H.M. Long - Hall of Smoke

In Lana Ferguson's paranormal romantic comedy The Fake Mate, two wolf shifters with clashing personalities agree to a mutually beneficial deception that quickly gets out of hand. When ER doctor Mackenzie Carter's matchmaking grandmother pressures her to find a partner, Mackenzie blurts out the name of the first man she sees: Noah Taylor, a grumpy cardiologist known as "The Big Bad Wolf of Denver General". Coincidentally, Noah, an unmated alpha, is facing a career crisis after an anonymous tip exposes his designation. With a board that views unmated alphas as unstable, his only option is to appear mated. Seizing the opportunity, Noah and Mackenzie strike a deal: they will pretend to be a couple to solve both their problems. What starts as a simple, fake arrangement is complicated by their undeniable chemistry and the primal wolf dynamics of scenting. As the line between fake and real blurs, their fake romance evolves into a steamy friends-with-benefits relationship. They soon realize that navigating their newfound feelings is a whole different animal, especially with a vengeful colleague plotting to sabotage them.