Page 39 of Furever Bound (Hollow Oak Mates #7)
MADDOX
T he Council meeting convened within an hour of Elena's failed acquisition attempt, with every supernatural resident of Hollow Oak gathering in the forest glade where ancient protections provided their only guarantee of privacy from federal surveillance.
The November air carried bite that promised winter's full arrival, and snow continued falling through bare branches while the community discussed response options to unprecedented government pressure.
"Federal agents have established checkpoints on every road leading out of town," Callum reported with tactical precision that didn't disguise his anger at the siege-like conditions Elena had imposed.
"Legal detention authority, search warrants for any vehicle containing supernatural materials, and coordination with state police that suggests expanded federal jurisdiction. "
"They're not just monitoring anymore," Maeve observed with practical intelligence that cut through emotional reactions to focus on strategic realities. "They're implementing containment protocols designed to prevent anyone from leaving while they establish permanent oversight."
Maddox felt Sera's anxiety spike through their completed mate bond as she thought about the effect of a federal containment for a community that had never posed any threat to national security.
"What are our legal options?" Varric asked with the careful attention of someone evaluating all possible responses before committing to action that could escalate beyond recovery.
"Limited," Miriam replied with the tired authority of someone who'd dealt with government overreach before. "Elena's federal warrants appear legitimate on paper, and challenging them requires legal processes that could take months while providing no guarantee of favorable outcomes."
"Months during which Sera remains in federal custody while our community operates under permanent surveillance," Emmett said with grim assessment that made every option sound equally unpalatable.
"If they can acquire her," Bram pointed out with rare optimism. "Grimjaw's intervention demonstrated that federal authority has limitations when confronted with actual supernatural power."
The mention of their transformed guardian drew attention to the massive creature that had positioned itself at the glade's perimeter, its presence radiating protective determination that federal agents were learning to respect despite their legal advantages.
"Grimjaw's protection is a temporary solution," Elder Varric observed with diplomatic realism. "Federal agencies have resources and patience that supernatural manifestations can't match indefinitely."
"So what do you suggest?" Sera asked with a direct challenge that proved she'd fully integrated into their community's decision-making processes. "Surrender to federal custody and hope Elena's psychiatric evaluation concludes that my abilities aren't worth weaponizing?"
"I suggest we consider alternatives that don't require choosing between individual sacrifice and community exposure," Varric replied with the careful neutrality that meant crucial decisions were about to be made.
"Such as?" Maddox asked, though his protective instincts were already rejecting any option that involved separating him from his newly claimed mate.
"Relocation," Bram said simply. "Community evacuation to territory where Elena's federal authority doesn't extend."
"Relocation to where?" Sera asked with practical intelligence. "Elena's federal colleagues aren't going to forget about psychic manifestation abilities just because we move somewhere else."
"International relocation," Bram clarified with matter-of-fact tone that suggested he'd been researching options for exactly this scenario. "Supernatural communities in countries that don't extradite individuals for psychic abilities or folklore manifestation."
The suggestion that they abandon generations of carefully built sanctuary hit Maddox like physical blow, especially when evacuation would mean separating Sera from the supernatural energy that enabled her psychic development.
"Sera's abilities are tied to this location's concentrated supernatural energy," he said with alpha authority that made even the elders pay attention. "International relocation could destabilize her psychic connection or destroy her manifestation capabilities entirely."
"Which might resolve the federal interest problem," Bram restated.
"And as I have said before, it might kill her," Maddox replied with protective fury that resonated through every supernatural resident gathered in the glade
"So we're back to resistance or surrender," Maeve said with tactical assessment that forced acknowledgment of impossible choices.
"There's another option," Sera said quietly, her voice carrying determination that made Maddox's stomach clench with dread about what she was considering.
"Which is?" Varric asked with careful attention.
"Voluntary cooperation. We talked about this before when Grimjaw first appeared and Elena was taken in," she said with calm resolve that sent ice through Maddox's veins. "I submit to federal evaluation while establishing conditions that protect the community from ongoing harassment."
"Absolutely not," Maddox said with alpha finality that made several Council members step back slightly.
"Maddox," Sera began with patient tone that proved she'd been thinking through options that prioritized community welfare over personal safety.
"No," he interrupted with protective authority that brooked no argument. "We're not negotiating your freedom for temporary federal appeasement."
"We're negotiating community protection for individual sacrifice," she corrected with gentle determination that proved her commitment to their sanctuary transcended personal considerations.
"Individual sacrifice that includes permanent separation from supernatural energy that sustains your abilities," he pointed out with academic precision that made the true cost of her proposal crystal clear.
"And permanent separation from the mate bond that anchors your psychic stability," Elder Varric added with supernatural wisdom that forced acknowledgment of consequences she might not have considered.
The revelation that federal custody could damage their completed bond sent protective fury racing through Maddox's system with intensity that made his control strain against itself.
"The mate bond is unbreakable," Sera said with confidence that proved she didn't understand the full implications of federal interference.
"The mate bond can't be severed," Varric corrected with gentle honesty, "but it can be damaged by forced separation, psychiatric intervention, or medical procedures designed to suppress supernatural sensitivity."
"Meaning what exactly?" Sera asked with growing alarm as she processed implications she hadn't anticipated.
"Meaning federal custody could leave you permanently disconnected from the abilities that brought us together, the community that accepts you, and the mate bond that completes you," Maddox said with raw honesty that proved the stakes extended far beyond individual freedom.
The weight of potential loss seemed to settle around them like November snow, and through their bond, Maddox felt Sera's growing understanding that protecting their community might cost everything that made survival worthwhile.
"Then what do we do?" she asked with vulnerability protective tenderness.
"We fight," he said simply, the declaration carrying weight that transformed academic discussion into declaration of war. "All of us, together, for the right to exist without federal oversight."