35

Clothes didn’t excite me as much as they did Zoe, but I let her do her thing. Taking swatches of fabric, she magically created dozens of different outfits. Most were amazing, but she skewed into experimental territory a few times. The craziest of the creations was a green velvet-and-tulle dress. The nearly transparent tulle fabric was all that covered my chest, basically exposing my breasts for anyone to see.

“Oh! That is so hot!” Zoe gushed.

Looking down at my visible nipples, I shook my head. “Absolutely not.”

Zoe’s face fell. “What? Why?”

I waved my hand over my chest. “Because everyone can see my tits, that’s why. Are you crazy? I’m gonna be on TV.”

Zoe sighed and rolled her eyes. “Gods, you shifters are such prudes. Fine.”

The next outfits were more suitable, and I let her have creative freedom as long as my nibbly bits weren’t overly exposed. She loved stuff like this, and this would be the chance for her designs, makeup, and hair talents to be seen by the whole world. Still, my head wasn’t in it. I was just along for the ride.

Zoe must have noticed. She was humming happily at a dinner gown she’d just created, then looked up and saw my face. Something must have clued her in because her smile vanished.

“Ugh, I’m such a bitch. I’m sorry,” Zoe said, running to me and wrapping me in a hug. “Are you okay? I get excited about clothes and stupid stuff. I totally forgot where your head must be.”

I wrapped my arms around my friend and hugged her back, unable to say anything. The words were stuck in my throat. This was all happening too fast. The danger seemed to be getting more real with each passing day. My confidence in my skills was waning, and all I could think of were all the people who walked onto the show thinking they knew exactly what they were going to do but ended up going home in body bags.

“I’m scared, Zoe.” My voice trembled. It was the first time I’d admitted that to anyone. Even myself.

Zoe clutched my shoulders and looked into my eyes. “No matter what happens, whatever crazy games they make you play or complicated or dangerous things you find yourself in, you’ll be fine. It will work out.” She smiled at me. “None of those people are as tough as you. Right?”

I laughed. “If you say so.”

We hugged again, and I was more than grateful to have her at my side. If I had to be here alone, I’d have probably gone out of my mind with fear.

Releasing me, Zoe raised an eyebrow and grinned. “You shouldn’t think of the bad stuff. Think of all those hot, strapping young alpha wolves who are gonna try everything in their power to win you over. I’m gonna love watching you fall helplessly in love with one of those dudes.”

“Good luck with that,” I said. “I’m playing this game to win, but I don’t give a shit about the mate blessing. This is all about the Moon Goddess and the favor she grants. I’m in this to protect my pack and stop a war. Whatever drama happens along the way is just that—drama. I’ll play the part, but my pack is all that matters.”

Zoe shrugged. “Sure, but you can have a little fun along the way, right?”

Her talking about other men made my heart ache a little. It took a few minutes for me to understand why. Wyatt. I couldn’t get him out of my mind. That kiss, his hands on my body, the taste of his skin. And he hadn’t so much as texted since the night I left him outside that club. Either he had never really cared for me, or I’d done too good a job pushing him away.

I scolded myself for even letting those thoughts seep into my mind. I was probably never going to see him again. Besides, there was a very real possibility that I’d be dead in a few weeks.

A knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts. One of the fallen angels who had removed Kolton came in when Zoe answered the door.

He nodded to me. “Miss Durst, I came by to tell you this is a one-hour call. You have sixty minutes until we bring you down to meet the crowds and start officially filming.”

My eyes bugged out of my head as a cold sweat suddenly drenched me. “One hour? It starts in one hour? Are you serious?”

He nodded again. “We’ll be back when you’re ready.” To make sure I was absolutely aware, he held up a finger. “One hour.”

Once the door was closed, Zoe turned, her eyes frantic. “We need to hurry.”

The next hour was a frenzy. Zoe and I packed away the clothes she’d made me, then she did my hair, twisting her fingers through it to enhance the blond accents and add a few curls. Waving her hands over my face, she applied the makeup, accentuating my eyes and lips. Magic swirled around me for almost forty minutes.

At last, she had me put on a maroon strapless dress. Sexy and form-fitting but chic enough not to be trashy, the dress packed a punch. It would make for a fantastic first impression. A glance in the mirror caused me to smile despite myself. I looked good. Really good, actually. I almost felt like I was ready to face whatever insanity was in store for me.

Another knock on the door. From outside, we heard the angel’s muffled voice. “Miss Durst? It’s time.”

Zoe squeezed my shoulders and looked me dead in the eyes. “You’ll do great.” She shoved a matching maroon clutch into my hands and escorted me to the door.

As I walked behind the two angel bodyguards, I pulled my phone from the clutch and glanced at it. Part of me hoped Wyatt might have sent me a text. But there was nothing. With a sigh, I handed it to Zoe.

“Turn that thing into a magic bracelet or something. I don’t care,” I said.