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)
Harper finished with the whipped cream and handed the canister over to Franny. It didn’t matter how much whipped cream she added, Franny always, always, always wanted more. She had no problems with providing.
“What about the full moon? It’s not for a couple of weeks, and I’ll do what I usually do—have a run, come home, eat, and go to sleep.”
Franny clicked her tongue, and it looked like she wanted to say something more.
“Just out with it,” Harper said.
“You’ve clearly not thought about it.”
“Just tell me.”
Franny took a sip of her hot chocolate. “This is good.”
She waited.
“Fine, fine, fine. You’ve seen what other mated couples are like, right? My parents, several of the pack members.”
“Yeah, so?”
“You’ve never been near Mateo when you’ve been in that position. You’re older now, and it’s not like your first transition. What if she, or the two wolves, are drawn together? Like, they just can’t help themselves?”
“My wolf is not a big friend of Mateo right now.”
“Yeah, right now, and she hasn’t been near him during the full moon. It might be something you want to talk to my mom about. She might be able to shed some light on the subject.”
Harper looked at her friend and offered a smile.
This didn’t sound good.
****
Franny was no good at helping him. Silver was always busy. His father hadn’t been able to impose much words of wisdom, which meant the only person he could go to was Lemon.
He didn’t want to be seen as showing the alpha’s wife too much attention, but so far, she was the only person willing to give him the time of day.
“Evening,” he said.
Lemon was elbows-deep in her vegetable garden. He already saw a basketful of tomatoes, garlic, zucchini, and several other herbs and vegetables.
“Mateo,” Lemon said. “I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.”
He forced a smile to his lips. “I’ve come to pick your brain once again.”
“Things didn’t go well with Harper?” she asked.
“I was able to find her, but she didn’t exactly want to be found.”
“Believe it or not, it does make sense. When she came to the pack, poor girl, she barely spoke a word. She was so heartbroken and was in a great deal of pain.”
“Pain?” he asked.
Lemon chuckled, sitting back on her heels and then brushing the excess dirt off her hands. “You know it was her first time going through the transition?”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
The woman in front of him clicked her tongue, and he knew he’d clearly said something to rattle her cage.
“I’m sorry, I … uh, I don’t see the relevance.”
“Well, it’s quite simple. Trust me, it is very rare for it to happen, but on the first night of her transition, when her body goes through that undeniable pain, where her bones break, and let’s face it, all but our souls pretty much shatter. It’s an experience and a half, and not one many want to replicate.”
He couldn’t deny that. It wasn’t fun for anyone. Still, he didn’t say that.
“On top of all that pain, she experienced this one moment of joyous spark, where for a short time, she believed she had found her mate. Now, if you put yourself in your mate’s position, I’m sure you can fill in the blanks.”
Mateo didn’t want to think about it.
“Within twenty-four hours, she was banished from her own pack, from all she had known, and sent to a pack she didn’t know. All the strange senses and the smells—everything—is always a little crazy after that first transition, and to add to that pain, the one person who is meant to love her, be there for her without question, banishes her. He doesn’t want anything to do with her.”
Mateo stared at the other woman in a state of shock.
“Now, after seven years—not a week, or a month, but seven long years, where she finally has made a life for herself—he turns up and expects her to be happy about that. Expects her to want to mate with him, go back to their old life, where all the people witnessed your rejection and her humiliation,” Lemon said. “Does that help you at all to figure out what you’re dealing with?”
Mateo didn’t like it. He felt he needed to sit down. Even though he’d been the one to instigate everything, it still didn’t make it any easier to listen to. In fact, it was hard. He did that to Harper, without a second thought. Not a moment has gone by that he’s not thought about her, but still, it didn’t drive him to go and get her.
“How do I fix this?” Mateo asked.
“I don’t have the answers to that, my friend. All I know is you hurt Harper deeply. Deep enough for Franny to have taken her under her wing, and to make sure she has some semblance of a life here. If you want Harper to start listening to you or even consider your plight, you might want to talk with my daughter first.”