Page 68 of Crimson Moon Falling

“Welcome to politics.” Sawyer clapped him on the shoulder. “Nice work today. I’m going home after we sign. You should too.”

A knock sounded on the door, and Conall tilted his head, hoping like hell it wasn’t one of Christopherson’s female shifters. He smelled Hudson, the concierge.

The man slipped inside when Ash opened the door. “The rumors around town are that you had an eventful, productive day,” he murmured.

Sawyer nodded. “We did. We plan to head back home after everyone signs the joint Council Statement.”

Hudson inclined his head. “It’s been a pleasure to host you at The Willard. You indicated you wanted to be kept abreast of any pertinent information when you first arrived. My sources tell me that three senators are calling for congressional hearings, and Minnesota Congresswoman Renard plans to introduce emergency legislation to freeze Apollo Genetics’ federal contracts pending an investigation.”

Conall crossed his arms. “Have you heard what the Senate Majority Leader’s response is?”

Hudson’s lip curled. “He belatedly issued a statement calling the allegations ‘deeply troubling’ and promised a thorough investigation. The man is an ineffective, bigoted imbecile. Forgive my language.”

Conall smirked as Sawyer tried to pass a few large bills to Hudson. The man held up his hand. “No need, Alpha. It’s been my pleasure. Please come back and see us.”

They gathered to sign the joint Council Statement a few hours later.

Ash took in Conall’s tired, annoyed expression. “Are you ready?”

Conall nodded and grabbed his bags. “I was ready to go before we got here.”

The flight home was quiet as Conall went over what had transpired. Without Riley finding that facility, he doubted the Pack Council could’ve delivered a unanimous vote. He knew for damn sure Christopherson wouldn’t have voted with them without the added pressure.

A few hours later, the new Pack house and compound came into view. Towering red mountains stood behind the structure, and the old apple orchard lined the winding driveway. The main house was constructed of wood and glass and designed in the parkitecture style, blending in with its surroundings. A few smaller structures were connected by red sandstone paths. Solar panels lined the southern roof, and a training yard with a large barn, similar to the one they had in Denver, sat on the east side.

It wasn’t finished. The barn was still sheathed in Tyvek, and a stack of weathered lumber sat under a tarp next to it. But the main house and the yard around it were done. The great room had a massive stone fireplace and windows that faced the red sandstone mountain ranges.

Conall slid out and stood in the gravel drive, breathing in the fresh desert mountain air. His wolf settled a little.

Ash clapped him on the shoulder. “You need to let your wolf out, then call Riley.”

Conall dropped his bag and walked slowly through the space. The place felt too big and too quiet without Riley or his Betas, but he could picture them here.

He’d built it with her in mind. Riley reading on the sofa with Mangus or Floyd curled at her feet, or at the sleek quartz kitchen counter, her unruly hair pulled back, sipping jasmine tea.

Conall climbed the stairs and pushed open the door to their bedroom suite. The substantial, custom-made wooden headboard was in place, the mattress still wrapped in plastic. The bed faced the windows, which looked out toward Mount Kinesava.

He stood in the center of the room and let the silence soothe him. The bond was a distant, steady thread. The coldness seemed to be receding, but he could sense her tiredness. He pressed the heel of his hand against his sternum and exhaled.

When Riley came back from Wyoming, no matter what was happening in their lives, he planned to take her away on a honeymoon. He was sick of being apart and waking up to an empty bed. They needed time together to bond. She still didn’t trust him completely, and since they’d been together, there hadn’t been much time to talk.

Before he could pull out his phone to call her, Drew rang. “It’s everywhere. The Post broke it first, then the Times and the Journal. It’s also running on every major network. They’re showing the photos and the documentation.”

Conall strode down to his new office on the first floor and turned on the TV. A solemn-faced anchor read from a teleprompter, the bunker photos displayed on a split screen beside her.

“Evidence suggests a decades-long pattern of covert facilities operated by Apollo Genetics with oversight from the military branch, Apex Mentis. The company, which has extensive contracts with the Department of Defense, has denied any knowledge of—”

Ash came down the stairs, freshly showered and barefoot. He stood beside Conall and crossed his arms.

“That didn’t take long, did it? Riley came through for us. Again.”

“She did.” They watched the news report.

“When is she coming home?”

Conall sighed. “Not soon enough.”

Over the next few days, the public outrage was immediate and vicious on several fronts. Parents’ groups, civil liberties organizations, and religious leaders clamored in outrage at Normals being abducted and modified. Social media comment sections were filled with horror stories from people who’d been tortured as Riley had, or loved ones who’d lost family members and suspected Apex was behind it.