Page 12 of Furever Bound
His jaw tightened as he clearly struggled between protective instincts and growing trust, and she found herself holding her breath while waiting for his response.
"There have been some unusual incidents recently," he admitted finally. "Electronics malfunctioning in specific patterns, residents reporting vivid nightmares, temperature fluctuations that don't match weather forecasts."
"Incidents that began around the time I arrived to research Grimjaw folklore," she said, the pieces clicking together with uncomfortable clarity.
"The timing is... notable," he agreed reluctantly.
"Notable enough that you've been monitoring my research activities to see if I'm somehow connected to whatever's happening?"
His inability to immediately deny her accusation was answer enough, and she felt a familiar blend of hurt and anger at discovering she'd been observed rather than trusted.
"It's not what you think," he said, reaching across the table as if to touch her hand before stopping himself. "The connection isn't malicious or intentional on your part. But your presence, your research focus, your documentation of specific legends—it all correlates with escalating supernatural activity."
"Supernatural activity." She repeated the phrase like it tasted strange. "You're actually telling me that researching folklore is somehow causing supernatural events?"
"I'm telling you that some places have concentrations of energy that respond to belief and attention in ways that conventional science doesn't fully explain," he said, his academic training providing careful language for impossible concepts.
"Energy that responds to belief," she said slowly, testing the idea against her growing intuitive understanding of Hollow Oak's peculiarities. "Are you talking about actual supernatural forces, or some kind of psychological mass hysteria effect?"
"I'm talking about forces that exist whether or not modern terminology can adequately describe them," he replied, his tone carrying the weight of someone who'd witnessed things that challenged rational explanation.
Her phone vibrated with a notification. The screen showed a comment on her latest Instagram post from someone claiming to be planning a trip to Hollow Oak specifically to investigate the "Grimjaw legend" she'd mentioned in her content earlier before Maddox had come back.
"Oh no," she breathed, realizing the implications. "My social media posts. People are seeing my content and making plans to come here."
"How many people?" Maddox asked, his voice sharp with sudden alarm.
She scrolled through comments and shares, her stomach sinking as she saw the engagement numbers climbing. "Hundreds of comments. Dozens of shares. Multiple people discussing travel plans to research the legend themselves."
“What did you post?”
“Just what you said I could! I promise,” she defended. “I told you people were dying for content like this, it didn’t take much but mentioning one legend no one has heard of. I thought it was okay, I followed your protocols. Plus I literally just did it, Maddox. I just wanted to see what legend would interest them.”
The expression that crossed Maddox's face was pure panic, and she realized that whatever supernatural forces he believed were at work, the thought of crowds of amateur investigators descending on Hollow Oak terrified him.
"This changes everything," he muttered, already reaching for his phone. "I have to warn the Council."
"The Council?"
"Local governance," he said absently, typing what looked like urgent messages. "They need to know that external attention is about to escalate significantly."
As she watched him coordinate emergency responses to what should have been routine social media engagement, Sera realized that her carefully planned comeback story had become something far more complex and potentially dangerous than damaged career prospects.
Whatever was happening in Hollow Oak, whatever supernatural forces Maddox believed were at work, her documentation efforts had apparently triggered something that threatened the entire community's carefully maintained secrets.
And now outsiders were coming to investigate the very legends that might be manifesting into reality.
10
MADDOX
The call from Elena Vasquez came at the worst possible moment, just as Maddox was trying to process the implications of dozens of paranormal investigators planning trips to Hollow Oak based on Sera's social media content.
"Darling, I got your message about the manifestation," Elena's voice carried through his phone with the kind of professional excitement that made his wolf bristle with immediate dislike. "How absolutely fascinating. I'm driving up from Atlanta as we speak."
"I didn't invite you," Maddox said, watching Sera through his study window as she walked back toward the inn, her expression troubled by their conversation about supernatural forces. "I contacted you for theoretical advice, not hands-on intervention."
"You know how I feel about active manifestations," Elena replied with the presumptuous confidence that had once attracted him but now felt invasive. "This could be the opportunity we've been waiting for—documented folklore becoming substantial enough to study in real time."
