The Mating Game

Two wolf shifters reluctant to love discover there’s no fighting the call of the wild in this steamy romance by USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson.

Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters.

Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it.

Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts.

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Published Dec 2, 2025

400 pages

Average rating: 6.96

53 RATINGS

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Between the Tropes

Founded by romance bookstagrammer All in with A, Between the Tropes started as a concept to gather romance loving humans in the Raleigh-Durham area.

Community Reviews

Heartofhomesteadreads
Jan 16, 2026
5/10 stars
The Mating Game had me completely hooked. The chemistry isn’t just good, it simmers, and the audio brings every moment to life in the best way. And the omega/alpha pairing? It hits at that perfect spot where tension, instinct, and emotion all crash together in a way that just works. The narrators add so much personality that it feels like you’re listening in on real conversations. Every snarky line, soft moment, and shift in tone pulls you deeper into the story, and it becomes one of those audiobooks you don’t want to pause. What stood out most is how character-driven the romance is. Both leads have their own flaws, fears, and growth, and you end up rooting for them individually just as much as you root for them together. The banter hits, the tension builds, and the spice lands exactly where it should.
WickedApple87
Jan 17, 2026
4/10 stars
This was the first novel I have read dipping my toe into the omega/shifter universe. There were parts of the book I did enjoy but overall it was not for me. I felt the book was very slow and hard to get into and left me with more questions than answers. I'm a big romantasy reader to begin with but this one was just not doing it for me.
Danielasbourn
Dec 13, 2025
10/10 stars
Hey how are you doing 😊❤️ I hope this message meets you well 😊 I have a question about your book. Looking forward to talking to you 😌❤️
Temitope
Dec 04, 2025
Not bad
Sassylettucereads
Dec 04, 2025
8/10 stars
I feel like there needed to be more chemistry but not bad.

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