that because you don’t have a good enough excuse? You can’t go around criticizing me, when at the end of the day you’re in this mess because of yourself. All I’m trying to do is help you out. You should be thanking me.”

“By pimping me out?”

Franny snorted. “Like you wouldn’t enjoy it. Are you telling me that as we’re getting closer to the full moon, you’re not starting to feel certain urges?”

Mateo opened his mouth and then closed it.

“Thank you, I’m totally right, and you and Harper are so … annoying. Trust me, I know why she is, but you shouldn’t be pissed at me. It’s not like you’re giving me a great foundation to work with.” She shook her head.

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