So I Married a Werewolf

ChapterSixteen

Logan

Being summoned to the production office first thing in the morning was never a good thing, no matter if it was on scripted TV or on a reality dating show.

I’d seen the leaks—that there was a mole on the chalet deck last night, sitting close enough to me and my mate that they felt confident enough to share my private business with the world—with a few embellishments, of course.

It could’ve been someone from the show, looking to get more publicity. Without Margaret, I’d have to learn to handle that on my own. But with no agent, people might not be talking about me so much anymore.

Did it matter?

Was I concerned that my wolf had been a no-show for weeks now? Abso-fucking-lutely. But he wasn’t gone forever. He’d come back when his mate appeared. I finally realized that he was begging me for something different.

Fuck, that realization was power. And gave me even more motivation to ignore the two dozen messages contacting me directly for interviews. They tossed around words like exclusive and control, promises that might have enticed me earlier in my career. Maybe they would’ve seemed attractive before I came to The Mating Game.

Now that I was here and I’d met Cindy, my focus had taken a sharp turn. If it was a car, it would’ve been up on two wheels, burning rubber on the pavement and then kicking up prairie dirt on its way to its new mission.

The crew of The Mating Game hadn’t treated me as other once I told them what happened, like my agent and colleagues had. They hadn’t acted like the way I’d chosen to express my animal side was a fucking joke, like my pack did.

I’d expected Cindy to shun me when I told her the truth, but she was still willing to stand by my side. I had to prove to her that no matter if I ever shifted again, I’d always be by her side.

That I could be the wolf she needed.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Walking toward me on the chalet deck, the massage and the makeup not totally responsible for that glow. She needed someone to break down the walls she’d built around herself and take the time to actually see her for who she was. Not the woman who’d been beaten down by her ex-husband and her pack’s expectations.

She needed someone to see her for the she-wolf she wanted to be.

My wolf could list the reasons why I was the perfect man to take on this role. I didn’t carry any of the heavy expectations of tradition she’d been saddled with by her pack. Everything about this woman was new and exciting. I had the resources to give her anything her heart desired. All she had to do was ask. No, my wolf should know. She wouldn’t have to ask.

I slammed my hand against the window of the van that brought me to The Mating Game production office. The driver eyed me in the rearview mirror, and I rumbled in response, encouraging him to mind his own fucking business. His gaze darted back to the windshield, where it belonged.

The old wolf still had some power.

The human driver wasn’t the source of my frustration. I was pissed at myself for thinking of my relationship with Cindy as a role to play instead of trusting myself to be enough for her. But like Cindy had lost herself while she was raising her littles and dealing with her asshole ex and an unsupportive pack, I’d done the same. I’d let myself morph into the roles I played. Method acting, some called it. Escape from the reality that couldn’t live up to the pretend worlds I was paid to become one with was more like it. I spent countless hours on set with scripts that were written to showcase my strengths, humans and shifters falling all over themselves to cater to my every whim, and women of all species throwing themselves at me, promising to make every single one of my fantasies come true.

It didn’t change the fact that every night I went back to a cookie-cutter hotel room, or a house that didn’t feel anything like a home, alone. I heated up meals that would help keep me in peak physical shape so I wouldn’t disappoint any of those people in my pretend world. I spent hours in the gym to keep my body strong and desirable.

None of it fucking mattered because I’d been alone. And those people who loved me so much turned on me when I couldn’t give them what they wanted anymore.

To them, I was nothing more than a cheap trick. A stunt.

No, Cindy and I weren’t that different.

The driver slowed as we got closer to the production office. Downtown Sunset Springs was always lively. When The Real Werewives had filmed here, they’d created a Werewives Experience downtown to capitalize on their popularity. Bibi had put The Mating Game offices in the heart of it, so the fans could be a part of this new show from the very beginning.

Which meant a crowd had already formed outside the door. They swarmed the van as we approached, holding signs that read Logan Mathis is a Fake and Logan is Lying and The Faking Game.

“How the fuck did they know I was coming here this morning?” I rumbled to Hugo when he opened the door. This was supposed to be a private session with me and Bibi. The assumption was everything would be filmed, but not with a live audience.

He shook his head. “They have their ways.”

It was the same answer I’d always been given—and I’d never questioned it before. I assumed someone on a promotional team had leaked the info to keep me in the headlines. And after the bombshell came out that I was unable to shift and the claim that I was here only to keep my career alive—maybe the powers that be needed some confirmation that I was still worthy of leading man status.

Because whether I was acting or not, I’d agreed to come on this show. I hadn’t anticipated being the star, that role had been chosen for me. By Cindy, and by the force bigger than us that had fated us together. I wouldn’t let them down.

But for the first time in a long time, I had to be true to myself.

“That’s not a good enough answer,” I said once we were in the relative safety of the offices. “I thought your job was to keep them away from us.”

Hugo was a tough wolf who’d seen some shit, and he stopped dead in his tracks. A low rumble emitted from him. “You should be glad they still give a shit about you.”

So he thought less of me because I couldn’t shift. Didn’t matter. None of it did. “You mean, I should be glad I’m still here.”

Fuck. I hated the way that came out of my mouth.

“Not up to me. Whatever Bibi says, goes.” And that made me like this wolf a little more. I hadn’t figured out if there was more to their relationship than working together, but no one would ever fuck with her on his watch. “She wants The Mating Game to be a success because she truly cares about the women who’ve come to her. She made them a promise that she could change their lives, and she’ll move heaven and earth to keep it.”

“That’s what I admire most about her. Her unwavering faith that things will get better.” I softened, calling a truce to this standoff. No matter what Hugo thought of me, I needed this wolf on my side. Not because I needed him to fight my battles for me. That was the least of my worries. “Listen. If they know I’m here with Bibi, then they can probably also figure out when Cindy’s alone. If anything happens to her—”

“I have wolves watching her and her kids,” Hugo said.

“But your wolves have history with Pedro.”

“The wolves on this job answer to me. And the alpha of our pack has forbidden anyone from working with Pedro. We didn’t expect him to come back, because he’d been gone without any contact with any of us after he lost a challenge against our alpha. So we didn’t bother putting any rules in place around his return. Stupid? Maybe. This is the first episode of The Mating Game, and so there’s a learning curve for all of us.” Hugo sized me up. “A lot of guys—including me—considered Pedro a brother. I understand why they wanted to give him another chance. But Cindy deserves another chance too. Pedro treated her like shit. Took her for granted. Cindy’s never let anyone in this pack down, and she’s more than earned our respect. And our protection. So, when I say no one will hurt her, I swear on my animal it will not happen.”

“Thank you.” I nodded and headed down the hallway.

“That includes you, Mathis,” Hugo added. “If these claims are true and you’re here because you think it’s the only way to hang onto your career, we will run you off this land until you can’t run anymore. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” I rumbled. He wanted to intimidate me, to get a rise out of me, but it wouldn’t happen. “She’s my mate.”

He only gave the slightest of nods.

“Thank you for watching out for her,” I added.

“She’s pack. But more than that, she’s a friend. We grew up together. Can’t remember a time in my life without her in it. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a special interest in this episode.” He motioned down the hallway. “Bibi’s office is this way. She’s waiting for you.”