Read Online New Alpha-New Rules by By K. S. Martin - Free Book Online Page B

when Harper finally moved her
hands away. Harper followed with the vegetables she’d sliced. “I think it would
do him a lot of good too.” Cindy whispered conspiratorially.
    “Harper?” Lucy
tugged on her tee shirt. “No onion or tomato please, just bologna.” Harper
smiled down at Lucy.
    “Sure thing kid.”
Lucy grinned up at her then went to the table and sat down. Three other kids
ambled in and took seats around the table.
    “Jasper, Kelly,
Justin,” Cindy called to them. “This is Harper.”
    “Hey,” the three
of them echoed around the table without looking up. They all had smart phones
and their faces were buried in them.
    “She’s mating
Ryder.” Three heads snapped up at once to study her. She gave them a wave.
Kelly scowled at her then gave her a look of open disgust. She heard Cindy
snicker behind her. Justin and Jasper elbowed each other. Harper turned back to
Cindy.
    “What’s funny?”
Cindy’s face collapsed into utter joy.
    “Well, Kelly’s
been telling people for the past few years now that she was mating Ryder. He’s
ignored her efforts because she is an infant next to him but her mother has fed
into this fantasy since Ryder had no mate. She’s a lazy wolf and hoped that if
her daughter mated Ryder it would secure her place as the queen of do nothing.
There’s no love lost between us if you haven’t guessed.” Harper turned back the
kids.
    “He’s stated his
intentions but we’ve not agreed to a mating.” Harper looked Kelly in the eye.
    “Kelly.” Ryder
strolled into the huge kitchen that suddenly seemed very small. “I am mating
Harper. I was never mating you no matter what you or your mother think. I don’t
want to see that look on your face again and I don’t want to hear of any ill
will or acts toward Harper. You and I were never happening, Harper or not. I
have no interest in a child. You should turn your thoughts to Lee, Jack, or
Eddie.”
    “Oh Ryder, don’t
be silly, you’ve just met that female. She won’t hold your interest just like
the rest of them.” A tall lithe she-wolf came in from the living room. Her hair
was long and straight, black as night, her heavily made up eyes were dark blue.
The lipstick she wore was dark cherry, almost brown and went unexpectedly well
with her tanned skin. She was beautiful and exotic, Harper thought. She turned
her gaze on Harper then visibly dismissed her. “I’m Nicole. You won’t be around
long so I don’t need to learn your name.” She said haughtily.
    “Oh goodie, the
queen of lazy has arrived.” Cindy muttered behind her. “Don’t mind her.” Cindy
said. “Just ignore her like the rest of us.”
    “Nicole.” Ryder
said sharply. “You may be excused from lunch. Anyone else that has an unkind
word for my mate may be excused as well.” The wolves that were in the attic
were filing in now and filling seats around the table. Two more wolves came in
the back door from the yard but Harper didn’t know them. “Will, take you mate
to your room.” The Alpha commanded. “Take lunch with you, you’ve worked hard
this morning. She’s not welcome at this meal.” Ryder said more to Nicole than
to Will. Cindy brought a plate with two sandwiches and some chips to him from
her place behind the counter. Harper watched Nicole flip her hair over her
shoulder and turn on one heel to leave.
     
    “Mark my words.
She won’t be here long.” Ryder inhaled sharply. “Children, come.” She
commanded.
    “Mathew, this is
Harper. She is going to help you plan the garden, she grew up on a farm, and
she knows how to run the equipment.” Mathew came over and hugged her quickly.
    “Welcome.” His
eyes twinkled much like his mate’s. “I’ll take all the help we can get. It’s
harder than it looks on television.”
    “Not really.”
Harper said quietly looking up at Ryder who was studying them. He didn’t like
that Mathew hugged her. That was clear. Harper grabbed a plate and filled it
with two sandwiches and some