One

Tegan

My name is Tegan Reynolds, and I am seriously regretting my life choices at the moment.

I couldn’t confide in any of the ladies who had been staying at this glamped-up campsite with me for the last four weeks. We were contestants on Moonlight Mates, a shifter dating reality show where we vied to be chosen by an alpha beast.

Competition for Gideon Silverclaw, billionaire wolf shifter, was cutthroat. And tonight, he was slated to give away his final rose.

The excitement around the set was palpable. My fellow contestants had spent the day getting right with the universe and making themselves the most desirable Beastlerette.

I couldn’t believe I was still counted in the ranks of that groan-worthy title. Not only was I forty-one and way too fluffy to be stuffed into this glorified prom gown, but Gideon Silverclaw was the wolf I’d come here to expose.

Did I expect some sort of enemies-to-lovers fairy tale where the lovable, imperfect heroine reformed the big bad wolf? Hell no. My mission was simple: use the notoriety and the money I made from the show to stop Gideon in his wolf tracks. I’d use my fifteen minutes of fame to expose him for exploiting packs and stealing their land.

I had all the time in the world to pursue this mission after I was fired from Gideon’s company, Wild Adventures, for uncovering his plan to extort local shifters out of the land their packs had lived on for generations.

But the joke was on me when he showed up as this season’s Moonlight Beast. He’d pretended he had no idea who I was, after we’d worked together for the last five years. When I tried to alert production, they told me it had to be a case of mistaken identity. Like I didn’t know who I worked with for the last three years. They insisted that lots of Beastlerettes had nerves once their episode started.

Okay, fine. I decided I’d go through with it because maybe I’d get the piece of information that would blow my case wild open. It made filming awkward, because it took everything I had not to confront him on camera.

Plus, with a half-dozen eligible Beastlerettes within earshot at any moment, anything I said could and would be used against me.

The whole time I’d been on this show, I’d pretended to be something I wasn’t. That ended tonight.

The spotlight clicked on, and show host Larrie Winslow strode on too-high heels to the center of the stage. Those were risky on a good day, but tonight, she’d broken into the champagne and started celebrating early.

A gasp radiated from my fellow contestants as Larrie turned her ankle and fell into the moon shaped pool of light.

Even I get nervous on nights like this. She chuckled as the production assistants rushed to help her up. She adjusted the column skirt of her dress. That will be edited out, right?

Of course, that’s why we don’t actually film live, one of the producers assured her. Everything will look like a fairy tale, because that’s what this is. Right, Beastlerettes?

A cheer rose from my fellow contestants. I clapped—it felt so gross, but I didn’t want to bring any more negative attention to myself. There was a literal spotlight at the end of the tunnel. I’d collect the money from the show’s contract, and use every penny of it to stop Gideon.

The money wouldn’t cause much more than an annoyance, but it would give me a chance to book all the tell-all interviews as a recently jilted Moonlight Mates Beastlerette.

Once people learned the truth about this wolf, they’d help me put a stop to this nonsense.

What kind of wolf displaced other packs? And most importantly, why?

The director counted down, and Larrie was once again her most radiant self.

"Welcome to this very special episode of Moonlight Mates. Tonight’s the night all you beast lovers have been waiting for. Larrie beamed. Tonight, alpha wolf shifter Gideon Silverclaw will give his final rose away under the light of this gorgeous full moon. I can’t think of a more romantic way to bring this season to a close."

The cameras panned over the Beastlerettes. My fellow contestants gave themselves a quick fluff to make sure they were ready for their second of screen time.

I couldn’t breathe as Gideon took the stage. Tonight he was dressed in a tux that hugged his slim but muscular body. A suit and tie never really did it for me, but I could understand the attraction. His dark hair had been slicked back on the sides, and the curls on top left free. His jaw was square, and his gray eyes glowed in the moonlight like he might shift and ravage his new mate.

Normally, I was into that sort of thing, which was why I was here, but with him? Hell no.

He nodded and smiled as he took us all in.

I’d never felt so much like I’d joined a cult in my entire life. Or like my longline strapless bra was about to give out at the worst possible moment. I wasn’t sure which scenario I preferred.

Gideon, you’ve taken your eligible Beastlerettes out on a series of romantic and thought-provoking dates. You got to know a little about each lady, and in turn, they were lucky enough to get to know you. Larrie batted her eyelashes at him, and I had a feeling she hoped he’d choose her in the biggest plot twist of all. It’s such a big decision to choose just one of them to be your mate.

