Page 6 of So I Won a Werelion

“Shifter Number One.”Didn’t have to stress over that part.

“Just wait ‘til you come crawling back to me, begging me to claim you. It won’t be so easy next time. See ya, babe.”

His statement was followed by static and a crash, like he’d ripped his microphone off and thrown it to the ground.

Mere mortals might not notice that Bibi was shaken, but from this vantage point, I couldn’t miss the slight tightening around her throat. Was that something personal, or was she steeling herself for my next rejection? “That leaves us with two very handsome, very eligible shifters. Do you know which one you want to spend forever with?”

My body went numb.

This was it. All I had to do was say the word and one of those shifters would walk out from behind that wall and claim me.

I’d wear his mark, and he’d be mine.

Assuming I didn’t get rejected.

Again.

I managed a shaky nod and whispered, “Shifter Number Two.”

Bibi’s eyes widened. “Oh, I’m so excited for the two of you to meet. But first, we must say goodbye to Shifter Number Three. Thank you so much for competing onThe Mating Game, and we hope you find the mate fated for you.”

At least he took it like an adult.

“Now it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for.” Bibi placed her hand on her chest. “But none of us more than Wendy. I’m so excited to introduce you to this shifter, and he is so ready to claim you. This lion is a world traveler, a championship athlete, and he has a secret.”

The crowd ooohed.

I froze.

Wait a minute, what? I knew a shifter who fit that description.

But it couldn’t be him. Had Bibi set me up to fail again? My gaze fixed on the screen. Hope and dread tangled in my chest. I wanted to run.

He’d already told me no. My whole life had been changed by that moment.

“It’s time for you to meet your mate, Wendy. Audience, let’s give a warm Mating Game welcome to Gabe Wylde!”

Chapter

Two

Gabe

Sweet moon, Wendy was gorgeous.

My lion was rumbling inside me.Mate, he insisted.Mine.

It wasn’t the first time he’d made that declaration, but I was finally going to do something about it.

Wendy’s long dark hair cascaded down her back in soft, sexy curls. Her dress sparkled, hugging each one of her dangerous curves. Her lips were red and perfect, but not for long, because I planned on kissing her until her knees buckled.

Hell, I could’ve done this a couple weeks ago at the mating ceremony, where I’d been her plus one. But I’d seen the way Wendy watched Cindy and Logan. The way she shined in front of the camera when Bibi pulled her aside for an interview.

This woman was made for the spotlight. For the whole world to see why I’d fallen madly in love with her.

Can’t hide behind the show anymore, my lion snarked.It’s time to claim her.

For too long I’d been bound by the tradition of my pride. Our she-lions were wild, fierce, and refused to be claimed. No lion had dared to bring an outside mate into our pride. That was until my younger cousins challenged everything.

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