Accidental Surrogate

3rd Person

Roger’s wolf was – to say the least – not amused by Cora’s decision to accompany Ella on her journey. He knew that her heart was in the right place and that she was strongly motivated by the desire to support her sister, but he also knew that wasn’t the only reason she was going.

The obstinate human had been avoiding him like the plague ever since he comforted her in the medical tent, and he hadn’t missed the way she’d been watching him just before declaring her intentions. While Ella had been placating Isabel and answering Dad’s questions, Cora had been eyeing Roger like a wary rabbit. She knew that she wouldn’t be able to resist him much longer, and Ella had just given her the perfect opportunity to flee rather than face her feelings.

Roger stalked out of the opulent guest suite in a minor rage, working to get his wolf under control. Stop being so self-centered, think about how hard this must be for Dorn. Think about how much it will comfort Ella to have her sister along for the trip. He scolded his wolf. It’s a family mission after all, and they’re family. It’s right that Cora should go.

If that were the only reason I wouldn’t object. His wolf snarled back. But she’s mine. She knows she’s mine and she’s running away.

She’s been running since this all began, it’s no surprise that this is her choice. Roger countered, taking deep breaths in and out. This was the very last thing he’d needed today. He’d dedicated the morning to searching for the spy who planted the bomb for Sinclair’s convoy, now he was going to be completely distracted.

I don’t care if it’s no surprise. She’s being naughty and she knows it! His wolf sniped ferociously, grumbling wordlessly as he pictured all the delightful ways he might teach her a lesson.

Roger rolled his eyes, cut it out, I don’t need an absent mind and an erection. Get your head in the game.

Giving himself a violent shake, Roger made his way to the palace’s security headquarters. He’d alerted the urban surveillance team to the spy’s presence in the hidden territories as soon as they confirmed the likely suspect. Every day since, he’d started his routine by stopping in to see if any positive IDs were made with Vanara’s superior facial recognition software. He wasn’t expecting to actually find the spy this way, but he had to exhaust every possibility.

So it was no small surprise, when the guards in charge of monitoring security cameras around the capital came rushing to meet him this morning. Before he could even enter the office, a junior enforcer was eagerly bouncing up and down in front of him, “Sir, we’ve got a positive ID!”

‘You do?” He asked, aghast. “Where, when?”

“It just came through, I was on my way to find you!” The young wolf reported, “He was caught on a camera in the moonflower district, coming out of an apartment building.”

“Take me there.” Roger ordered, gesturing for a few other guards to join them. “Now! There’s not a moment to waste. If he’s in the city, it’s because he’s upto something.”

modest building which Roger now recognized from the high definition photos the young enforcer displayed on a shiny tablet. There was no doubt this

we know which apartment

“I don’t want to go through this place knocking

last week and hadn’t bothered with the usual background checks, and now they had to hope that the suspect was still inside. Roger could smell a fellow Moon Valley wolf through the door, and it was

to fight. Roger marched through the wreckage on two legs, quickly setting his sights

you want?!” He cried, feigning ignorance. “What is this? I’m just

forward.” We know exactly who you are and what you’ve done.” It wasn’t entirely true, but at their core interrogations were exercises in psychological manipulation, and Roger was willing to

don’t know what you’re talking about.” The

for Emperor Damon.” Roger cut back, ‘You set the bomb that killed all of the Alpha’s best men – his Beta. Your

didn’t!” The man repeated

what is all this?” Roger turned, following the voice of the enforcer who spoke. The guard in question was standing over a cluttered work table, complete with a scale model of Gabriel’s palace. While they watched, the enforcer pulled back an accordion screen, revealing an array of weapons and chemicals. It was obvious what was happening – the assassin had failed to

like.” The spy squealed, sounding

second attack.” Roger assessed coldly.” What took you so long? All the increased security for

assassin begged, still refusing

out of Damon’s bad books, or because you haven’t reported in yet.” Roger analyzed, circling on the spot as he took

The man started

throwing all of his power into the command.” There is no escaping this – we know you’re guilty. The only chance you have now is to cooperate with us. So do you want to

spy blanched, his skin suddenly seeming very gray. “Damon doesn’t know. If Sinclair lives,

are there?”

then Damon wouldn’t be likely to tell me if there were others, would he?” the spy replied,

get here?” Roger asked, just to see if the spy would tell the