He shook his head. Actually, Larrie, it was the easiest decision I ever made. It’s a matter of fate.

My gag reflex was working overtime tonight. Just a few more minutes, I reminded myself, and then I could blissfully begin phase two of my mission.

We’re all dying to know…which one of these Beastlerettes is fated to be claimed by you?

I choose— the dramatic pause lasted way too long. Tegan.

Gasps erupted from the crowd. Music started playing and fireworks exploded overhead.

What? I could not have heard him right.

Go on the stage, a production assistant whispered, giving me a hearty shove in that direction. We know you’re in shock—

"Of course she’s in shock! How did she get picked out of all of us? Bonnie, the contestant who I swore Gideon would choose, crossed her arms in front of her ample cleavage. This show is fixed. There’s no way that this gorgeous hunk of wolf is fated to that…spinster."

It wasn’t the insult she intended, because I wholeheartedly agreed. There was no way Gideon would have picked me if the show wasn’t fixed, which was exactly what I’d been afraid of the moment he appeared on set.

So phase two of the plan was officially under construction. But now, I had to go on stage and accept this rose from my sworn enemy. My ex-boss. This absolute piece of shit.

My mind raced as I walked up the stairs. What would I do when I got up there? I could refuse to take the rose, but that would set off a chain reaction of drama I wasn’t prepared for, and I was so close to exposing him.

But if I went through with it…

We could easily stage a dramatic breakup. No. I knew better than that. He wanted something. Unless Gideon Silverclaw really thought I was his mate.

The cameras slid into position as I walked up to Gideon. Those silver eyes were almost transparent in the bright lights. Completely unnerving, and not the least bit sexy. His full lips curled up into a smile that made my blood run cold.

All sinister, no sexy.

He held the rose out to me.

If I were a braver woman, I would’ve snapped it in half and thrown it in his face. But instead, I took the flipping thing.

His lips were on my cheek before I had a chance to protest.

It’s fate, Tegan, he whispered. Everything’s exactly as it’s supposed to be.

I nodded, because if I opened my mouth, I was sure to scream. Think of the publicity, I reminded myself. Everyone will want to know what Gideon Silverclaw was up to, and I will share every juicy detail.

But Gideon as usual, got the last word, landing a sloppy kiss on my lips.

I pressed them shut, but that didn’t stop him from trying to slip his tongue inside.

That’s a cut! Larrie announced. "Ladies, I’m sorry to say tonight is the end of your Moonlight Mates journey. It’s been a pleasure getting to know every single one of you, and I’m confident you’ll all find the love of your lives. Tegan, come with me. We need to start planning the next part of the episode."

Next part of the episode? I said. We’re done. This was the finale.

She doesn’t even know how things work. Bonnie rolled her eyes. This is such a joke.

Again, we were on the same page.

A few contestants awkwardly hugged me, offering hollow congratulations before I got whisked to the production office, which was just another yurt on the campground.

Larrie took the seat at the other side of the desk and gave me a camera-worthy smile. Gideon was nowhere in sight. That didn’t feel right.

If this was a production meeting about filming some sort of cute epilogue, it would make sense for him to be here. And I still had a chance to expose him on camera. I tried to reframe this in my head—maybe this could give me the opportunity I needed to prove my case. I could do it on camera and catch him totally off guard.

Watching him squirm would be the most satisfying thing ever.

"Congratulations again, Tegan. Being chosen as the Moonlight Mates Beastlerette is truly a life-changing experience, and I’m excited to see what comes next for you. But first, we have some paperwork for you to sign. She handed me a tablet. I hate to drop boring formalities on you on such an exciting night, so I’ll give you the TL;DR version: it’s the same stuff you signed in your contract…"

She was still talking, but I was much more focused on the paperwork as I flipped through the pages.

This looks like a marriage contract, I said.

She nodded eagerly.

Like a real one. My heart was in my throat. Sweet moon, this was exactly what it was. And Gideon had already signed it! All it needed to be official was for me to sign where they’d highlighted in fluorescent yellow. If you expect me to actually marry Gideon Silverclaw…

You’re contractually obligated to actually marry Gideon Silverclaw. Larrie’s tone was icy enough to give me frostbite. "As I said, everything in this paperwork was already in the contract. You agreed to be the fated mate of this season’s beast, if you were lucky enough to be chosen.