Page 3 of Craved By the Werewolf
"This is a terrible idea. He's... terrifying. The man probably files his nails on cement blocks."
"Doubt it," she said lightly. "He seems more like the 'tear them to perfect points with my teeth' type."
"Not helping," I muttered.
She held up her hands. "Look, last year the crowd got a little... spirited."
"A few bites, a few brawls, and someone set the merch tent on fire."
"Exactly my point. Corporate wants someone with actual crowd control skills to help you wrangle the more... enthusiastic guests."
"And they think putting the local apex predator on stage with me will calm people down?"
"Or rile them up in a profitable way," she said sweetly, folding her hands on the table like she hadn't just suggested throwing a shark into a swimming pool.
I groaned into my tea. "You saw him at the Spring Fling. He has two settings: silent judgment and smokey-eyed murder glare. Do you know how many awkward silences that's going to be on stage?"
She shrugged. "You have enough sarcasm for both of you."
"Mika, this man growls between breaths. Like, audibly. I'm not emceeing over werewolf rumble bass."
"You've always said you wanted better sound design," she said, perfectly straight-faced.
I threw her a glare. "Alright. What's the good news?"
Her grin widened as she slid one of the papers across the desk. "You have a meeting in L.A. next Monday with the network bigwigs. They're interested in syndicating The Nightingale nationwide."
My brain stalled for a solid three seconds. "You're serious?"
"Completely."
National syndication. Bigger markets. My voice riding the airwaves from coast to coast. The kind of reach I'd only dreamed about when I'd started this gig—but the excitement tangled immediately with a knot in my stomach.
"So... to sum up," I said slowly, "I'm hosting House Party with Thorne Kaine, and prepping for the biggest meeting of my career, at the same time?"
Mika beamed like she'd just handed me a winning lottery ticket and a lit stick of dynamite. "Yep. You're welcome."
I stared at the tea like it might have the answer hidden somewhere in the steam.
On one hand: career jackpot. On the other: sharing a stage with Mystic Ridge's most intimidating resident.
"I could say no," I muttered. "Just... no. Walk away, let them find someone else with a death wish."
Mika tipped her head, unimpressed. "You could. But then you'd have to explain to all the kids at Haven House why they're not getting new books, new beds, or the kitchen upgrade they've been begging for."
She didn't play fair. She never played fair.
I groaned. "Why are you like this?"
"It's a gift." She grinned, leaning back in the chair like she'd already won. "And let's be honest—you've never backed away from a challenge in your life. You're just annoyed you didn't get to veto your co-star."
"Co-host," I corrected sharply. "And no, I'm annoyed that my co-host growls."
"You growl."
"I purr. There's a difference."
Mika's laugh was pure trouble. "So... that's a yes?"
