Page 7 of Alpha's Rejected Mate

“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.

“Mateo wants to take you back,” Silver said.

“What? No, I refuse,” Harper said.

Silver sighed. “He is your mate.”

“And he rejected me,” she said. “Right at the very beginning. It’s why I’m here. It’s why I … don’t know what it is like to be mated. Why I’ve had to deal with a lot of people curious about what I did to cause that rejection.”

She hated to even say those words, but it was all true.

“I am sorry if my pack has been less than welcoming,” Silver said.

She closed her eyes and took a breath. “It’s not that. In the beginning, it was difficult, but you and I talked about that, remember?”