Chapter 21 #2
Patricia holds up a hand. "Mr. Long, I'm going to stop you there. Dr. Sinclair's personal relationships and the political leanings of Willow Creek are not relevant to whether EnvironTech is illegally dumping toxic waste. Do you have any evidence that disputes her actual findings?"
Long's expression makes it clear he knows he's losing ground. "We'll be presenting our own environmental assessment, conducted by our team of scientists?—"
"Who are employed by EnvironTech and therefore have their own bias," Patricia interrupts. "Dr. Sinclair, do you have anything else to add to your testimony?"
"Just that the contamination is real, it's severe, and it's getting worse.
Every day that facility operates, more toxins enter the watershed.
" I look directly at the EPA panel. "People are drinking that water.
Children are playing in those woods. This isn't about politics or personal relationships.
It's about public health and environmental protection. "
Patricia nods. "Thank you, Dr. Sinclair. We'll take a brief recess and then hear from EnvironTech's experts."
As the room clears, Lydia appears at my elbow. I hadn't even noticed the attorney sitting in the back.
"You did well," she says quietly. "Long tried to rattle you, but you held your ground."
"He basically called me a biased fraud."
"He called you biased. You proved you're not a fraud. The data is solid, the methodology is sound, and the independent verification speaks for itself." She gathers her own papers. "Come on. Let's get you some water and let Hunter see that you're okay. I can feel his anxiety from here."
In the lobby, Hunter is pacing like a caged wolf. The moment he sees me, he crosses the space in three long strides and pulls me into his arms.
"Are you okay?" he asks, his voice rough.
"I'm fine. Long was an ass, but I handled it." I lean into him, drawing strength from his solid presence. "How much did you feel through the bond?"
"Enough to know he was attacking you. I wanted to break down that door and—" He breaks off, taking a deep breath. "But you didn't need me to. You defended yourself perfectly."
"The data defends itself," I correct. "Long can question my motives all he wants, but he can't dispute the actual contamination."
Lydia checks her watch. "They'll probably deliberate for an hour or so after hearing from EnvironTech's experts, then issue preliminary findings. You don't need to stay for that, I can represent you."
"No, I want to be here. I want to hear what they decide."
We end up in a coffee shop across the street, waiting. Hunter keeps one hand on mine the whole time, his thumb tracing patterns across my knuckles. Through the bond, I can feel his barely controlled anger, his protective instincts screaming at him to eliminate the threat to his mate.
"I'm okay," I tell him quietly. "Really. This is just part of the process."
"I know. But that doesn't make it easier to have someone attack you and not be able to defend you."
"You are defending me. By being here, by supporting me, by trusting me to handle this." I squeeze his hand. "And besides, I kind of enjoyed putting Long in his place."
That gets a slight smile from him. "You were magnificent. I could feel your confidence through the bond, even when he was trying to shake you."
Two hours later, Lydia calls us back to the building. The panel has reached a decision.
We file back into the conference room. EnvironTech's lawyers look smug, which makes my stomach clench with worry. But Patricia's expression is neutral, professional.
"After reviewing the testimony from both Dr. Sinclair and EnvironTech's environmental consultants, and examining the physical evidence provided, this panel has reached the following preliminary conclusions.
" She reads from a prepared statement. "One: Significant environmental contamination exists in the Willow Creek watershed area, at levels that pose a threat to public health and ecosystem integrity.
Two: The contamination includes synthetic compounds consistent with industrial waste.
Three: The spatial distribution of contamination indicates a point source consistent with the EnvironTech facility location. "
I feel hope rising in my chest.
"Therefore, we are issuing an immediate cease-and-desist order to EnvironTech Corporation, requiring the shutdown of all operations at the facility in question pending a full investigation.
Additionally, we are ordering EnvironTech to fund immediate cleanup operations and provide alternative water sources to affected communities.
" Patricia looks up. "EnvironTech, you have seventy-two hours to comply.
Failure to do so will result in federal enforcement action and potential criminal charges. "
Long is on his feet immediately. "This is outrageous! You're shutting down a legitimate business operation based on the testimony of a biased researcher with clear conflicts of interest?—"
"We're shutting down an illegal dumping operation based on clear scientific evidence," Patricia corrects.
