67

Vin clasped his hands together and leaned down close to Wyatt. The hovering camera followed him and got a close-up view of the two men.

“Wyatt, I think this would be the perfect time for you to ask Kira about her rejection story.”

A cold hand clenched around my stomach. The last thing I wanted was to talk about that. Not with Wyatt, and not with hundreds of millions of people watching. I’d known that I would eventually have to talk about it. The show was called The Reject Project for a reason. But I never thought it would happen at the end of the first day or with this man—the person who’d been there to see the embarrassment, shock, and shame on my face. It would almost be like telling the story while looking into a mirror.

Smiling thinly, Wyatt nodded to Von. “Great idea,” he said, but I could pick up the annoyance in his tone.

Von, ever oblivious, grinned and took a step back. “Enjoy your dinner. The chefs of The Reject Mansion have a glorious seven-course meal planned for you.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Lots of aphrodisiac dishes are on the menu. I leave you to enjoy each other.”

Without another word, Von left the room.

The next several seconds were uncomfortable and awkward. We couldn’t talk as though we knew each other with the cameras on us, and I had no idea how to start a fake getting-to-know-you conversation. Thankfully, we were saved by the quick arrival of a server dressed in a black tuxedo.

“Good evening, my name is Ricardo, and I will be your waiter for this very special meal. Let me pour you some wine. I will return in a moment with your first course.”

Ricardo poured dark red wine into our glasses before vanishing and returning moments later with a plate of oysters.

“Oysters from off the coast of the Thundering Shores. Two topped with house-made chimichurri, another two with horseradish and lime granita, and finally, two topped with shredded pears that were pickled in a champagne vinaigrette. As accompaniments, house-baked onion and poppyseed crackers. Enjoy.”

Once he was gone, I looked at Wyatt and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t even know half the words he just said.”

He laughed and shrugged, lifting his first oyster. “Bottoms up.”

Hesitantly, I followed suit, amazed at how good it was. The texture was weird, and I made the mistake of trying to chew, but otherwise, it was surprisingly delightful. Like a pleasant and more decadent sip of ocean water along with the delectable seasonings.

After we finished our second oyster and had sipped some wine, I knew I needed to get things going. I needed to make this look like it was the first time we were having an intense conversation.

I put my glass down and leaned my elbows on the table. “So. My rejection.”

Wyatt was in the middle of a sip of wine, and his eyes darted toward me. Surprise was written all over his face. He must have thought he’d have to drag it out of me.

He put the glass down and dabbed his lips with his napkin before speaking. “Right. Do you mind if we talk about it?”

Shaking my head, I bit into one of the crackers. “Not at all. It is what it is.”

“Well, when did it happen to you?”

“A little over two weeks ago,” I said, then swallowed my final oyster.

Wyatt, ever the good actor, did a great job of looking shocked. “Two weeks? That’s all? I can’t believe you aren’t still in mourning.”

I smiled shyly at him, playing it up for the cameras. “Well, if it hadn’t happened, I’d never have met all you amazing guys.”

Wyatt ate his last oyster, then asked, “How long were you together?”

“Five years. He rejected me about two minutes before we would have completed the official mating ceremony. He was with the Ninth Pack, and the pairing would have strengthened my pack and ensured their safety if any troubles came up. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about possible war, aggressions, things like that. For whatever reason, he and his pack found me wanting. So he dumped me and left me at the altar.”

I flinched as Wyatt tossed his fork on his plate so hard, I was afraid the china would break. He locked his eyes on mine. “Sounds like this ex-mate of yours was a dick. A damned idiot who needs to pull his head out of his ass. I think he’ll end up regretting this for the rest of his pathetic life.” He leaned forward and gestured to me. “Look at you. Beautiful, sexy, smart. A hell of a fighter. You’re amazing.”

My face went hot as I blushed under his heaps of praise. Gods, he was really laying it on thick.

“Well, I’m not sure I’m that great.”

“Bullshit,” Wyatt scoffed. “In fact, I’m glad that douchebag doesn’t get to have you. If he could give you up that easily, he never deserved a single second of your time. You were patient for such a long time, and he rejected you like that? You’re a hundred times better than he is—no question. No matter what happens here, you need to know that you deserve better than that guy.”

His words were impassioned and intense and nearly took my breath away. Wyatt was staring at me with hungry and imploring eyes. It was almost like he was begging me to believe that what he was saying was true and not a show for the cameras.

Before we could continue, Ricardo returned with a new course. “Continuing our romantic foods theme, I present roasted artichoke hearts with shredded and fried sweet potatoes bathed in a strawberry, fig, and balsamic glaze.” He bowed his head before leaving the room again.

I took a few bites before speaking again. “I’m glad you think so highly of me after such a short time. I still have to believe there really was something wrong with me that made him reject me like that.”