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Chapter One
Hannah
I was bored.
I know, poor Hannah, being put up in an all-expenses-paid luxury chalet in Sunset Springs, Colorado in a suite with a fireplace, a soaking tub, the comfiest bed I’d ever slept in, and a breathtaking view of the mountains while I waited to star in my own episode ofThe Mating Game.
I had absolutely nothing to bitch about.
After I had won a contest to be the next contestant on the show, production called me in earlier than I expected. I was under the impression this meant we’d start the search for the shifter who would be my forever mate ASAP.
Nope.
Since reality shows are synonymous with drama, I’d been bumped twice for Mating Game emergencies. Now I was more than ready to find a beast to call my own.
Maybe it was time to cause my own emergency.
“Don’t you look adorable, sleepy head.” Bibi le Bonnet, host and fairy dragmother ofThe Mating Gamegreeted me in the lobby of the chalet and gave me cheek kisses. “Good morning.”
She was dressed to the nines with a fuzzy purple jacket, matching metallic leggings, and an aqua wig.
“They’re my jammies,” I said. “I was just coming down for a latte and an egg sandwich.”
“Leopard print pajamas are fierce. You look amazing in everything.”
People were watching us—a six-foot-something drag queen and a pajama-clad woman with half a head of lavender hair and a good amount of ink tended to turn a head or two. Plus, everyone in Sunset Springs knew that Bibi le Bonnet usually had a camera crew in tow…which made my heart flutter in my chest.
“Did you come to tell me something?” I could barely conceal my excitement. I’d had a lot of time to imagine the moment she told me it was time to start my episode, but I never pictured it happening in the lobby of the chalet in my pajamas.
I took a quick peek around the lobby, hoping to spot a camera, maybe one of the producers…oh hell, I’d even go for one of the pesky paparazzi that always seemed to hang around the show. But none of them were there.
Bibi gasped and put her hand over her mouth. “Oh. No, it’s not time to start your episode yet. We’re still dealing with the Marissa situation. But once we’ve got that settled, your episode gets the green light. The chalet spa is the best in Sunset Springs, and I simply can’t trust anyone else with my facial. I could see if they have another appointment available if you’d like to join me.”
“I just had one.” I waved my hands in front of my bare face. My skin had never been so clear. I was a frequent flier at the spa. “I was thinking of heading out for the afternoon.”
“Oooh, an adventure sounds fun. When you get back, how about a girls’ night tonight at my house? I can invite some of the other ladies over, maybe for charcuterie and board games?”
“Sounds amazing.” I was excited. Girls’ night at Bibi’s house was always epic. She had a way of making everything over the top.
“Call me when you get back, and I’ll let the ladies know.” Bibi was satisfied the problem was solved when she left me with an air kiss.
Maybe I should’ve let her book me an appointment at the spa. I’d already explored every inch of Sunset Springs, watched everything streaming, and I was sick of going intoThe Mating GameForums. As a superfan turned contestant-in-waiting, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the fact thatI’dbecome the topic of conversation.
Some fans thought I hadn’t gotten my episode yet because they couldn’t find shifters willing to be with me. Others thought I’d made myself a problem, because they loved to wax dramatic about the show.
There was a small contingent that thought I’d lied about winning the spot.
Hell no to that negative energy. The perfect beast was ready, willing, and able to claim me, no matter when my name got listed as number one on the call sheet.
Today, I needed to get away from everything. Adventure for the win.
Heading out of Sunset Springs for the day felt like skipping school. No particular destination in mind, this was one of those trips where I’d turn when it felt right, and come home in time to get ready for hanging out with Bibi and the girls.
It was a gorgeous, warm winter day. The red rock mountains were calling to me. Many of the beasts that came into Sunset Springs called these mountains home, and I was curious about their villages. Maybe there would be some cute little shops I could support, or find a fun place to grab lunch and a fancy coffee.
Once I passed Woodland Park, the highway turned into a windy country road. The snow was much deeper up here, almost covering the sign that said it was ten miles until the next village, and the signs for the ski lodges near Mount Deception.
No wonder all these shifter guys were in such good shape. They were running up and down mountains both ways in the snow.
