Sniffer Update: @newshound – King is crowned but Queen has no tiara! Apparently royalty doesn’t suit everyone. #Hailtotheking

Kate was eternally grateful to Heidi for running interference with the Howlers. Someone had contacted Heidi about giving Kate a tiara and Heidi had told them how much Kate would loathe the idea of wearing one during the conference. Kate’s organization had always functioned democratically, and the idea of promoting her to the status of queen went against all her principles.

She’d just happened to be in the lobby when Duncan was crowned, and she’d hurt for him. He didn’t have someone like Heidi, whose official job was Kate’s assistant at Furevermore, but who served as Kate’s right-hand-Were in so many other capacities, including monitoring the Howler movement. So Duncan had been stuck with a crown. Finally she hadn’t been able to watch anymore and had left.

By the time everyone gathered in the lodge’s grand ballroom to open the conference and hold the election, she noticed that Duncan had found a way to ditch the crown. Knowing him as she now did, he’d probably done it with charm and grace so the hapless Woofers who’d thought it was such a great idea wouldn’t end up with hurt feelings.

Even though Kate hadn’t been at the lodge to oversee final preparations for today’s session, she was pleased to note that the staff had followed the directions she and her grandmother had given them. They’d set up the room with two blocks of folding chairs facing the dais and an aisle down the middle. A number of chairs were lined up on the dais, as well, and a lectern stood in front of them.

Kate had yet to see her grandmother or any of the other luminaries such as Howard Wallace, his sons Aidan and Roarke, or Cameron Gentry, the pack alpha from Portland. Howard was the Woofers’ choice and Kate assumed Duncan would nominate him. She was scheduled to nominate Cameron, who was friendly to the Howler cause.

Because neither of them were here yet, Kate wondered if some back-room politicking was going on. She wouldn’t put it past her grandmother to engineer something like that. She was curious to meet the Wallace family. They were all registered with the exception of Fiona, Howard’s mate. She’d stayed in New York to take care of Emma and Aidan’s little girl Iona.

Kate looked at the crowd of delegates, a few more than two hundred Weres, with a glow of satisfaction. Her grandmother had been the driving force behind this conference, but she’d turned much of the planning over to Kate. Together they’d made it happen, and this room full of colorful accents and excited delegates gave Kate a thrill. They were making history this weekend.

And now it was time to lead her Howler delegates to their seats. Glancing around, she discovered that Duncan and his followers were already heading toward the chairs on the left side of the aisle. By default she led her group over to the right.

She felt strange not being able to go over and talk with Duncan, but she didn’t trust herself. She might say something that would let his followers know that she actually liked him. Quite a bit, in fact. She dared not let her followers in on that secret, either.

Seeing both groups together for the first time fascinated her, though. Woofer males outnumbered females nearly two-to-one, and the opposite was true of her group. Her followers were predominantly female. She’d known that about her organization before, of course, but she hadn’t realized Duncan’s group was the polar opposite.

She noticed other differences, too. Early this summer, her group had adopted a logo and ordered T-shirts, long-sleeved for winter and short-sleeved for summer. Everyone sitting on her side of the room wore a long-sleeved purple shirt with a black howling wolf logo surrounded by the group’s name—Honoring Our Werewolf Legacy in white. A few had brought signs to wave, and some wore buttons with a red circle and slash over the WOOF acronym. But for the most part, the shirts made the Howlers’ statement.

The Woofers, on the other hand, had no shirts, but their side of the aisle bristled with homemade signs which they waved at the slightest provocation. They also had buttons galore. Someone had been busy dreaming up slogans such as Lose the Legacy and Love Your Human Neighbor. A few delegates had created lanyards so they could arrange buttons along the entire length. Those with button-filled lanyards clanked when they moved.

Heidi, sitting on Kate’s right, leaned toward her. “What a bunch, huh?”

“We really are completely different from them.”

“Yeah. We’re classy and they’re not. Oh, look. Here comes your favorite cousin. Wonder which side he’ll sit on?”

“Depends on who he wants to suck up to.” Kate turned to her assistant. “Did I just say that out loud?”

Heidi grinned. “Yep. But I don’t think anybody heard you except me, and I am the soul of discretion.”

