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“Can I suggest pumping the brakes a bit?” I didn’t need the disapproving looks of both Lars and Hannah to know that would be an unpopular opinion, but there was a whole new batch of risks that had just emerged and we didn’t even know what they were yet. “The dates will still happen. But the whole world just watched you shift, Lars. Including the sasquatch hunters that drove you out of your home. Let’s see how they react to the news. And it’s been a while since you’ve been human, and we weren’t properly able to prepare—”
“Whoa. I don’t want watered-down Lars,” Hannah said. Her eyes widened and she put her hand on his arm. “That sounded awful. You know what I mean. I like you wild.”
The way he looked at her. If I could bottle that energy and give it away, I’d be able to solve all the world’s problems. It was pure, unadulterated desire, and his innocent sense of wonder combined with the knowledge of an ancient beast.
“The last thing we want to do is tame Lars. But we would love to get him some clothing that isn’t sweatpants—”
“Gray sweatpants are hot,” Hannah interrupted.
“You’re not wrong, but maybe some real pants too? And maybe show him some of the options available to take you on your dream dates. These were things we’d planned to do before the start of the episode, but couldn’t execute because he was still in his natural form. Anything we want to do is to make the experience better.”
“I appreciate that, Bibi,” Lars said, and then turned back to Hannah, because he could barely keep his eyes off her. I couldn’t wait to get these two in front of the camera for real. These would be our most swoon-worthy dates yet. “I’m so relieved you’re safe. I was worried about you.”
“Why? Because of her date with Armand?” I didn’t often miss little details, but his reaction seemed extreme.
“He was a total creep, just like we expected,” Hannah said, and then dug her phone out of her pocket. She swiped a few times and frowned. “It’s really weird that I haven’t heard from the girls.”
“Maybe their dates have gone so well they’re too busy to text with you yet. I’m sure you’ll wake up to all the juicy details in the morning. Speaking of that, why don’t we head home and pick things up in the morning. Lars, what would you like do first?”
He gave Hannah a knowing smile. Goosebumps.
“I’d like to go home. I’m concerned the hunters have gotten inside my mountain.”
“We have security watching the mountain,” Hugo said. “If anyone got near the entrance, which the steep terrain makes almost impossible for humans, they’ve been removed.”
“I don’t blame you one bit for wanting to go home. There’s no place like it, is there?” I hoped we could get him back there soon. Even though we’d given him the best setup possible, seeing this proud beast trapped in a windowless building broke my heart. “We’ll meet here for a quick breakfast date and then head out with the security team.”
Hannah yawned, and Lars pressed a kiss against her lips. “Soon we won’t have to say goodbye at the end of the night.”
She beamed at him. “I’ll be dreaming about you.”
“I’m always dreaming about you.”
He gave her another kiss that was sure to make her knees weak. I caught Hugo’s eye, just for a moment, and couldn’t miss the longing. These two were like their own little fairy tale.
Now it was my job to deliver their happily ever after.
Hannah fell asleep in the van on the way back to The Village with a dreamy smile on her face. What a day. Hugo carried her into her boudoir when we got back to my cabin.
Wait. I didn’t remember leaving my bedroom door open.
Granted, we’d left in a hurry when we got word of Lars’s shift, but I’d gotten into the habit of keeping the door closed when Wendy moved in and we started regularly filming in the house. I was willing to share most of my life with the world, but what happened in my boudoir was private.
“Hugo?” I called softly, so as not to wake Hannah.
He was so handsome in the low light.
“What’s up?” His voice was husky, but when he saw me, his face fell. “Is something wrong?”
“Someone has a terrible poker face, and it’s me.” I chuckled, but it fell flat. “Does something seem off in here to you?”
He scanned the room, hands on his slim hips, and nodded. “Smells like animal in here. Not the good kind, either.”
“That’s exactly what I was afraid of. Is the scent strong enough that you think they’re still here?” I wasn’t afraid of any wolf. But that didn’t mean I wanted them in my house uninvited.
“No, but it hasn’t been long since they left,” he said.
“Exactly what I thought.” I charged toward my boudoir and turned on the light. There was an envelope left on my pillow.
