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ChapterTwenty-Nine
Cindy
Back to where it all began. This time, as I sat in the makeup trailer, I wasn’t terrified to go on that stage, because I knew exactly who waited for me. My mate.
“I love this haircut,” the stylist said as she curled a section around a thick barrel iron. “It’s so flattering. You don’t even look like the same woman who was here before. I won’t lie, I had to look back at the pictures from the first night to make sure they hadn’t brought someone else in.”
The bronzer that the makeup artist added only contributed to my glow. “It’s amazing what experts can do, combined with a few good night’s sleep.”
“And a hot wolf in your bed,” the stylist laughed. “I thought this show was totally staged when you picked Logan Mathis. But now, I want whatever you’re having. I’ll be filling out the application to be a contestant as soon as my shift is over.”
“I hope you find the shifter for you.” This wouldn’t be the last time I’d have to pass that kind of scrutiny tonight. “Thanks for all your hard work. It’s easier to go out on stage when I look this good.”
“It’s whipped cream. I just put the finishing touches on an already gorgeous palette.” She pumped the hairspray, manipulating my waves before taking off my cape. “I still can’t get over the change in you.”
Marissa was at the door. “I’d ask if you were ready to claim your wolf, but I already know the answer.”
The styling team cheered for me as I walked down the trailer stairs. I felt fierce in wide-legged black pants, high-heeled boots, a black, short-sleeved satin top that had a gorgeous floral pattern on it, big gold hoops, and bracelets to match.
The crowd had already been whipped into a frenzy. They called Logan’s name, and my she-wolf stood at attention when she heard it. Soon, no one in that audience would have any doubt he belonged to me.
“Last thoughts before you’re mic’d?” Marissa asked.
“I can’t wait until the next time we come to this stage.” I looked around. “Where are the kids?”
“I’ve got them.” Wendy approached with Charlotte on her hip. The boys bounced behind her. I’d asked if I could bring them on stage, but Hugo advised against that. He was still training the new security team, and he didn’t want to expose the kids to potential enemies.
We hadn’t had any threats since that night in the forest. We’d approached some of the wolves in the pack, the ones who were on the fence whether they were team Cindy or team Pedro, and asked them if they wanted to participate in Logan’s project.
We planned a stripped-down approach that wouldn’t scare the hell out of the Green Mountain wolves, but I still had everything crossed, hoping they’d say yes.
And they did. I was confident it would finally bring real change to the pack.
The sound guy attached my mic, and it was showtime. I gave the kids a group hug before I walked up onto the stage, feeling every bit like a she-wolf. Bibi’s face brightened when she saw me.
“Well damn. I’m no longer the most beautiful gal standing on this stage. You look amazing.”
“I have an incredible team.”
She shook her head and turned back to the crowd. “Do you remember how Cindy came to the stage the first time we were here?”
A montage started playing on the screen behind me. Wow. No one had been exaggerating when they said there had been a transformation. I felt different, but I was still me. But looking at the screen I could hardly believe my eyes.
The woman up there looked terrified and exhausted, but more than that, she didn’t believe that all the pomp and circumstance of the stage and the camera crew would produce results any different than what she got last time. That woman was in denial of how bad things had actually gotten, mostly for her sanity, maybe a little for her pride too. Because there was no way she could have fixed the problem on her own, and before The Mating Game, that was exactly what she’d have had to do. All the hair, makeup, and wardrobe in the world couldn’t hide the fact I didn’t think I deserved to be on that stage.
Today, I owned it.
As the video faded to black, I turned my attention to Bibi. The look of love on her face gave me goosebumps. She’d truly been my fairy dragmother—not because it was her job, because it was her personal mission to make the lives of wolves like me better. To empower women to live life to its fullest potential.
It wasn’t about having a mate. It was so much more than that. I wasn’t afraid to take chances. I wasn’t afraid to stand on this stage and take what was mine.
“This time, only one wolf waits for you on the other side of the stage. Logan Mathis.” Bibi paused to give the crowd a chance to go wild. “We’re doing something a little different than the last time we were here. I’ve compiled some of the most intriguing questions from our live audience. I had them texted to us, and the team behind the scenes at The Mating Game found the juiciest ones. The first one is for Logan, and Cindy, will you do us the honor of asking?”
“Of course.”
The crowd fell silent as she handed me the card.
“That’s my mommy!” Carter’s little voice resonated from the backstage area. My heart warmed. My boys were proud of me.
“Hi, Logan.” That wasn’t on the card, but no one said I couldn’t take the time to flirt with this wolf.
“I wish this wall wasn’t between us,” he said. The audience swooned. “Everyone keeps saying how incredible you look, and I just have to imagine. Unless you want to help me out?”
I had to squeeze my legs together to quell the pulsing between them. “You’ll have plenty of time to see me later.” Crap. “Did I just give the ending away?”
“I’m pretty sure everyone can guess what’s going to happen,” Bibi said. “I’m dying to hear what Logan has to say about that question.”
Focus. This was fun, but the sooner I got this done, the sooner I’d get to see my mate. Claim him.
Maybe there was a teensy part of the woman who’d been on that screen moments before still on that stage, terrified to end that chapter of her life.
“Logan, can you tell me what’s changed about your life the most since I chose you to be my mate?”
He didn’t answer right away. I could feel his wolf.
“Everything’s changed. Now that I’m with you, I feel like I can finally be myself. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt comfortable doing that. I had some doubts you’d accept the real me. If you wanted the guy you saw on your TV screen,” he confessed.
Was it possible to fall for him even more?
“A lot of people thought I was here to further my career. I came because I knew my mate was waiting for me. Is loving you the biggest and best role of my life? Absolutely. But this one isn’t scripted, and I can’t wait to find out how it ends.”
“My heart.” Bibi put her hand over her chest, but then she handed me another card.
Oh, I liked this one. “Describe me as a leading lady.”
“You’re the type of woman who magnetizes people to you—but you have no idea. If I was to write a script for you, I’d have you discover your secret powers, and then successfully fight off the bad guys who tried to harness your abilities for their gain. Of course, you’d need a love interest, and I’d write myself in for that role.”