“I know, and I appreciate it more than I can say.” Kate sent Heidi an affectionate glance.

Heidi laughed. “Must be time to ask for a raise.” With her short brown hair and a smattering of freckles across her pert nose, Heidi could pass for eighteen instead of her actual age of twenty-eight. Many underestimated her because she looked so young, but a first-class brain was hidden behind her ingénue façade.

“Neil’s not choosing either side.” Kate felt a headache coming on as her cousin proceeded up the aisle, climbed the steps to the dais, and crossed to the lectern. “He’s commandeering the mike. He must have lobbied for that with my grandmother while I was stuck in the cabin. Damn it.”

“Somebody has to run the show,” Heidi said. “It can’t be you because you’re the leader of one of the factions.”

“No, but it was supposed to be Grandma Elizabeth. She hasn’t declared allegiance to either side, and she—”

“Are you sure about that? I read an interview where Neil said he supports the Woofers and so does his great aunt.”

Kate’s jaw clenched. “He supported the Howlers a few weeks ago. He flip-flops like a spawning salmon. And I know for a fact that Grandma Elizabeth is not taking sides. She made that very clear when I asked her if she wanted a Howler T-shirt.”

“I’m just reporting what he said. Or rather, Angela was reporting what he said.”

“And of course Angela wouldn’t bother to check it out with my grandmother.” Kate sat there fuming as Neil fiddled with the mike. “Grandma Elizabeth would have been the perfect MC. She’s not going to accept a leadership position in the council and she’s respected by everyone. Somehow Neil talked her out of doing it, the rat.”

“And now it’s a fait accompli I’m afraid. He’s assumed the position.”

“So he has.” Kate glared at him, hoping he’d look her way, but he studiously avoided doing that. She supposed the delegates would be impressed with him, at least initially. A large Were with broad shoulders and an athletic build, he spent many hours in the gym sculpting his body. He preferred gyms with mirrors.

He tapped on the mike. “May I have your attention? Welcome, delegates! The Stillman Resort and I are proud to host the First Annual Werewolf Conference, known to all by now as WereCon2012. It’s an historic event, and you should all give yourselves a hand for being here!”

Kate grimaced. “Barf.”

“Put a pleasant smile on your face. Angela’s cameramen are prowling around and chances are she’ll leap on any chance to catch you scowling.”

“I hate it when you’re right.” Kate plastered on a silly smile. “Better?”

“That looks fake.”

“Because it is.”

Neil cleared his throat. “Our first order of business this morning is electing a president of what will become the first ever Were Council. Do I have any nominations?”

Duncan stood. “I nominate Howard Wallace of New York City.”

The Woofers greeted that statement with cheers and cries of woof, woof, woof.

Kate sighed. “They just upstaged us. We don’t have a cheer. We can’t very well howl for our candidate, can we?”

“Why not?”

Kate stared at Heidi. “Because it would sound stupid?”

“Couldn’t sound any more stupid than woof, woof, woof.”

“You have a point. Okay, pass the word around. Are you good at this? Because somebody has to start the howl, and I’ll be making the nomination for Cameron.” Kate also didn’t want to admit that she’d feel ridiculous throwing back her head and howling like an idiot. It was one thing to do it in wolf form, but quite another to do it now.

“Leave it to me.” Heidi leaned toward the person on her right, and whispers circulated quickly through the Howler contingent.

Meanwhile Howard Wallace made his way from the back of the room toward the dais amid wild cheering from the Woofers. A barrel-chested Were in his late fifties, he had high cheekbones, a square jaw, and thick, snow-white hair. Kate could understand why Howard commanded respect. She hoped Cameron Gentry had the same noble bearing.

Neil shook Howard’s hand before turning back to the mike. “Do we have any other nominations?”

Kate stood. “I nominate Cameron Gentry of Portland, Oregon.”

Right on cue, her followers began to howl. It made a terrific racket, but an impressive one. Kate fought the urge to laugh as the Woofers, obviously taken by surprise, stared open-mouthed at the Howlers who were…well…howling.

For one precious moment she met Duncan’s gaze and he gave her a wide smile. He also made a small gesture, one that she doubted anyone else saw. He stuck his thumb in the air for about a second. His approval shouldn’t matter to her, but she felt giddy knowing she had it.

