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I took a deep breath and headed out the door, following the human through a tunnel-like hallway that led to what Gabe had referred to as the Pit.
There were about a dozen shifters there. All in their human forms, staring at me.
One had the audacity to come forward. I growled when Armand grinned at me.
“I see you’re getting bold in your old age.” The bastard had the nerve to snicker. “Wait until your brother sees you on stage, embarrassing yourself to win the favor of a human.”
“What are you doing here?” I could barely get out the words. If this wolf laid a paw on Hannah, there would be hell to pay. And why was he talking like Leif was alive? Either he was delusional, or I was having a nightmare about going on stage. It wouldn’t be the first.
“Learning human rules so I know how to break them.”
“Okay.” Marissa’s voice was loud and sharp to snap the tension between the two of us. “Thanks to everyone who came out today, but unfortunately for some of you, this is the end of your journey onThe Mating Game. The three shifters who will be going on stage are Louis, Armand, and Lars.”
My mouth dropped.
There was no way I was imagining this.
How hadThe Mating Gamecrew chosen my enemy to compete for my mate? When I’d told Bibi about the encounter, I hadn’t given her or Hugo the names of the wolves. Only a thorough description of what they looked like in their natural forms.
Never did I think Armand would come this close to town—to humans and their modern conveniences. Had he ever seen a car before, or a television? It didn’t matter. If he got anywhere near Hannah, I’d make sure this time he stayed dead forever.
Concern flashed on Marissa’s face as I glared at Armand. The slick bastard had managed to get a haircut and a shave and dress in a tailored suit. Had to admit, he looked good, but it wouldn’t impress Hannah.
You think you know what a human wants. There was my brother’s voice again, like he’d whispered in my ear.
“Hello, Sunset Springs! Don’t you all look gorgeous tonight?” The crowd roared as Bibi took the stage. Which meant Hannah was with her. “I’m beside myself with excitement about this episode. And I can tell you are too. Why is this one special? Because Hannah is one of you. She was our hand-picked winner ofThe Mating Game’scontest to put the biggest fan of the show on stage, for her very own episode. Hannah, how are you feeling?”
I could feel her energy, much like I had that day in the mountains. Once again, her heart was pounding, but this time with excitement.
“This is a dream come true. I wish all of you could have the experience of being up here, and I promise, I won’t let you down.”
The crowd obviously loved her.
“Sounds real eager to please.” Armand chuckled. “I’ll enjoy that.”
“You won’t touch her.”
“There are three handsome shifters that are ready to make all your dreams come true,” Bibi continued. “Are you ready to meet them?”
I didn’t know it was possible for the crowd to get louder, but it did.
“So ready.” Hannah sighed.
“Okay, gentlemen. We’re ready for you.”
Marissa motioned for us to go up the stairs. The shifter called Louis went without hesitation. Armand motioned for me to go first.
I didn’t like that. I wanted to keep an eye on this slippery fucker, in case he managed to top coming back from the dead.
But today was about Hannah, and I wouldn’t let him make me forget that.
The sound of the crowd bent and twisted with each step. My heart pounded, and the pads of my hands were clammy with sweat. All that work the stylist did on my fur wouldn’t last long. I was bigger, stronger than everyone here. Had more lived experience than most of them combined.
But I was beast enough to admit these next few steps terrified me.
I’d spent most of my life avoiding humans after our relations with them had gone sour. Not until Hugo approached me about working onThe Mating Gamehad I made any attempt to connect with them, but they were mostly shifters.
Not until Hannah needed me did I care about one of them.
