though I know from watching you earlier that you won’t believe me on that count. His instincts are generally strong and he knows how to defend his pack. He’s more or less earned his position. What he doesn’t have, though, is a mate. To say that Craig isn’t good with women is something of an understatement.”
“And you thought that setting up a reality show was the way to get him one? Isn’t there an online dating site? Werewolf-finder.com? Matchmater?”
“Don’t think we haven’t tried. But time’s running out for him---he needs a mate, and soon. All alphas do. And these women have been carefully selected for all sorts of criteria. To be honest with you, we’ve accessed medical records and studied their genetics, so that we know they’re potential mates, even the one who fainted and the others who left. And the fact is that each has the potential to become Craig’s true mate, his for life. He simply needs to find her and claim her.”
“ Everyone including me has that potential?”
“Including you.” Tristan seemed sad as he uttered the words. But how could I be Craig’s true mate? I felt no connection with him.
“I have to get back to work,” Tristan said abruptly, and he left the room. He didn’t touch me, though I felt a tingle run throughout my body as he walked away, as though the breeze in his wake was enough to stimulate each of my nerve endings. All I knew was that, whatever happened, I needed to stay in this game; in this house. I had to find a way to convince Craig to keep me.
Six :
Acting Like I Care
When Craig came back down stairs he appeared to be a simple man again, dressed in a suit that was extremely similar to the first. I wondered how many they’d have to supply him with over the course of the show’s episodes. If he planned to turn into a wolf often, it seemed like he’d be needing a lot of them. Surely they could design some kind of ultra-stretchy suit? A wolf in spandex. The thought intrigued, amused and horrified me.
“I’m sorry if that shocked any of you,” Craig said to the crowd who’d gathered around him again, though we were now short four women. “But the fact that so many of you have stayed shows me that you’re serious about this, and I appreciate that. It takes a strong woman to want to take on the role of mate to a shifter. Now, if you’ll join me for a toast, I’d like to welcome you all properly.”
The crew had poured us all fresh glasses of champagne and we raised them in unison.
“Welcome, ladies,” Craig said, smiling broadly again. His teeth flashed sparkling wh ite and took on a new dimension now that I’d seen them in lupine form.
Afte r the toast he approached Brittany first, and the show proceeded as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
“May I take you outside to talk?” he asked. I knew that this would go on for hours; each woman would be given a chance to chat with Craig for a few minutes. I wasn’t about to interrupt his conversations so I figured I’d just wait my turn. Meanwhile, I sipped my champagne and pondered my tactics to ensure that I’d be remaining in the house.
Julia was talking to Diana, the nice, dark-haired woman we’d met earlier. I approached them and said, “So, what’s the plan of attack?”
There were cameras around so I knew that we have to be a little cautious or we’d come off as scheming bitches.
“I’m hoping to get a chance to talk to him soon,” said Diana, smiling shyly. “But I have to say, I’m worried that I’ll get drunk if they keep pouring champagne.”
“I’m hoping to get shit-faced before I talk to him,” Julia said. “I’m nicer when I’m drunk.”
“Do you two get a sense of what he likes? What might help us to stick around?” I asked.
“I don’t know if we can second-guess that, but like I said, you’ll be around for a while, honey,” Julia said.
“You’re probably right. I feel a little more determined than I did earlier,
“And you thought that setting up a reality show was the way to get him one? Isn’t there an online dating site? Werewolf-finder.com? Matchmater?”
“Don’t think we haven’t tried. But time’s running out for him---he needs a mate, and soon. All alphas do. And these women have been carefully selected for all sorts of criteria. To be honest with you, we’ve accessed medical records and studied their genetics, so that we know they’re potential mates, even the one who fainted and the others who left. And the fact is that each has the potential to become Craig’s true mate, his for life. He simply needs to find her and claim her.”
“ Everyone including me has that potential?”
“Including you.” Tristan seemed sad as he uttered the words. But how could I be Craig’s true mate? I felt no connection with him.
“I have to get back to work,” Tristan said abruptly, and he left the room. He didn’t touch me, though I felt a tingle run throughout my body as he walked away, as though the breeze in his wake was enough to stimulate each of my nerve endings. All I knew was that, whatever happened, I needed to stay in this game; in this house. I had to find a way to convince Craig to keep me.
Six :
Acting Like I Care
When Craig came back down stairs he appeared to be a simple man again, dressed in a suit that was extremely similar to the first. I wondered how many they’d have to supply him with over the course of the show’s episodes. If he planned to turn into a wolf often, it seemed like he’d be needing a lot of them. Surely they could design some kind of ultra-stretchy suit? A wolf in spandex. The thought intrigued, amused and horrified me.
“I’m sorry if that shocked any of you,” Craig said to the crowd who’d gathered around him again, though we were now short four women. “But the fact that so many of you have stayed shows me that you’re serious about this, and I appreciate that. It takes a strong woman to want to take on the role of mate to a shifter. Now, if you’ll join me for a toast, I’d like to welcome you all properly.”
The crew had poured us all fresh glasses of champagne and we raised them in unison.
“Welcome, ladies,” Craig said, smiling broadly again. His teeth flashed sparkling wh ite and took on a new dimension now that I’d seen them in lupine form.
Afte r the toast he approached Brittany first, and the show proceeded as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
“May I take you outside to talk?” he asked. I knew that this would go on for hours; each woman would be given a chance to chat with Craig for a few minutes. I wasn’t about to interrupt his conversations so I figured I’d just wait my turn. Meanwhile, I sipped my champagne and pondered my tactics to ensure that I’d be remaining in the house.
Julia was talking to Diana, the nice, dark-haired woman we’d met earlier. I approached them and said, “So, what’s the plan of attack?”
There were cameras around so I knew that we have to be a little cautious or we’d come off as scheming bitches.
“I’m hoping to get a chance to talk to him soon,” said Diana, smiling shyly. “But I have to say, I’m worried that I’ll get drunk if they keep pouring champagne.”
“I’m hoping to get shit-faced before I talk to him,” Julia said. “I’m nicer when I’m drunk.”
“Do you two get a sense of what he likes? What might help us to stick around?” I asked.
“I don’t know if we can second-guess that, but like I said, you’ll be around for a while, honey,” Julia said.
“You’re probably right. I feel a little more determined than I did earlier,
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