Page 4 of Bearnapped at the Altar

Giving my boobs a quick check to make sure they were still inside this ridiculous dress, it was my turn to make an unannounced visit to the production tent.

“I won’t be signing that contract,” I said as I took the seat in front of Larrie’s desk. “Gideon chose the wrong Beastlerette. We need to reshoot the rose scene, and this time, he’ll name his true fated mate.”

Larrie raised a well-manicured brow. “That’s so cute. You think you’re in charge of production now.”

I gave the most casual shrug I could muster. Especially when I wanted to blurt out that I heard the whole exchange. That he’d bought her off. But it didn’t feel like the time to let her know I was onto her.

There would never be a good time, but I needed to do this on my terms. Not when these assholes had my back against the wall.

“Just want to make sure everyone ends up happy,” I said.

“Seems that we both want the same thing.” She smirked as she pushed a paper at me. It was the original signed contract—well, it was my signature, but nothing about the rest of the document looked familiar. “You’ve already signed a legally binding contract that stated if chosen, you agreed to have an official mating ceremony with our eligible beast. Of course, you are more than welcome to break that contract, but if you do, prepare to pay back every penny that was spent producing this episode. Including the other ladies’ accommodations.”

I gulped. Even with a payment schedule that lasted for the rest of my life, I’d never come close to erasing that debt. “Gideon and I didn’t share the connection that he had with the other Beastlerettes. They’d be more than happy to accept that rose from him, even as his second choice. They’re all still here—we can fix this.”

“There’s nothing to fix, Tegan. Gideon chose you. More importantly, his wolf believes you’re the woman that he’s fated to claim. Do you have any idea how lucky you are?”

“Apparently not.”

“Women all over the country would do anything to trade places with you. You could try to show a little gratitude. Because a week from now, you’ll be married. They’ll all want to live vicariously through you. The network is already talking about a spinoff with you and Gideon as you start your life together.”

It was official. In exactly seven days, Gideon Silverclaw would own my ass. I shuddered at the thought as I rose from the chair. There was no need to waste time right now arguing with Larrie, her bogus contract, or the blood money she’d accepted from Gideon to make this happen.

Because they already had a plan in place to make this worse.

I had six days to manifest a better outcome for myself, and I would give it everything I had.

“Okay. I’ll do it.” I practically choked out the lie. I wouldn’t be able to work my universal magic if production clogged up my time trying to bully me into compliance.

Please don’t let this backfire…

Larrie softened, giving me as genuine a smile as she could manage with that much plastic surgery. “I’m so glad to hear that, Tegan. I assure you this is the right decision.”

“What happens now?” I’d play the role of the good little Beastlerette, because I wasn’t letting these bitches catch me off-guard ever again.

“We get everything ready for your wedding,” she said, clasping her hands together. It was the sincerest she’d seemed all season. “This is my favorite part of every episode. We’ll pull out all the stops to make sure this is the day you always dreamed about.”

More like a nightmare. I nodded. “Looking forward to it.”

As I walked back to my yurt, I tried not to focus on the fact that I was royally fucked. There had to be a solution to this.

By the time I went back to my room, my roommate was already packed up and gone. That was fast, and at this point, everything seemed off. Had production helped her pack because they wanted me alone?

Was I even safe here? It wasn’t like I had anywhere else to go. Even if I did, I had a pretty good feeling Gideon Silverclaw would appear there too.

What would he do once he actually got me alone? No cameras, no rules? My funds were limited, but I’d put them all in on the likelihood he planned to kill me. A shiver went down my spine at the thought. Whatever I knew was enough to ruin him.

If he simply had romantic feelings for me, he wouldn’t have waited until after he fired me from Wild Adventures to make his move.

Then I remembered something.

It was a long shot, but it might have been the only shot I had.

I dumped the contents of my purse onto my bed, thankful that I hadn’t had a chance to clean it out. I did a little happy dance when I found the battered business card I’d pulled off a corkboard at a diner because my gut told me I might need it someday.

Like right freaking now.

Sawtooth Security. Shifter Solutions.

---