Page 2 of Bearnapped at the Altar

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 couldn’t 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 steam.

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’ll 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.

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