Page 96 of Claimed By My Exiled Alphas
“I had a choice,” I said. “Follow my family’s directive and help destroy this valley for profit, or do something to stop it. I chose to document everything and give it to Wes. Every buried study, every edited report, every internal email where engineers raised concerns that were dismissed. Wes took that information and made sure the right people saw it. The state EPA, federal regulators, journalists who specialized in environmental protection.”
“You destroyed your own family’s company,” someone called from the back.
“I prevented my family from destroying this valley,” I corrected. “The company survived, though diminished. But your watershed is intact. Wes’s conservation work continues. The ecosystem remains protected.”
Wes stood up. “For the record, I want everyone to understand what Cassian risked. He was disowned, cut off from his inheritance, exiled from his family. He gave up everything to do the right thing. And he asked for nothing in return. No recognition, no gratitude. He just wanted this valley protected.”
“Because it was worth protecting,” I said simply. “This place, this community, the land itself. It was worth more than any development profit could justify destroying.”
Martha stood up next. “Why didn’t you tell us this before? When you came back to Hollow Haven, why let us think you were still the threat?”
“Because I felt like I was,” I admitted. “I participated in the initial planning, conducted surveys knowing what we intended, smiled at community meetings while planning your valley’s destruction. The fact that I eventually stopped it doesn’t erase my complicity in bringing that threat here in the first place.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Willa called out from where she sat with her pack. “You saved us. Why should you have to keep apologizing for almost making a mistake you actually prevented?”
“Because guilt isn’t rational,” I said honestly. “And because I didn’t think I deserved forgiveness for almost being part of something terrible, even if I managed to stop it.”
Through the bonds I felt Talia move, felt her walking toward me before I saw her. She came to stand beside me, her hand finding mine in clear view of the entire room. The three bite marks on her neck were visible, announcing our bond to anyone who looked.
“Cassian has been helping me build my bistro since I arrived in Hollow Haven,” she said, her voice steady and strong. “He’s coordinated with two other alphas to form a pack with me. He’s supported my dreams, protected this community, and asked for nothing in return except to be allowed to live here quietly. That’s not the behavior of someone who doesn’t care about this town.”
Jace and Hollis had moved forward too, flanking us on either side. United pack front, visible to everyone.
“The man I know,” Talia continued, “is someone who makes difficult choices when they matter. Who thinks three steps ahead trying to solve problems before they become crises. Who chooses to do right even when it costs him everything.”
“He’s also the man who saved the watershed I’ve dedicated my career to protecting,” Wes added. “Who gave me the evidence I needed to stop a development that would have destroyed decades of conservation work. I wouldn’t be here doing my job if Cassian hadn’t had the courage to betray his own family.”
A woman I didn’t recognize stood up in the back. “I think we need to address the elephant in the room. We have council members who took bribes to push through a development thatwould have poisoned our water supply. Why are they still sitting on that council?”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. Roberts and another councilman I didn’t know well both looked acutely uncomfortable.
“The council is investigating those allegations,” Mayor Davidson said carefully.
“Investigating?” the woman scoffed. “We all know what happened. They took money from the Black family to support a project they knew was dangerous. We need a special election. We need new council members who won’t sell out our community for profit.”
“I support that motion,” someone else called out.
“As do I,” Gerald Whitmore said, standing up. The room went quiet, surprised that a sitting councilman would support his own potential removal. “For the record, I did not accept any incentives from the Black family. But those who did should face consequences. We need a council this community can trust.”
Mayor Davidson looked distinctly uncomfortable but nodded. “We’ll add discussion of a special election to next month’s agenda. The community deserves representation they can believe in.”
She turned back to me. “Mr. Black, is there anything else you’d like to say?”
“Just that I’m grateful to be here,” I said honestly. “Grateful that Wes took the risk of trusting me with his research. Grateful that this community is giving me a chance to be part of it despite my family name. And grateful for the pack I’ve found here, who’ve shown me what it means to belong somewhere.”
Gerald Whitmore stood up slowly. The room waited for his response, knowing his opinion carried weight.
“I owe you an apology,” he said directly to me. “What I said at The Brew about your pack formation being greed, thatwas ignorance and prejudice talking. Watching the four of you tonight, seeing how you support each other, that’s what a pack is supposed to look like.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
“And I owe you thanks,” he continued. “We all do. You saved this valley at personal cost. That deserves recognition, not suspicion.”
“I don’t need recognition,” I said. “I just want to live here. Build a life with my pack. Be part of this community.”
“Then welcome to Hollow Haven,” Mayor Davidson said, and this time she sounded like she meant it. “Properly this time, Mr. Black.”
The meeting continued with other business, but the energy had shifted. People kept glancing at me differently now. Not with hostility, but with something closer to respect. As we filed out afterward, several people stopped to thank me. To apologize for their previous judgment. To welcome me to Hollow Haven.
