Page 32 of Furever Bound (Hollow Oak Mates #7)
SERA
T he town square had been transformed into something from a winter fairy tale, with jack-o'-lanterns glowing like amber stars against the pristine snow and federal surveillance equipment blending into Halloween decorations with the kind of bureaucratic efficiency that made Elena's preparation disturbingly thorough.
Children moved in small groups under careful supernatural supervision, their laughter mixing with the crisp October air while carved pumpkins cast dancing shadows across the white-dusted cobblestones.
"She's positioned cameras to capture every angle," Maddox observed quietly, his enhanced senses tracking federal equipment that had been disguised as seasonal lighting fixtures. "Professional documentation setup designed to record supernatural phenomena from multiple perspectives."
Sera studied Elena's arrangements with the analytical eye she'd developed during years of content creation, noting details that proved this wasn't opportunistic investigation but carefully orchestrated evidence gathering.
"Motion sensors, thermal imaging, audio recording equipment that can isolate specific frequency ranges," she catalogued, her expertise in documentation technology revealing the sophistication of Elena's surveillance.
"She's not just hoping to witness manifestation activity—she's prepared to capture every detail for analysis. "
"Which means whatever happens tonight becomes federal evidence," Maddox said grimly, his protective instincts clearly warring with tactical necessity.
"Evidence that supernatural abilities can be beneficial rather than threatening," Sera reminded him, though her own anxiety about performing psychic communication under government scrutiny made her voice less confident than intended.
Through the square's Halloween festivities, they could see other Council members maintaining careful positions that appeared casual but provided strategic coverage of potential threat vectors.
Emmett chatted with parents while monitoring federal agent movements, Maeve distributed candy to trick-or-treaters while keeping weapons within easy reach, and Callum coordinated with supernatural residents through subtle hand signals that looked like seasonal greetings.
"The entire community is mobilizing," Sera realized with wonder that cut through her nervousness. "Not just for protection, but for support."
"Because you've become family," Maddox replied simply, his words carrying weight that made her chest warm despite the cold evening air. "And family protects each other, especially during Halloween when supernatural activity traditionally peaks."
The casual way he mentioned Halloween's supernatural significance reminded Sera that most of Hollow Oak's residents had grown up accepting magical realities that still felt new and overwhelming to her developing psychic abilities.
"When will Grimjaw manifest?" she asked, noting how shadows seemed to be lengthening despite consistent artificial lighting from street lamps and decorative displays.
"Soon," Maddox said, his enhanced hearing apparently picking up sounds beyond normal human perception. "The barriers are thinning as the moon reaches zenith, and manifestation energy is building toward critical mass."
As if summoned by his words, the temperature in the square dropped ten degrees in as many seconds, sending mist rising from the snow-covered ground while electronic devices began fritzing with the electromagnetic interference that announced supernatural presence.
"There," Sera breathed, pointing toward the far edge of the square where shadow had begun taking shape with deliberate purpose.
Grimjaw emerged from the darkness between buildings like nightmare given form, its massive silhouette more substantial than she'd ever seen it before.
The creature's antlers, definitely composed of human bones, caught moonlight in ways that made them gleam like polished ivory, while its shifting form seemed to exist partially outside normal reality.
But what struck Sera most was the intelligence in its presence—not mindless hunger or predatory instinct, but something that observed and evaluated with cognitive complexity that challenged every assumption about manifestation behavior.
"It's watching the children," she said with surprise, noting how Grimjaw's attention focused on the trick-or-treaters who continued their Halloween rounds despite supernatural presence that should have triggered primal terror.
"They've grown up in a community where supernatural entities are neighbors rather than threats," Sera realized, understanding flowing through her developing psychic connection to both Grimjaw and the collective energy of Hollow Oak's residents.
Elena's federal equipment immediately began documenting the manifestation with professional efficiency, cameras tracking Grimjaw's movement while sensors recorded energy signatures that proved supernatural phenomena existed beyond theoretical discussion.
"Now," Maddox said quietly. "While it's substantial but not actively hunting. Establish communication before it decides whether these circumstances represent opportunity or threat."
Sera stepped forward into the square's center, positioning herself where both Grimjaw and Elena's surveillance equipment could observe her clearly.
The federal agents tensed as they realized documentation was about to become active engagement, but Elena gestured for them to maintain observation rather than intervention.
"Grimjaw," Sera called. "I know you can understand me. I'm the one whose energy gave you form, whose documentation brought you into existence."
The creature's massive head turned toward her with mechanical precision, and she felt the weight of ancient, alien attention focusing on her specifically. Through their psychic connection, she sensed confusion mixed with curiosity.
"I didn't mean to create you as a threat," she continued, opening her developing abilities to allow direct mental contact despite the risks involved. "I was trying to preserve stories, to share cultural heritage, to help people understand the beauty of folklore traditions."
Grimjaw moved closer with flowing grace that defied its massive size, shadow and substance shifting around bone and purpose in ways that hurt to observe directly. But instead of predatory stalking, its approach felt more like cautious investigation.
"You gave me purpose," it spoke, voice carrying the sound of breaking branches and winter wind. "But the purpose is pain. Hunting. Bone collecting. Fear feeding."
"Because those are the only stories I knew," Sera replied, her psychic connection allowing direct communication despite the creature's alien nature. "But stories can change. Purpose can evolve. You can choose what you become rather than being trapped by what you were manifested to be."
The revolutionary concept seemed to ripple through Grimjaw's consciousness like water through still air, and she felt its surprise that choice might be possible for entities that existed through belief and narrative structure.
"Change how?" it asked, genuine curiosity replacing predatory assessment.
"By protecting instead of hunting," she said, the solution crystallizing as she spoke. "By becoming guardian of this community rather than threat to isolated individuals. By using your power to defend rather than destroy."
Through Elena's surveillance equipment, federal agents were documenting evidence of successful supernatural communication, proof that psychic abilities could facilitate cooperation rather than weaponization.
But Sera's attention remained focused on Grimjaw, on the possibility that dialogue might succeed where containment had failed, and on the growing certainty that some stories were worth rewriting regardless of the personal cost.