The Fake Mate

Noah Taylor is the second protagonist and first-person narrator in the novel. Within the A/B/O structure, he has been designated as an alpha, a rare designation that is often feared and stereotyped for its high rates of aggression and notably domineering traits. At only 36 years of age, Noah was made head of the cardiology department over Dennis Martin. Considered a genius by his peers, Noah is fully dedicated to his work, and at the beginning of the novel, he intends to leave Denver General for a better position in Albuquerque. Of the few relationships that he has, he is most often in contact with his mother, who is constantly worried about his self-isolating habits. Since finding out his designation, Noah has been prone to taking heavy suppressants to hide his alpha nature and to avoid dealing with the societal judgment and discriminatory practices associated with it. As a result, Noah has little to no social interaction,, and his standoffish attitude has caused many misunderstandings and given rise to multiple rumors, earning him the nickname “The Boogeyman of Denver General.” Because he associates so little with his coworkers, he often does not recall their names.

Noah is described as having angular features, with blue eyes that “contrast with his smooth, fair skin, as if he sees more than you want him to” (13). Although Noah is meticulous and hard-working, his jealous colleague, Dennis, hates him and covets his position as the head of the department. When Noah’s designation is discovered by the medical board, he grows desperate to avoid a reprimand and agrees to become Mackenzie’s fake boyfriend if she agrees to become his fake mate. As they spend more time together, however, Noah’s feelings for Mackenzie turn genuine, and by the end of the novel, he turns down the Albuquerque job to remain with her in Denver—once they confront the hospital board and get rid of Dennis.

Dennis Martin is the main antagonist in the narrative. As a senior cardiologist, Dennis is a decade older than Noah and is incensed by the fact that Noah became the head of department, despite Dennis’s greater seniority. Dennis believes that Noah only received the job because Noah’s mentor, Paul Ackard, nominated him for the position. As a result, Dennis insults and demeans Noah at every turn. To external bystanders like Mackenzie, Dennis often exhibits a smarmy attitude and uses a falsely pleasant demeanor to goad or condescend to those around him, and he often aims his attacks at Noah.

He is described as having “hair [that has] already begun to gray around his ears […], skin an unnatural tan shade that someone like him could only get by spending a lot of his spare time in a tanning bed” (64). Ultimately, he is revealed to be the person who told the hospital board that Noah is an alpha. He gained this information by snooping in Noah’s office and taking pictures of Noah’s private medical information. When Noah overhears Mackenzie and Parker speaking together, he learns that Noah entered a fake mating relationship with Mackenzie to avoid any issues with the hospital board. He then exploits this fact and attempts to blackmail Noah into leaving the hospital and Mackenzie. Going through Noah’s personal records is a HIPAA violation, however, and when Mackenzie and Parker discover his transgression, Dennis is dismissed from his position at the end of the novel.

Parker is a secondary character within the novel. He is Mackenzie’s best friend and closest ally and has known her for over 16 years. He is well acquainted with her grandmother, Moira, with whom he often discusses Mackenzie. As an IT tech at Denver General, Parker is skeptical of Mackenzie’s arrangement with Noah, as he has heard most of the unpleasant rumors that plague Noah in the workplace. When Mackenzie unexpectedly goes into heat, however, Parker reassesses Noah, who seems to genuinely care for her. Protective and loyal, Parker is the pillar upon which Mackenzie relies when Noah breaks up with her because of Dennis’s blackmail. Parker also uses his computer skills to discover evidence of Dennis’s HIPAA violation. At the end of the novel, Parker and his boyfriend Vaughn are invited to Noah and Mackenzie’s joint family dinner.

Liam Avery acts as a secondary love interest for Mackenzie and a rival to Noah. A competent registered nurse, Liam was one of the first people to guide Mackenzie when she first began her job at Denver General. He has harbored a love for her for years, but Mackenzie remained oblivious to his romantic interest. When she and Noah announce their mating, however, Liam becomes sour and often points out Noah’s many failings as a partner and a mate, especially when Mackenzie goes into an unexpected heat. Though Liam is later unaware that Mackenzie and Noah have broken up, he uses the announcement of Noah’s departure to Albuquerque to try to convince Mackenzie to date him instead. When she gently refuses his offer, they decide to remain friends.

Moira Carter, Mackenzie’s grandmother, and Noah’s unnamed mother both play supportive roles in the narrative. In Moira’s case, she plays the roles of surrogate mother and incorrigible matchmaker to Mackenzie, pressuring her to find a mate and setting her up with what Mackenzie considers to be horrible dates. Despite the pressure that Moira exerts on Mackenzie, the two share a loving relationship, and Mackenzie is especially grateful to Moira and her grandfather for taking her in when her father abandoned her. Wise and mischievous, Moira allows Mackenzie to continue pretending to be in a fake relationship with Noah, even though she is fully aware of the truth; secretly, Moira hopes that this arrangement will help Mackenzie to heal from her trauma and move on.

Though Noah’s mother does not pressure him to find a mate, she is nevertheless something of a thorn in his side, as she constantly berates him for the little interaction he has with his family. She also keeps tabs on her son through her network of friends, one of whom is the parent of Jessica, the resident rumormonger at Denver General. When both Noah and Mackenzie doubt the viability of their relationship, their family members convince them not to lose hope and to hold on to one another.

As a retired cardiologist, Paul was once Noah’s mentor and guided him along his career path. When he left the hospital, he nominated Noah to replace him because he recognized Noah’s competence. He and Noah remain in contact, and Paul is one of Noah’s only friends, as he trusts Paul enough to reveal his designation to him. Noah often turns to Paul for advice—both in hospital matters and in his arrangement with Mackenzie.