Her eyes grew wide as she read the rest of it.

… out to you today to see if you would be interested in interviewing with us. We are an organization called the Shifter Surrogacy Agency, and you have been recommended to be a possible candidate through our facility.

If you would like to accept the interview, reply to this email with dates and times that work with your schedule. You can also call us at the number below. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have for us via the interview and proceed from there.

We look forward to hearing from you. – Sylvia

Rachel stared at the email for over ten minutes, reading it over and over.

Is this some kind of joke? I’ve never heard of this place. And who the hell would have recommended me to them? Her mind ran through a short list, but she kept coming up empty.

It piqued her interest, that was for sure. She’d been ready to be a mother for a long time, but she knew surrogates usually didn’t get much say in the upbringing of the child. Then again, it depended on the program. Or so she’d heard.

It wouldn’t hurt to reach out and get a feel for what they were really about, would it?

“Maybe Luna’s heard of them,” she said to herself as she grabbed her cell and called her best friend. She seemed to be in the know about most things.

“Hello?” Luna’s singsong voice came over the speaker.

“Hey, it's me. I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

Rachel told Luna about the email and read it to her. “Have you ever heard of this place or why they would reach out to me? Or should I just delete it?”

There was a squeal on the other side. “No! Don’t delete it.”

Rachel narrowed her eyes in suspicion, even though Luna wasn’t there to see it. They had been close enough for a long enough time that she knew Luna could sense it.

“What do you know?” Rachel questioned.

“I can tell you’re glaring at me. Don’t do that! I may or may not have been the one to sign you up.”

“You what?” Rachel was taken aback. This was a bold move for the laid-back Luna, who usually was the exact opposite of Rachel.

“I signed you up. I heard about this place through some people at work and looked into it. It seems like a great opportunity for someone like you.”

“Someone like me?”

“Oh, you know. Someone looking to have a child but more than capable of handling her own self. You like adventure and a little spice, so I figured shifters would be right up your alley, especially since you deal with them on a regular basis at the diner. Some people don’t know anything about them or are terrified. You’re good on both counts.”

Rachel sighed, intrigued but slightly terrified. “I honestly don’t know that much about them.”

“That’s the best part. It doesn’t matter.” Luna was definitely doing the big sell. “The agency will fill you in on everything. Any questions you have, they answer them. I promise. Besides, from what we do know and what I was able to find out, shifters seem more your type than humans.”

Rachel laughed. “Oh? Why is that?”

“Well, for one, they’re very family-oriented and protective, just like you. They don’t lead the ordinary, mundane lives that we humans do, and you would constantly be learning new things. I heard they usually want the mother to have some inclusivity with the child, and I know that is something you want as well. Plus, you’d be more than set for life if you had one of their babies.”

“You know I wouldn’t be in this for the money,” Rachel protested.

“I know, I know. I’m just saying. It’s usually alphas looking for an heir, and they take extremely good care of their child’s mother.”

It all sounded quite lavish and almost too perfect.

“What’s the catch?”

“What do you mean?” Luna asked.