Chapter 128

Sarah POV

The press conference for the establishment of a miners’ union at the Abrigan Mine was held in the legislative building. As I was expected to speak, Lainey had introduced me to her “rock,” a stylist name Chris Bonsei, who evidently knew “every look under the sun and even more under the moon.”

Chris and I had talked at length, and we eventually went to a boutique I’d never even knew existed just named Chic. Inside, I pretty much instantly fell in love with the place. There were no racks of different sizes, just mannequins (and to my surprise, the occasional live model) wearing complete outfits that could be bought in any size with or without the accessories.

After being handed a flute of champagne, I sat as Chris selected three choices, two on mannequins and one on a live model, which were all brought before me.

“All of these say ‘I care, I don’t waste my money, and I mean business,’ which I think is just the right note for this, as you said you agree with,” Chris said.

“Very much.”

“Right.” All of the suits were in blue, one robin’s egg and two royal. They reminded me of classic Chanel without the Chanel silhouette, which I had said aloud, much to Chris’s glee.

“Yes! They’re timeless but right now, and that’s what I think your signature should be from now on. People can look back on photos of you a hundred years from now and still want to wear what you’re wearing, if they could afford it, of course.”

I laughed. Chris was fun.

I ended up opting for the robin’s egg blue, with navy heels and a long beaded necklace that showed off the narrow lapels. The skirt was just an inch shorter than one would expect, and Chris promised me it made my legs look “lickable.”

So I stood next to Zane in front of the cameras along with the dual union reps, the human male Shotz, and a beta female named Andrea Gladd. Gladd spoke first and talked about the many improvements being made to conditions at the mine, the new school, and the conversion to geothermal plants.

She got a polite round of applause from the union members at the conference, who barely outnumbered the members of the press.

Shotz spoke about job security and safety initiatives. He ended with a call for a pension program and got a standing ovation.

Zane talked next, expressing his concern that he had been too reliant on the reports of others regarding conditions at the mines and factories of his territory. He discussed the plans he had made to tour facilities in the future and made an unsubtle comment about how managers should make sure their affairs were in order and things were running smoothly when he showed up.

He said he would not give the press his schedule.

No, he wouldn’t worry about his absence from his household considering he had a goddess-mother he could rely on to make sure things went well

No, he wasn’t going to oversee the prosecution of the mining administration. There was a Department of Justice for that.

Yes, he was certain everyone who needed to account for their actions would be made to.

No, he didn’t know who Melissa Thibodaux was or that she had made a short documentary about the mine, but he would be sure to watch that very soon if the reporter thought he should. He always welcomed suggestions that kept him informed about pack business.

He got a respectful and hearty round of applause, and then it was my turn.

“Hello,” I said as I stood behind the podium. “First, I want to make it clear I have no official role in the future of the mine, but I most certainly have an unofficial role. How could I not, after I stood in a cave filled with photo after photo of mine workers who died, were missing, or had been horribly injured for no other reason than a lack of oversight?

“As a human member of a wolf household, I know all too well that everyone involved with any joint endeavor must be aware of the physical and psychological differences between us. Please note, I said ‘differences,’ not ‘deficiencies.’”

I smiled and got some quiet laughter. It encouraged me to go a little off-script.

“Something I have always admired about wolves is their deep commitment to pack loyalty, and that has been quite natural for me because humans also greatly prize loyalty. I know you all know the story of the American Revolution from the British, but did you know the British authorities in Wallabout Bay, most of them wolves, imprisoned thousands of American revolutionaries, most of them humans, in ships for several years?

It is still a point of pride for humans that although these prisoners were tortured and abused and were told they would be released instantly if they only agreed to serve in the British Navy, they did not. They died in the thousands, and those who lived endured horrible conditions.

“These days, America and Great Britain enjoy excellent relations, so please do not think I’m trying to revive old conflicts.” I smiled again, and again I got some gentle laughter.

“My point is only that those humans knew what it meant to remain true to their brothers and sisters. Humans don’t refer to themselves as a ‘pack,’ but surely a ’community’ is much the same thing?

“If we are to make a better world for our children, a world in which there are no more Abrigan Mines, no more trafficking or sacrificing of sentient beings, a place where we all know peace and prosperity, humans and wolves need to recognize we are all a pack, all a community of people.”

I smiled again. “Thank you for letting me speak here today.”

My applause was mixed, some enthusiastic and some perfunctory. I saw a few glares out in the audience as well.

Hands went up for questions. I nodded at a beta reporter in the front row.

“New York Times,” he said. “Are you aware of the online movement to rename this the Astor Mine?”

“No,” I said truthfully. “And while that would certainly be an honor, I think we should let the people running the mine make any decisions about names.” I nodded at a gamma toward the back.

“Ladies’ Den,” she said. “How are Chloe and Grace doing in their first level?”

“I don’t want to talk about the girls publically,” I said. “This is a conference about the mine, and I don’t want the girls to think every time I’m in public I might tell the world something about their private life.”

“But they’re doing well?” she pressed.

“They’re fine,” I said firmly. I nodded at an alpha right in front of me because it would be obvious if I didn’t let him speak.

“Wall Street Today. Have you also not seen Melissa Thibodaux’s documentary?” he asked.

I kept the frown off my face. “No, but Alpha Zane and I certainly will now.” I smiled at the crowd. “One last question, and then I believe we’ll hear from the new mine foreman, Alexi Jameson.” I nodded at another beta somewhere in the middle.

She stood up to ask me, “Stout News. What do you think about the allegations that this little dog-and-pony show here is just some attempt to wolf-wash what’s been happening at the mine?”

Thank the goddess Lainey had warned me I’d probably be getting this question. “I invite you and any other member of the press to take a tour with me later today to see for yourself.” I turned my head to Foreman Jameson and motioned for him to come forward.

“Nicely done,” Zane told me as I once more stood by his side.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

Jameson reiterated my invitation to take a tour of the mine and then wrapped things up by inviting everyone outside for tea and coffee in a memorial to the Abrigan Remembrance Shrine in the Cavendish Metropolitan Museum across the street.