Page 50 of Stout Bear

Her pulse quickened as she looked around the decorated auditorium. Just weeks ago, she stood before the town council, humiliated and dismissed. Now her findings had been validated by the county and law enforcement. The evidence they'd gathered that night in the forest had proven irrefutable.

The investigation into Flint's activities had expanded significantly in the weeks following his arrest. His refusal to name his financial backers had only intensified lawenforcement's determination to uncover the full extent of the plot.

Max walked in with his family. Drew and Quinn led the group, followed by Gwen, Liv, and Noah. Quinn rushed forward, enveloping Laney in a tight hug. “Congratulations, sweetheart.”

Drew nodded, his usually stoic expression softened with approval. “The whole town's talking about what you two uncovered.”

Corey Bright, founder of the Bright Institute, stood at the front of the auditorium, conversing with other senior faculty members. He spotted Laney and the Bock family and walked over to greet them.

“Max Bock,” Corey said, extending his hand. “Your mate has revolutionized our environmental sciences department. We're fortunate to have her.”

“The fortune is all mine,” Max replied, his eyes never leaving Laney.

“We should take our seats,” Ivy suggested, noticing more guests arriving. “The ceremony will start soon.”

The Bock family found their places in the reserved front row section. Laney took her seat next to Max. Corey stepped up to the podium while a hush fell on the assembly of local officials, institute faculty, and press members who had gathered to witness the event.

“Welcome, everyone. We are here tonight to honor a remarkable scientist who uncovered a serious contamination threat,” Corey said, his voice resonating through the room. “Laney Collins didn't just identify an environmental hazard—she persistedwhen her findings were dismissed, ultimately protecting Fate Mountain's water supply and the health of our entire community.”

Corey Bright called Laney to the stage. “We are proud to name Laney Collins a permanent senior researcher, with a well-earned pay increase,” Corey said, smiling broadly.

She rose, smoothing her blouse, and walked forward. Applause broke out, echoing through the auditorium. Quinn wiped tears from her eyes while Drew stood tall, clapping with pride. Gwen let out an enthusiastic whistle that made Laney blush.

The moment felt surreal. For years, her partial shifter status had made her feel incomplete, inadequate. Yet here she stood, not as a half-shifter but as a respected scientist whose work had saved an entire community. Since Max had given her the changing bite, her connection to her fox had grown stronger daily, a seamless integration of both sides of herself.

Corey passed her a commemorative plaque, its weight solid in her hands. “Your relentless focus saved Fate Mountain's ecosystem,” Corey said. “I have never seen anyone battle so fiercely for the truth.”

Laney walked to the mic, looking out at the faces of colleagues, town officials, and the family she had found in Fate Mountain. She took a deep breath, the weight of the commemorative plaque solid in her hands.

“Thank you, Corey, for those kind words. And thank you to everyone at the Bright Institute for this honor and for believing in my work even when others didn't.

When I first came to Fate Mountain, I was just looking for a fresh start. I never expected to uncover an environmental crisis, or to find a community that would eventually become my home.

The contamination we discovered wasn't an accident or a natural occurrence. As many of you now know, Flint Calder deliberately sabotaged Fate Mountain's water supply. His BioClean system, which was supposed to filter contaminants, was actually designed to make them worse by creating even more toxic compounds when combined with newly engineered chemicals he was dumping upstream.

Our investigation revealed that this wasn't just about targeting the brewery. The evidence suggests a coordinated effort to devalue land throughout Fate Mountain for eventual development. While Mr. Calder continues to refuse to cooperate with authorities, county officials have uncovered evidence linking his operation to several shell companies making substantial land purchases around our mountain in recent months.

Federal authorities are now involved in tracing these entities, and I'm confident that whoever was backing this scheme will eventually be brought to justice. What's important is that we stopped them before irreparable damage was done to our water supply and our community.

I want to thank Sheriff Davis and the county environmental team for taking our evidence seriously and acting swiftly once we presented them with conclusive data. Their ongoing investigation has been thorough.

Most of all, I want to thank Max Bock and his family.”

Laney paused, meeting Max's eyes in the front row.

“Without Max's support and belief in me, I might have given up when my findings were initially dismissed. Together, we discovered not only the source of the contamination but the truth behind it.

This recognition means more to me than I can express. Science is about pursuing truth, even when that truth is inconvenient or unwelcome. I promise to continue that pursuit with the same determination that brought us here today. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.”

The audience rose to their feet in applause as Laney stepped back from the podium, emotion welling in her eyes. A surge of gratitude almost overwhelmed her as she looked out at the crowd. She caught Max’s eye and knew that she had truly found her home.

Chapter

Forty-Three

Max parked outside his parents'house, cutting the engine. The evening air carried a hint of autumn crispness as he stepped out of the truck. As he and Laney walked up the porch steps, Max felt a flutter of anticipation in his chest. Tonight mattered. The weight of the small box in his pocket reminded him just how much.

The door swung open before he could knock. “Come in, come in,” his mother said, her face lighting up at the sight of them. Quinn wore a colorful apron over a simple blue dress, her hair tucked neatly behind her ears. “We've been looking forward to this all week.”

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