"Dr. Sinclair's testimony was corroborated by independent lab results, Sheriff Matthews's investigation, and frankly, by your own environmental consultants, whose data showed similar contamination levels even if they disputed the source. "
"We will be appealing this decision?—"
"You're welcome to appeal. In the meantime, the cease-and-desist stands." She gathers her papers. "This hearing is adjourned."
As the room empties, I sit there, trying to process what just happened. We won. They actually sided with my research over EnvironTech's lawyers and money and attempts to discredit me.
"Ava?" Hunter's voice is soft. "You did it."
"We did it." I turn to him, and I'm smiling so wide my face hurts. "They're shutting them down. They're actually shutting them down."
Lydia is grinning too. "This is a major victory. The cease-and-desist is immediate, which means EnvironTech has to stop operations now. And the cleanup order means they're on the hook for all remediation costs."
"What about the criminal charges Patricia mentioned?"
"That'll be a separate investigation, but the EPA turning this over to criminal enforcement is huge.
It means they believe EnvironTech knowingly violated environmental laws.
" She packs up her briefcase. "This is going to be in the news by tonight.
Major environmental victory, corporate malfeasance exposed. It's going to be everywhere."
"Which means more attention on Willow Creek," Hunter says, his expression darkening slightly.
"For a few days, maybe. But the story is about EnvironTech, not about your community." Lydia looks between us. "You've done everything right. You've protected the pack's interests while also protecting the public. That's exactly what needed to happen."
We leave the building, and Hunter immediately pulls me into a tight embrace right there on the sidewalk.
"I'm so proud of you," he murmurs into my hair. "You were incredible in there."
"I was terrified."
"You were brave." He pulls back to look at me. "Come on. Let's go home. The pack will want to hear the news."
On the drive back to Willow Creek, my phone starts buzzing incessantly. Texts from Rachel, from Dr. Venkatesan, from colleagues at Clemson I haven't spoken to in weeks. The news is spreading fast.
Rachel: OMG I just saw the alert! You did it! EnvironTech is SHUT DOWN!
Dr. Venkatesan: Ava, congratulations on a major win. This is exactly the kind of work that matters. Very proud of you.
Matthew (Science Dept): Just saw the news about EnvironTech. Brilliant work, Dr. Sinclair. This is what environmental science is supposed to do.
But then another message comes through, from an unknown number.
Unknown: You're going to regret this. EnvironTech has powerful friends, and you've made powerful enemies. Watch your back.
I show it to Hunter, and I feel his rage spike through the bond.
"Don't respond," he says immediately. "Forward it to Lydia and to Sheriff Matthews. This is a direct threat."
"You think it's really from EnvironTech?"
"Or someone connected to them. Either way, it's a threat against my mate, and that's not going to stand.
" He pulls over to the side of the road and makes a phone call.
"Caleb? We might have a problem. Ava just received a threatening text message...
Yeah, I know... Get Wade and Alex, set up a security rotation around her rental house and my place...
I don't care what it takes, she doesn't go anywhere alone until we know this threat is neutralized. "
"Hunter, that's excessive?—"
"Someone threatened you. That makes it my problem, and I'm going to handle it.
" He pulls back onto the road, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
"You might have won in that hearing, but EnvironTech isn't going down without a fight.
They're going to try to intimidate you, discredit you, maybe worse. I'm not taking any chances."
Through the bond, I can feel his determination, his absolute refusal to let anything happen to me. It should feel overwhelming, maybe even controlling. But instead, it feels like safety. Like being protected by someone who would burn the world down before letting me get hurt.
"Okay," I say quietly. "Security rotation it is. But Hunter? We need to be smart about this. If EnvironTech's lawyers find out I have werewolf bodyguards, that's going to raise questions."
"They won't know. Wade and Alex are good at being subtle." He glances at me. "But Ava, if you're in danger, I don't care about subtlety. Your safety comes first. Always."
"I know. And I love you for it." I reach over to touch his arm. "But let's try to handle this without exposing the pack, okay?"
"We will. But if it comes down to protecting you versus protecting our secret..." He doesn't finish the sentence, but he doesn't need to. I can feel his priority through the bond, clear as day.
I'm his mate. And he will protect me at any cost.