Cameron Gentry also walked up the center aisle from the back of the room. When Kate caught sight of him, she swallowed her disappointment and smiled encouragingly before taking her seat. But Cameron Gentry was no Howard Wallace. A slim man who was graying at the temples, he had none of Howard’s air of command.

Instead, Cameron looked like an over-bred aristocrat. His glance was haughty instead of warm, as Howard’s had been. He surveyed the Howlers with a superior smile before mounting the steps to the dais. Although he shook hands with Neil, and after that with Howard, neither of the other Weres smiled.

Heidi leaned toward Kate. “Methinks our boy is not very popular.”

“Methinks you’re right.”

“But he supports the Howler position, so we gotta vote for him.”

“Yes, we do.”

Neil called for other nominations, and when there were none, he asked for volunteers to pass out and collect ballots. With only two candidates the balloting went quickly. Kate had arranged for one Howler, one Woofer, and one undeclared delegate to be present as a staff member counted the ballots at a table in the back of the room.

Heidi turned to watch the counting. “If this becomes an annual event, you might have to introduce a more sophisticated system.”

“Like voting booths and electronic ballots?”

“Well, no, but something more official than four people and a legal pad.”

Kate laughed. “You’re right, but Grandma Elizabeth said we didn’t have to get fancy this time, so we didn’t. The three watchdogs will keep anyone from challenging the results, and I can promise you the resort staffer doesn’t care who wins. Grandma Elizabeth won’t allow her staff to be political, especially at this conference.”

“I hate to tell you, but I think it’s a foregone conclusion. Even if all the Howlers vote for Cameron, and there’s only about seventy of us, there are quite a few undeclared delegates sitting in the back. The Woofers will give Howard sixty or seventy votes, and I’ll bet the undeclared Weres go for Howard, too. He just looks presidential.”

“When you’re right, you’re right.” Kate wasn’t surprised when Howard was named the first president of the first-ever Were Council. It was a setback for the Howlers, but she’d always heard that Howard Wallace was fair and open-minded. She wasn’t giving up hope for her cause, but she grew very tired of hearing an endless chorus of woof, woof, woof.

Duncan believed in his cause. Hell, he was passionate about his cause. He’d devoted considerable effort toward building a coalition that would bring a new era of openness and cooperation between Weres and humans.

And yet, he hated seeing Kate’s disappointment. He didn’t want her faction to triumph during this conference, but she’d worked hard, too, as hard as he had. She’d just suffered a defeat, and he could see in her expression that she wasn’t happy.

Sometime in the past eighteen hours her happiness had come to matter to him. But he was on the horns of a dilemma, because in order for her to be happy, he had to give up the fight. He wasn’t going to do that, which meant that he was actively working to make her unhappy. Damn.

Once Howard had been declared the president of the fledgling council, which Duncan had thoroughly expected to happen, the delegates had to elect six council members to serve with Howard. Nominations flew furiously, punctuated by a chorus of woofs or howls, depending on the candidate.

Duncan anticipated that he’d be one of them and so would Kate. He wasn’t sure how that would work out, but at least he’d have an excuse to be near her instead of sitting on the opposite side of a large room. That had been no fun at all.

When the dust finally settled and council members had been nominated and voted on, the council consisted of Duncan, Kate, Jake Hunter from Alaska, Knox Trevelyan from Seattle, Nadia Henderson from Chicago, and Giselle Landry from Las Vegas. Duncan was the only international member. He assumed that was because a fair number of the delegates were from the US and would logically vote for US delegates.

Howard had taken over the mike from Neil, thank God. Duncan wasn’t sure he could have taken much more of Neil’s self-congratulatory style. Interestingly, Elizabeth Stillman had not yet addressed the conference goers. Duncan hadn’t met Kate’s grandmother, and he was becoming curious.

He’d had a short but terrific visit with both Aidan and Roarke Wallace during the break to count the votes for the council members. He’d met Aidan’s mate Emma, the novelist he’d interviewed online for his book, and Roarke’s mate Abby, a redhead who was recovering from a bad sunburn after accompanying Roarke on one of his archeological digs in Africa.

