“Roxanne, I told you when you called I have business today. Why are you here?” Ignoring the edge in my voice, I’m sure she hears.

A shiver of excitement runs down her spine, like I just told her I’m going to bend her over the front porch railing. Maybe she’s not ignoring it after all. I think she is mistaking my anger for passion. Her lips part, eyes dilate as she walks close to me. Her hands go to the white t-shirt stretched over my chest, her nails lightly tracing up and down. She watches her hands and pouts. “Mase, I haven’t seen you since Saturday. I miss you, don’t you miss me?”

Honestly, no, I haven’t. Before I can answer her, my phone I’d left in the office rings. Grabbing her hands, I push them away. “I’m busy. I told you I was busy. Yet you show up here like this.” I point to her state of undress. “I know exactly what you’re up to Roxanne. I told you years ago there is no future for us. I don’t want to hurt you.” That part’s true, I don’t want to hurt her. “At one time, I cared very deeply for you. I can’t give you that anymore. If you still have feelings for me, I’m sorry, sorry if you thought it would ever lead to more. I’ve let you get away with this charade for far too long. Stop telling people we are close to a commitment, that someday we will marry. You will never be my Luna. I am truly sorry, but it stops now.” The last words are spoken softly to try and soften the blow, but she hears the finality in my tone.

Her eyes are glossy, and her face is pink. No tears fall. I think she’s more angry than sad. I know she cares for me, she just cares more for what the status of being Luna to one of the largest packs would give her. “What happened to you? You loved me, I know it. You could again if you let yourself.” She is still trying, her voice is soft and sweet, trying to mask the anger I see in her eyes.

My phone starts ringing again. Before I turn to go get it, I answer the only question she asked that matters. “I can’t, and I won’t.”

“Sid,” I say when I pick up.

“Yeah, whoever Cass is bringing today has a few of the guys in a stew. Not sure why, but even a few of the unMated married fellas are sniffing around.” I hear the worry in his voice “They headed your way?”

Just what I need. “Fuck me, is she close to being in heat?” I ask. No wonder Cass can’t stop talking about her.

“I’m not sure, Mase. She smells different somehow, even to me.”

I’m taken back by his response. Sid’s been Mated for a little over a year. He’s barely out of the honeymoon stage. “Shit. Okay, yeah, they’re headed here. I’ll see what I can find out and let you know.” I hang up as I hear a car coming up the hill. When I walk up to the door, it hangs open, and Roxanne’s on the front porch like some naughty housewife come to greet them. Looks like she’s still trying to run her game.