Page 49 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Pilot
His eyes met mine, the vulnerability there visible only to me.“We fixed it.I couldn’t have done any of this without you crashing into my life.”
“Best emergency landing I ever made,” I laughed, leaning up to kiss him briefly.
Theo chose that moment to slap his hands on the counter, sending a small cloud of flour into the air.“Plane!”he exclaimed, his current favorite word.Like mother, like son.
Three hours later, I stood on the tarmac beside my aircraft, running through my pre-flight checks with the same meticulous attention to detail that had become second nature after thousands of flight hours.
“Captain Foster!”Marshall Boone called, striding across the airfield.The years had added silver to his temples but hadn’t diminished his imposing presence.“Still on for the elk migration tracking today?”
I nodded, checking off another item on my list.“Northern quadrant first, then circling back to document the riparian recovery areas.The satellite imaging showed promising regrowth along the eastern watershed.”
Marshall studied the sky, his expression thoughtful.“Hard to believe this was all dying five years ago.”
“Amazing what happens when people work together instead of poisoning each other’s land,” I observed, allowing myself a moment of pride in what we’d accomplished.
From the cockpit, Angel Spring revealed itself in a breathtaking panorama.The newly expanded medical center stood proudly at the eastern edge, solar panels glinting on its roof.To the north, the reclaimed mining area had been transformed into a conservation park, with walking trails winding through newly established forest.
I flew the carefully plotted route, documenting the recovery zones with specialized cameras.Below me, elk herds moved through meadows that had once been barren, their numbers steadily increasing each year.The once-contaminated creek now ran clear, catching sunlight as it wound through the valley.
When I landed two hours later, Tanner waited beside his truck with Theo secure in his car seat, his little legs kicking impatiently.My boys.The sight still made my heart flip in my chest.
“How’s our territory looking from up there?”Tanner asked as I approached, pulling me into a quick embrace that spoke of how much he’d missed me, even for those few hours.
“Healing beautifully,” I answered, dropping a kiss on Theo’s forehead before climbing into the passenger seat.“The northeast quadrant is showing even better recovery than projected.”
Tanner’s hand found mine across the console as he drove toward the medical center dedication.“Just like us.”
The Angel Spring Medical Center plaza was filled with townspeople when we arrived.What had begun as a small clinic under Sabrina’s care had expanded into a comprehensive medical facility serving communities across three counties.Today marked the opening of the new pediatric wing, a joint project between the Roberts and Song families.
I spotted Logan and Sabrina near the podium.Their four-year-old son Sawyer was trying his best to untie his father’s shoelaces while Logan pretended not to notice.Theo squirmed in Tanner’s arms, eager to join his friend.
“Looks like the whole town turned out,” I observed.
Tanner’s arm settled around my waist, his warmth anchoring me as we moved through the crowd.“They should.Everyone here contributed to making this happen.”
The afternoon sun warmed my shoulders as Logan stepped up to the microphone, his once gruff demeanor softened by years of Sabrina’s influence and fatherhood.Behind him, the glass and timber building stood as a monument to what cooperation could build.
“Five years ago, this town was dying,” Logan began, his deep voice carrying across the hushed crowd.“The water was poisoned, pack territories were fractured, and generations of mistrust divided us.”
My gaze drifted to the firehouse crew standing to one side, Caleb and his team of bachelor wolf shifters who had rescued us after our crash.They stood tall in their dress uniforms, drawing appreciative glances from several single women in the crowd.The town elders had been not-so-subtly trying to matchmake for the entire crew.It had become a running joke that had Caleb rolling his eyes whenever it was mentioned.
“Today,” Logan continued.“We celebrate not just a building, but a community that refused to surrender to the sins of the past.”
Beside me, Tanner stood a little straighter, pride evident in the set of his shoulders.His hand found mine, our fingers intertwining as naturally as breathing.
When Sabrina took the microphone, her passion for healing radiated from every word.“This pediatric wing means our children will grow up with care right here at home.No more three-hour drives for specialized treatment.”
I thought of my mother, now comfortably settled in the memory care wing, where she had good days and bad, but always received compassionate care.Another blessing that had come from our unexpected landing in Angel Spring.
After the ceremony, we gathered with Logan and Sabrina while Theo and Sawyer chased each other around a nearby oak tree, their laughter a testament to the future we’d secured for them.
“The conservation results look promising,” Logan remarked, his eyes tracking his son’s movements with the vigilance only a wolf father could maintain while appearing relaxed.
Tanner nodded.“Full recovery.Your timber management protocols are working.The regrowth rates exceed projections.”
I shared a knowing smile with Sabrina.Our mates could discuss data for hours.
“Remember when they couldn’t be in the same room without growling?”Sabrina murmured, sliding me a sidelong glance.
