“Oh goodness. We’ve…uh…clearly made a mistake here.” She apologized profusely and said something about their internet ad targeting. I could tell she really felt bad about the mix-up. “You’re under no obligation to continue with the contest, Daphne. None.”
I nodded with relief. The last thing I wanted was to be a part of some sort of weird paranormal dating ritual. I had barely come to terms with the fact that supernatural creatures actually existed. And that I was surrounded by them on this tropical island. Generally speaking, anything that involved me possibly getting killed was a hard stop in my book. I came herenotto be killed.
“Is there any way I can ask you to go with the flow?” Jada asked, eyes pleading.
“Go with the flow?” As in, she didn’t want me to quit?
“Just for tonight,” she added, sensing correctly that I was about to tell her hell no. “Everything is set up for twelve contestants—all of our marketing materials, the staging, our graphics. I’ll give you my personal guarantee you won’t move forward in the contest after tonight.”
Iknewthere had to be a catch to the whole you’ve-won-a-free-vacation business. I should’ve listened to my gut instinct that said I was being hoodwinked. I mean, come on. Who believes they can legit win stuff on the internet? But I guess I’dalways dreamed of doing more. Being more. Filling out those quizzes and entering contests was a way of fooling myself that I was.
Jada spoke quickly. “You’ll have a spa day today. Get your hair and makeup done. Then, after tonight’s ceremony, you can go back and enjoy the rest of your vacation. On us, of course.”
She made it sound so nice and normal. But she was probably some sort of supernatural creature herself. A shifter, perhaps, given the animal intensity of her eyes. Normal for her and normal for me clearly weren’t in the same ballpark.
“Ceremony?” The word conjured up images of stone altars and witches dancing around a funeral pyre. “It doesn’t…uh…involve things like sacrifices, bloodletting or evil incantations, does it?” Because that was where I drew the line between maybe-I’d-consider-it and fuck-no.
“No, no,” Jada said hastily. “Nothing like that. Dark magic is strictly forbidden on the island. Have I mentioned that today you’ll spend time in a gorgeous, award-winning spa right here in the hotel? It’s made the top ten lists on a bunch of paranormal travel blogs—exotic oxygen facials, hot stone massages, paraffin pedicures, to name a few.”
Given the cost of such treatments and my bank account balance, I rarely indulged in such pleasures. And I’d never even been to an actual day-spa, just strip-mall nail salons. I couldn’t justify the expense.Hmm.Did they give you plush robes and green juice?
Maybe Jada was a witch, working a spell on me, or just really astute and knew what my hot buttons were, because I could feel myself caving.
No, this was madness! I couldn’t participate in a dating contest with a supernatural creature. Ishouldn’tagree to this.
Jada was still talking. “Aromatic steam baths with locally sourced herbs and essential oils…”
Wait! What?
My head snapped up.Locally sourced? There were herbalists on the island? Did they grow their own plants in carefully tended gardens or forage for them out in the wild?
Taking a deep breath, I opened up the folded Date-A-Wolf itinerary again and noted how pretty the hand-written lettering was at the top. Had Jada done it herself, or had she bought the font online?
I rubbed my stiff shoulders, tense from—well, everything. I could actually really use a good massage.
Letting out the breath I knew I was holding, I said, “Well, okay, but I’m going to need something to wear.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Travis
“Stand up straight,” Jada ordered as she adjusted my tie.
“I feel like a dog on a leash.” I grumbled, trying to pull away from her, but had no luck. My sister was stronger than she looked, and if she made this thing any tighter, my head was going to pop off. “I don’t see why we can’t just postpone this. My knee hurts like hell, and I’m supposed to be on crutches for the next few days.”
“You’ll be fine.” Jada examined me critically, brushing off a piece of non-existent lint from my lapel. “You’re not an invalid. The women are here and ready to go. Unfortunately, we can’t wait until it’s a more convenient time for you.”
I prickled with irritation. “This isn’t about my convenience, Jada.”
“The White Wolf Moon is?—”
“I know when it is,” I snapped. “That’s all I’ve heard about since the reading of Dad’s will—White Wolf Moon this, White Wolf Moon that. And the fact that it falls during Monstervalmakes it even worse.” If not for the popular island festival, most werewolf clans would celebrate the Moon on their own lands. But no, many would be coming here.
“Travis, listen,” she said, her tone softening. “I’ve met the contestants. They’re all very nice, and they’re really looking forward to meeting you.”
Great. I felt like a piece of meat. A prize everyone was vying for.
I hobbled to the mirror and loosened my tie a few inches, despite Jada’s protests. It wasn’therneck being choked.
