Page 4 of So I Won a Werelion

“Always.” The sound guy approached and clipped my microphone to my dress, and Gabe disappeared before I could reply.

“Wendy is ready,” Marissa said into her headset.

That simple declaration turned my knees to pure jelly.

I followed Marissa to the side of the stage and focused on breathing. On not falling flat on my face in these sky-high stilettos—which would be a sin against this dress and the talents of the makeup and hair team.

“Now, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for.” Bibi was much easier to understand from here. “Please join me in welcoming Wendy Woodhead toThe Mating Gamestage!”

I walked onto that stage in a daze.

It was surreal. Everything was a swirl of lights and blurred faces. Was some of the audience…booing?

Ouch.

My time onThe Real Werewiveswith Sterling had earned me some haters.

Bibi beckoned me forward, a fuchsia promise of shelter from the storm. “Wendy Woodhead is a lifelong resident of Sunset Springs. She loves live music, scary movies, and of course, big, strong, sexy shifters. Which one of these three beasts will be the one to claim her?”

People shouted numbers from the audience, coaching me to pick their favorite. Some held signs, mostly proclaiming that they wanted to be exactly where I was.

And still a couple of boos.

I somehow reached the chair beside Bibi and nearly crumpled into it.

“You all know the drill,” Bibi said to the audience, voice pitched to carry perfectly across the stage. “There are three beasts on the other side of the stage. Wendy will ask three questions, and each shifter will have a chance to win her over. But only one will have the chance toclaimher.”

The crowd roared.

Bibi beamed at me. “Wendy, we’re all dying to hear your first question.”

For a moment, everyone in the audience became my sister’s face, full of disapproval and disbelief. Telling me I was ridiculous. But I couldn’t give in to that doubt, couldn’t let myself give up.

“I’m human,” I said, trying to focus on the screen hiding my would-be suitors. “How would you describe the way it feels to have an animal inside you?”

“Shifter Number One, please answer,” Bibi said.

“How ‘bout I show you what it’s like to have an animal insideyou?” Our first contestant sounded like he had a pack-a-day habit. I hoped it was only the way they masked the voices to make the contestants completely anonymous.

There was no way Bjorn and his camera could miss my eyeroll at that answer. The crowd laughed as it got displayed on the big screens that hung on either side of the stage.

“Being a shifter means I’m one with nature.” Shifter Number Two’s voice sounded awfully familiar. “I hope I’ll have the chance to show you the world through different eyes, so you can feel what it’s like for yourself.”

That was exactly what I wanted. Not only had I dreamed of being claimed by a shifter, I’d had dreams where Iwasa shifter.

Maybe this wasn’t so hopeless after all.

“Shifter Number Three?” Bibi prompted.

“It’s power. Raw, untamable power.” The crowd loved that answer, but I’d dated more than my fair share of shifter bad boys. Color me unimpressed. I was in the market for a grown-ass shifter who could keep his shit under control.

Gentleman in the streets, beast in the sheets.

If you know, you know.

“Thank you.” Those weren’t exactly the answers I’d been hoping for, but then again, I didn’t really knowwhatI wanted. To be claimed? To have someone finally sweep away the lingering desire I had for Gabe? Probably. I reminded myself all I needed was one wolf to claim me. “Second question. If I choose you, how will you show me I’m your mate?”

“Oooh, I’m taking notes.” Bibi delighted the audience with a polished wink. “Here’s to three epic dates.”

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