Both Wallace brothers would help Duncan’s cause, and with their father as the new president of the Were Council, Duncan considered his chances of success were good. He doubted that Kate had the same confidence. He longed to talk with her, but that might not be possible. Angela Sapworthy prowled the perimeter of the hall, searching out juicy tidbits. He didn’t want her to find any that involved either him or Kate.

After announcing the names of the new council members, Howard asked for a recess so that the newly elected representatives could meet and decide on a course of action. Duncan’s hopes shot up. He might finally have a chance for a few quiet words with Kate.

Howard motioned his six council members to the front of the dais. “There’s a small meeting room right through that door.” He pointed to his left. “The staff has put some coffee, tea, and a few snacks in there. Make yourselves at home and I’ll be right along. Those who don’t know each other, introduce yourselves.”

Duncan glanced over at Kate. “Can I buy you a cup of coffee?”

“Sure.” Her smile was brief, as if she didn’t dare meet his gaze for too long.

He understood. They had a potentially volatile situation and had to be careful. But he hoped that she knew when he’d mentioned the coffee he wanted to remind her of the mug she’d brought him first thing this morning, when all she’d been wearing was a robe, and he’d worn nothing at all.

“I know the presidential election didn’t go the way you wanted,” he said.

“No, it didn’t.” She gave him a quick glance. “What the heck did you do with that crown?”

“I told them I was afraid it would get damaged, so I took it up to my room for safekeeping. My plan is to keep it there for the duration.”

She laughed softly. “I knew you’d think of something.”

“I must have looked like the egomaniac you’ve accused me of being when I let them put in on me. I saw you on the far side of the lobby taking in the whole damned spectacle.”

“I didn’t think you looked like an egomaniac. You looked like a Were trapped in an impossible situation.”

He sighed with relief. “I’m glad you didn’t think I liked the idea. Did the Howlers try a stunt like that with you?”

“They wanted to, but my assistant headed them off, so I didn’t have to—”

“Excuse me for interrupting, but I want to make sure I introduce myself to you, Kate.” Jake Hunter fell into step beside her. “I hope this isn’t a private conversation.”

“Not at all,” Kate said immediately.

Yes, it bloody well is. But Duncan had no right to say that.

“I didn’t join your Howler movement because I live in a fairly remote area of Alaska and my internet reception is dicey,” Jake said. “But I fully support your cause.”

“Thank you, Jake. That’s good to know.”

Duncan found himself bristling. Who did this Jake think he was, butting in like that? Then reason reasserted itself. Jake was a fellow council member and a supporter of HOWL. Of course he’d want to connect with Kate.

Except Duncan didn’t want him to do that. Jake had the makings of a rival. From his build, he must be a lumberjack or some other outdoorsy occupation. His dark, wavy hair hung to his shoulders and his green eyes were trained with far too much interest on Kate.

“So, Jake,” Duncan said. “Did you leave your mate back home tending to your offspring?”

“No,” Jake said. “I haven’t been lucky enough to find the right Were. Alaska’s population is small, and its population of Weres even smaller. But that doesn’t mean I’m interested in mating with a human female. That’s just wrong.”

“I doubt the Wallace brothers would agree with you,” Duncan said.

“I’m sure they wouldn’t, but I consider their actions dangerous to the general Were population. As you may or may not know, all the packs in North America, including the Wallaces, are descended from the Alaskan Weres. When Kate talks about honoring our legacy, she’s referring to the traditions handed down from those first Weres in Alaska. That’s important.”

Duncan wasn’t about to be intimidated by tradition or Jake Hunter. “As a Scotsman, I’m very aware of the value of tradition. It can be a warm and wonderful part of any culture. But when it becomes a straitjacket that limits the options of that culture, then—”

“MacDowell, you’re not going to convince me, so you might as well save your breath.”

“And we’re here,” Kate said as they reached the door. “Shall we go in and have some coffee?” She walked through the door.

Duncan eyed Jake as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder, neither one ready to let the other go in first.

“Excuse me.” A tall, willowy female with dark red hair approached. She wore a purple Howler T-shirt. “I’m Giselle Landry from Vegas. Is there a problem?”

“No!” Duncan and Jake said together as they quickly separated to allow access to the room.

“I’m Jake Hunter, by the way,” Jake held out his hand to Giselle. “And I support the Howler cause.”

“Nice to meet you, Jake.” She shook his hand.

