Page 101 of Holly Jolly Heat
It was so practical. So reasonable. So different from my panic-driven assumption that pack would mean sacrificing everything.
"What about Cedar Falls?" I asked. "My mom's house. My family."
"We visit," Lucas said simply. "Regularly. We make this place part of our pack routine. Your family is pack too, Michelle. We don't have to choose between Seattle and Cedar Falls. We can have both."
"Split our time," Ro added. "Streaming works from anywhere. Production work can be remote. Your management is already mostly digital. We can spend holidays here, visit monthly, make this home base without it being our only home."
Through the bond, I felt their certainty. They'd thought this through. They wanted my family in their lives, wanted Cedar Falls as part of our story.
"Okay," I said, my throat tight with emotion. "Seattle for main residence. Cedar Falls for visits and holidays. That works. What about your families?”
“We visit when we’re ready. As often as we want,” Lucas said with a shrug as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Professional boundaries next," Dex prompted. "What do we need to establish?"
I pulled up the document I'd been drafting. "I've been working on formal protocols. Things we discussed on stream but now need to implement officially."
I shared my screen, and they read through my outline.
Rodriguez Influence Management - Pack Bond Protocols
1. Client Relationships
Michelle will maintain primary manager role for all current clients
Lucas will have option to seek outside counsel on any major decision
All business discussions will be documented
Regular check-ins to ensure no conflicts of interest
Clear separation between pack and professional communications
2. Financial Management
Separate business and personal accounts
