Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

It’s no easy feat to calm my wolf.

The moment he sees the cold-hearted human who confronted us after Damon’s rogue attack at the Solstice, he begins clawing at the surface of my skin, begging to get out. I desperately work to keep my face blank, though I know my mate can sense my surprise and fury. She rests one small hand on my thigh, gently caressing my tense muscles. My wolf relaxes slightly, but not nearly enough. He’s growling in my head all the way through the introductions, which take much longer than I’d like.

When it’s my turn to greet her, I summon my strength. “Madame Mayor.” Somehow I manage to say it without enmity, “I didn’t realize it was you who would be joining us.”

“I think you’ll find I’m the only reason anyone is joining at all.” The former Moon Valley mayor, a woman by the name of Sabina Kelly, replies coolly. At first her words don’t make sense, but then the video pans out, revealing that she is far from the only guest joining this call. Grim-faced men line the table on either side of her, and though some are as unknown to me as any stranger, others are surprisingly familiar. I see legislators, governors and leading activists from the human world, even a few politicians to whom we reached out with no reply. I can scarcely wrap my mind around the assembled delegates before Sabina is speaking again. “Nor can I rightly claim the title of mayor since Damon saw fit to depose me.”

“Well with all due respect, you are an elected official – Damon is not.” I reply, falling back on my diplomatic training to smooth the troubled waters between us. “So I would prefer to call you by the title your people afforded you.”

I’m thankful my mouth is still working, because my mind is reeling. The last time I spoke to this woman she seemed to truly hate me – not that she cared for shifters in general. I’ll never forget the way she sneered the words “your kind” at me that day, foisting blame for the attack onto all wolves as if we’ve all been cut from the same cloth. Of course that was merely one incident in a hundred. I can’t remember ever having a productive conversation with her throughout the entirety of our acquaintance.

this meeting to hear what you have to say. Those of us in power have known about shifters for some time now, but the last month has inflicted lasting scars on our people.

people are suffering gravely under his tyranny, and it is our greatest wish to remove him from power.” I turn my gaze on each of the humans individually.” Whatever Dmaon has led you to believe about humans and wolf-kind, I’m here to tell you that he does not speak the

you think?” A man I don’t

heard from someone to whom the knowledge of wolf-kind came as a

Moon Valley. In fact, I believed I was human until a couple of months ago, so there are actually a few of you who have been in on the secret even longer than I have.” I watch the humans closely as Ella’s words hit home, noticing a few confused expressions and curious

time for me to adjust to the new reality, to understand the way of wolves and my place in this world. I’m still learning every day, and it isn’t easier just because my wolf is now awake. But part of what makes adjusting so difficult is that shifters are as varied and diverse as any other society.” She pauses, making eye contact with each of the faces on the screen. “I would never dream of meeting someone from Sevka and assuming that they represent every being on that continent. There are good and bad people in every community, and even those

are different matters entirely. Damon is, in my opinion, the worst of the worst. It would be a mistake to judge him for being a wolf, because that isn’t the proper frame of reference. He didn’t take over our home because he’s a shifter, he did it because he’s a power-hungry narcissist with too many resources in reach.” She purses her lips, uncertain about her next piece of advice. “Instead, I would beseech you to remember the centuries of peace we enjoyed living among shifters without ever knowing

and centuries you lied to us?” Another

lied to one another in order to advance their own peoples? Have you all announced every technology, innovation and defense

all separate nations.” One of the activists objects, “as

by side, with independent governments.” I chime in, holding my mate a bit closer. “Besides, the secrecy pact did not apply universally. Your leaders knew of shifters, and select humans were brought to work with shifters because of their expertise in their fields. Our governments have been working together all along, and though

only occurred because of the secrecy, not