Malcolm and Jordan followed Allan Wolversen and his mate, Edith, into the great council hall of the North American Ruling Council. This was far from the basement dining the Toronto Council of Alphas met in. First, they owned a defunct hotel that they renovated for their use. The council chamber itself was massive, and a gong rested at the front of the room where the mediator stood. A tall dragon shifter stood there solemnly watch people enter. He frown at the small groups that formed and chatted with each other. Then he hit the gong again and Malcolm watched the groups scatter to their respective places. “Edith is here already and knows exactly what everyone is talking about. We’ll confer with her before we say anything. But whatever you stay seated and don’t interrupt.” Allan went to stand at the front of the wolf shifter delegation section as he spoke for them, even though Edith was the powerhouse behind it all. They may have retired from being an
Malcolm had expected a yes or no vote. What they were expected to answer was far more nuanced than that. They wanted to know how the majority would agree to reveal themselves. This wasn’t going to be like any other reveal. It was going to be organized and a slow rollout. Starting with government agencies and leaders. Then disseminating information to the public for educational purposes. Finally, they would want to leave it to the individual supernatural as to whether they reveal themselves. This was done like this because they needed answers to take to the other ruling councils from around the world. They needed to know what they were willing to do and accept. Each group was encountering different reactions and responses. Malcolm even heard talk of how they would get groups out of specific countries because of the response to the Canadian announcement. This was all so unreal for him. His proposal was far from his mind as he watched these people change the world a
Ellie sat with Melody, and they watched the insanity unfold on the television. People were planning protests, and the arguments were insane. Law enforcement had their hands full everywhere, it seemed. The conspiracies flew fast and furious. The internet wasn’t any better. The guards wouldn’t let them leave the penthouse level to learn how the pack was fairing for this. It wasn’t until an internet conspiracy theorist started trying to name influential people who might be shapeshifters or other mythical beasts. When Melody read out the list, Malcolm’s name was low on the list. The Wolversens were fairly high on the list. But only a few names were actually shifters. It appeared the human authorities didn’t like the list’s existence and felt it was a danger to innocent, hard-working people. What if a crazy used it to kill people? The next witch hunt was on. Malcolm hadn’t checked in, and Melody was becoming worried. He’d gone to meet with the Gregory Wolve
Malcolm and Jordan’s presence finally paid off. In the early hours of the morning, things finally got around to what they could do to make life as safe as possible for those fleeing various countries for the safety of a location that at least recognized them as possessing the right to live. Malcolm’s notes and proposals were used as a basis for a list of their needs. He’d unknowingly created what the council needed to explain their similarities and differences. It was one area where they weren’t scrambling to explain or provide information on. Mages and Druids worked hand and fist trying to find inoffensive ways to explain everyone’s existence to the world. The world itself would have to take some responsibility for their existence and accept to some extent that they were the reason they existed here. Media controlled by supernaturals began preparing the explanations. All while the Ruling Councils of the World met behind closed doors. There was a communication b
Melody watched David fuss. He’d not been to the daycare for almost a week and his temperament was showing how he missed being there. They had to get back to normal at some point. They couldn’t live while waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Malcolm, can we talk?” They’d been out for the express purpose of feeding the Ruling Council’s agenda and to keep their obligations to the firm, among other things. “What do you want to talk about?” Malcolm left the sunroom and moved to Melody. He smiled down at her. If nothing else, she’d finally accepted their life together and Malcolm felt he could relax a little finally. “We need to talk about everything. David can’t live like this, and neither can we. We barely see anyone outside of work. This isn’t living.” Malcolm gave a heavy sigh. He knew this wasn’t living. It was hard enough getting work done for the pack. People needed answers and guidance, but right now Malcolm didn’t have the answers. His people want
Ellie lay in bed pondering everything. She had a new life inside her, and what kind of world would they come into? Medical professionals were screaming for information about the physical forms of supernatural creatures. Others were demanding a registry of supernatural creatures so they could track them. Now people with incurable diseases and injuries we’re demanding help from magic. They couldn’t fathom the truth that magic had rules just like science, and that magic was just as limited. She didn’t want her offspring to go to school with human children. That was just asking for trouble. If a human got bitten, there’d be a nightmare and vilification of her offspring. Ellie knew half of her fears were years down the road and they were haunting her because she was sick of the same walls. She needed to get things done. Arrange things, work, live and all that. “Care to tell me, what has the hamster in your mind running for its life? I
Malcolm and Jordan were at the firm this morning when Malcolm received a call from the ruling council. “Ambassador, what can I do for you?” “Alpha Richards, I would like some help within your area with a few negotiations. Would you have time to meet with me? I’d like to get this arranged as quickly as, possibly.” “Yes, of course. When would you like to meet?” “Are you available at lunch today? I’d like to get this started as soon as possible. Say noon at the Hilton Hotel Restaurant. I’ve reserved a private dining room there. Please feel free to bring your Beta, and mates, this will be a decent sized gathering. Also, expect there to be a possibility of a photo opportunity.” “A photo opportunity…” Malcolm hesitated. He wanted to say that Melody wouldn’t be there. He didn’t want her in a dangerous situation. Photos were too much. It was one thing to poke fun at the media and tell them about being a wolf and fox. But photos made it far too real be
“Is it me or did Malcolm want to say something, but never got around to it?” Ellie asked as they returned to their meeting. “Of course he’s learning. Telling me what I’m doing only makes his life frustrating. He’s finally figured out that forcing decisions out of my hands means he’s complicating things unnecessarily. I know exactly what his problem is, and I don’t blame him for worrying about it.” “Great, can you tell me what his disapproval is about?” “A photo opportunity means our faces are verified as faces of influential shifters. He’s afraid a group or person will come after us and hunt us. Which is bound to happen one way or another. After all, he and I did admit to being shifters before this. The only difference is that no one could verify our claims. They could dismiss it as we’re trying to pretend to be shifters because it’s controversial. This interaction with the media will seal the deal and verify us as shifters. Basically, we’re putting th