Chapter 22 #3
"Thanks to Dr. Sinclair's research and Sheriff Matthews's investigation.
" I settle into the booth across from them.
"But that's actually part of why I wanted to meet.
EnvironTech is going to appeal, and when they do, they're going to dig into everyone involved.
That means more scrutiny on Willow Creek, more questions about why we were so invested in this case. "
"And you're worried about exposure," Matthews says bluntly.
"I'm always worried about exposure. But yes, this is more attention than we've had in decades.
" I lean forward. "I wanted to discuss how we can present a unified front—Parkerville and Willow Creek working together on environmental protection—without raising questions about why our communities are so close. "
The mayor considers this. "What if we formalize it? Create an official partnership between the towns for environmental stewardship. Joint conservation efforts, shared resources, mutual protection of the watershed."
"That could work," Matthews agrees. "Explains the cooperation, gives us legal standing to work together, and provides cover for any future collaboration."
"It would also benefit Parkerville," the mayor adds. "Your tourism brings business to our town, and protecting the environment protects our water supply too. This partnership makes sense for everyone."
We spend the next hour hammering out details—how the partnership would be structured, what it would include, how to present it to both communities.
By the time we're done, we have the framework for something that could genuinely strengthen both towns while also providing cover for the pack's involvement in local affairs.
"I'll bring it to the Parkerville town council next week," the mayor says, making notes. "Shouldn't be a hard sell. Most of them already think of Willow Creek as part of our extended community."
"And I'll present it to the pack," I say. "Though I expect they'll support it. We've been building these relationships for years. This just makes it official."
As we're leaving, Matthews pulls me aside. "Hunter, off the record. How much danger is Dr. Sinclair in from EnvironTech?"
"I don't know. We got one threatening message, nothing since. But I'm not taking chances."
"Good. Because if anything happens to her, if EnvironTech tries anything, you call me immediately. I don't care what it exposes or who finds out what. That girl deserves protection, and she'll have it." He meets my eyes meaningfully. "From all of us."
"Thank you. That means a lot."
Driving back to Willow Creek, I think about how much has changed in just a few weeks.
Marcus leaving, Ethan joining, the formal partnership with Parkerville, Caleb and Rachel's upcoming wedding.
The pack is evolving, adapting, becoming something new while holding onto the core of what makes us family.
And at the center of it all is Ava. She’s been the catalyst for so much change, the reason I fought Marcus, the person who showed me that adaptation isn't betrayal, it's survival.
When I get home, she's at my kitchen table surrounded by papers and laptop screens, looking beautifully disheveled and completely focused.
"How's the manuscript?" I ask, dropping a kiss on top of her head.
"Almost done with the methods section. Ethan sent me his spatial analysis data, which is going to make the discussion section so much stronger." She looks up at me, and there are dark circles under her eyes. "How was your meeting with Matthews and the mayor?"
"Good. We're formalizing a partnership between Parkerville and Willow Creek for environmental protection and conservation." I pull up a chair beside her. "It'll give us cover for working together, legal standing for future collaboration."
"That's brilliant. Turns the alliance into something official and above-board." She stretches, wincing. "I should probably take a break. I've been staring at this data for three hours straight."
"You should probably sleep. It's almost midnight."
"Is it?" She glances at the clock, surprised. "Wow. Time got away from me."
I start closing her laptop, gathering papers. "Come on. Bed. The manuscript will still be here tomorrow."
She doesn't argue, which tells me how exhausted she really is.
In bed, she curls against me immediately, and I feel her exhaustion through the bond.
"Hunter?" she murmurs, already half asleep.
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you're here. Glad we're doing this together."
"Me too. Get some sleep, love."
Within minutes, she's out, her breathing deep and even. I lie awake a while longer, processing the day, thinking about the future.
In three weeks, Caleb and Rachel get married. The manuscript will be submitted by then, hopefully accepted for publication. EnvironTech's appeals will be grinding through the legal system. The pack partnership with Parkerville will be official.
And somewhere in all of that, Ava and I will figure out what our future looks like—where she'll live permanently, what her role as Luna will be, how we'll balance her career with pack responsibilities.
But right now, with her warm and safe in my arms, the mate bond humming between us, the pack secure and adapting—right now is perfect.
And that's enough.