“And I’m Duncan MacDowell.” Duncan extended his hand and wished he’d done it before Jake.

Giselle accepted his handshake. “Oh, I know who you are. Everyone does. I think you’re cute, but crazy. Can’t go along with your ideas at all. Sorry.”

“Well, then, Giselle,” Jake said. “You and I have something in common. How about sharing a cup of java with me?”

“I’d be delighted, Jake.” The two of them went inside.

“I heard Howard say coffee and I could use a jolt of caffeine.” The female who approached was easily as tall as Giselle but she had long black hair that hung straight down her back and a model’s sense of style. She wasn’t wearing a purple shirt or buttons proclaiming any allegiance.

By process of elimination, Duncan figured out who she was. “You must be Nadia Henderson.”

“I am.” Her handshake was warm. “And you’re Duncan, of course. Aidan and Emma are big fans.”

“You know them?”

She laughed. “I keep forgetting that news doesn’t always travel across the ocean. I was pledged to Aidan for years, but then he ended up choosing Emma, instead.”

“You don’t seem very upset about it.”

“I was at first, but they’re so happy. Besides, I’ve found my own true love, Aidan’s cousin Quentin. It all worked out.”

“So how do you feel about Were-human mating, since you obviously know the Wallaces so well?”

“I’m not sure. If the human is completely trustworthy, like Emma, or for that matter, Roarke’s mate Abby, then fine. But I think there are some dangers, there, if the wrong person finds out about us.”

“Hey, folks, are we going to debate this issue out here or go in where there’s coffee and eats to sustain us?” The last council member came over and greeted them both with a smile. “I’m Knox.” He shook hands first with Nadia and then with Duncan.

“Knox Trevelyan.” Nadia pointed a finger at him. “You own a commuter flight operation in Seattle, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“And you were the one who transported that Bigfoot mated pair for my friend Roarke Wallace.”

Knox wrinkled his nose. “I was. Smelliest job I’ve ever had, hands down. Hope never to have to do that again.”

“Now that’s something I want to hear about,” Duncan said. “Let’s go in.”

“That was my plan.” Knox gestured for Nadia to precede him.

As Duncan started through the door, he was brought up short by Howard’s voice behind him.

“Wait a minute, Duncan. I need to ask you a favor.”

“Oh?” Duncan stopped and glanced at him in surprise. “How can I help you?”

“I’ve been talking to Elizabeth, and the two of us have come up with a plan. I hope you’ll like it.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“We have two strong factions at this conference, and somehow we need to make sure those factions don’t divide us before we even have a name for the organization we’re trying to form. I think we need a mission statement, and you’re a writer.”

“I’d be more than happy to take a crack at it.” Howard’s election as president was already paying dividends. He’d write a mission statement that helped pave the way for more openness between Weres and humans. He began crafting it in his head.

“That’s good to hear, but Elizabeth and I thought it would be beneficial if you and Kate worked on it together.”

He went very still. “Together?”

“I know it’s a bit unorthodox, and of course I have to make sure Kate’s willing. But Elizabeth and I thought if the two of you crafted the statement, then both Howlers and Woofers would accept it.”

Duncan was no longer thinking about the mission statement. That issue had been eclipsed by the prospect of spending time alone with Kate, time that had been blessed by none other than the council president himself.

Howard studied him. “You seem a bit taken aback. Do you think you can handle the job?”

Duncan had no idea. The potential problems could be enormous. They might end up arguing endlessly about the wording, but at least he’d have a reason to be with her. And maybe, just maybe, they’d actually settle their major differences. Miracles did happen.

He nodded. “Absolutely. If Kate agrees, that is.”

“I think she will, especially if I mention that her grandmother recommended her for the job. Now let’s go get a cup of coffee.”

Duncan gestured toward the open door. “After you, Mr. Wallace.”

“Howard, please. We’ll all be working very hard, and I don’t want anyone standing on ceremony.”

“All right, Howard. But you still get to go ahead of me through that door. That much is bred into me.”

Howard chuckled. “Fine.”

Once Howard was through the door, Duncan closed his eyes and clenched his fist in victory. He had been assigned to work with Kate. Jake hadn’t been assigned the job. Knox hadn’t, either. Just him. Life was definitely looking up.