Sabrina finished writing her notes in Marshall’s chart before joining the conversation.“We have evidence of the contamination,” she said.“If we can prove who’s responsible—”
“You’ll need more than paper trails,” Marshall interrupted gently.“People with power don’t leave obvious tracks.”
I rubbed my jaw, feeling the stubble there.“You’re right.We need a direct connection between the mine operations and what’s happened here.”
Marshall nodded, relaxing back against his pillows.Though still weak, the improvement in his condition was undeniable.His eyes weren’t as glassy, his breathing less labored.The veins in his neck, which had been dark and prominent just days ago, had faded to their normal appearance.Whatever Sabrina had done was working, at least temporarily.
“You’ve done good work, Doctor,” Marshall said to Sabrina, his tone warm with approval that made my chest tighten.He’d never been easy with praise, making it all the more meaningful when offered.“This town hasn’t had proper medical care in a long time.”
“Thank you,” Sabrina replied, her cheeks flushing slightly.“But we need to stop the source, or this will just keep happening.”
“You two make a good team,” he remarked, a faint smile playing on his still-pale lips.Marshall’s gaze shifted between us again, a knowing glint in his eyes that made me want to look away.He saw too much, always had.
I glanced at Sabrina, chest swelling with a pride I’d never felt before.“Yeah,” I agreed softly.“We do.”
“About damn time you found someone worth fighting alongside,” Marshall added, his voice lowering so only my shifter hearing could catch it.“Instead of fighting alone.”
“Now,” Marshall continued, speaking normally again.“You two better get moving.Whoever’s behind this won’t wait for you to build a perfect case.”He reached out, catching my wrist in a surprisingly strong grip.“And Logan?Remember what I taught you about hunting wounded predators.They’re at their most dangerous when cornered.”
I nodded, covering his hand with mine briefly.“Rest.Get stronger.We’ll handle this.”
As we prepared to leave, Marshall called after us: “Doctor Wu?”
Sabrina turned back.“Yes?”
“Whatever you’re doing for me is working.I can feel my wolf healing.”His eyes, so much like the timber wolves that roamed these mountains, held fierce determination."Use that.The evidence isn’t just numbers on paper.It’s lives.
She nodded.“I will.”
Outside the clinic, I paused, taking in Sabrina’s focused expression.The sunlight caught in her dark hair, highlighting strands of deep amber I hadn’t noticed before.The mate bond between us hummed steadily, a constant awareness of her presence that both grounded and exhilarated me.
“Marshall’s looking better,” I observed.“Your treatment is working.”
“For now,” she qualified, but I could feel her satisfaction through our bond.“But it’s just managing symptoms.If we don’t stop the contamination once and for all…”
She didn’t need to finish.We both knew what was at stake.It was not just Marshall’s life, but the entire shifter community of Angel Spring.My territory.My responsibility.
And now, with Sabrina by my side, I finally felt equipped to face it.
As we walked to my truck, I instinctively placed my hand at the small of Sabrina’s back.“Victoria won’t stop until she gets what she wants,” I said.“But neither will we.”
Sabrina’s eyes met mine.Through our bond, I could feel her resolve matching my own.“No,” she agreed, reaching up to brush her fingers against my jaw.“We won’t.”
My wolf practically purred with satisfaction.For the first time in years, I wasn’t facing a fight alone.We’d build our case against Victoria and the Roberts Mine.We’d protect what was ours.
But today, in this moment, I allowed myself to savor the certainty that had replaced a lifetime of doubt.Sabrina was my mate, my partner, my future.And nothing, not Victoria, not the Song pack, not all the forces they could muster, would take that from me.
