Page 72 of Furry Equations
“Bombs disarmed.” Emily’s satisfied voice filled the lab. “Amazing what a good hacker can do with access to your systems. Oh, and Tomlinson? The SEC is very interested in some files I found.”
Tomlinson’s mask shattered. He fired wild shots as he bolted for the exit, but Marcus’s wolves had already sealed his escape routes. The pack surrounded him, led by Jax’s massive black form.
“It’s finished.” Marcus grabbed Tomlinson. “Your weapon failed. Your army’s cured. And you threatened my mate.”
Pack law demanded death for such betrayal. But as Marcus met Natalie’s gaze, he saw a better way.
“You have a choice.” Marcus forced Tomlinson to face the soldiers he’d betrayed. “Submit to pack justice and help rehabilitate your victims, or...”
He left the threat unspoken. Tomlinson’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Sir.” Jax approached, sporting fresh battle wounds. “The facility’s secure. Emily’s got medical teams incoming with injections for those needing them.”
Marcus pulled Natalie close as their victory sank in. Around them, pack members helped the recovering soldiers while Emily coordinated cleanup. Science and strength. Strategy and power. The perfect partnership.
Their bond hummed with shared triumph, love, and possibility. They’d faced betrayal, enhancement, and death - emerging stronger together. Now they could focus on the future.
A future where science and shifters created something extraordinary.
The lab buzzedwith controlled chaos as medical teams treated the former enhanced soldiers. Natalie moved between patients, monitoring their cellular recovery while her tablet collected vital data.
“Remarkable,” she said. “The enhancement’s completely neutralized, and without the organ damage I expected.”
Through their bond, she sensed Marcus coordinating with his pack, dealing with Tomlinson’s containment and facility security. His alpha presence steadied her even from across the room, their connection stronger than ever after the battle.
“Dr. Grant.” A young soldier approached, still shaky from the treatment. “We wanted to thank you. Tomlinson told us the enhancement would make us heroes, but you—you actually saved us.”
Natalie squeezed his shoulder. “You’re not the first person to be deceived by someone promising power. What matters is what you choose to do now.”
“The pack’s offering rehabilitation.” Marcus’s deep voice carried across the lab as he joined them. “A chance to use your training to protect instead of destroy.”
The soldier straightened. “You’d trust us? After everything?”
“My mate believes in second chances.” Marcus’s hand settled on Natalie’s lower back. “And she’s usually right.”
Their eyes met, sharing volumes through their bond. They’d both grown - Marcus learning to temper justice with mercy, Natalie discovering her inner warrior while keeping her scientific heart.
He couldn’t do anything but kiss her, earning whistles from the recovering soldiers and a dramatic groan from Jax and Emily.
FORTY-FOUR
The pre-dawn Manhattan skyline glittered through the floor-to-ceiling windows as Marcus surveyed the transformed research wing. Scientific equipment gleamed alongside carefully placed molecular puzzles - each one designed to represent a moment in their relationship.
“Everything’s set on the east side.” Jax appeared, grinning as he adjusted a holographic projector. “Though I still say you missed a golden opportunity for chemistry puns. ‘You’re the solution to my equation’ would’ve killed.”
Marcus shot his beta a look. “No puns.”
“Fine. But at least tell me you’re using ‘our bond is stronger than a covalent?—‘”
“Jax.”
“Right, right. Keeping it classy.” Jax tossed him a tablet displaying the security feeds. “Perimeter’s secure. Emily’s got the atmospheric controls programmed for the aurora effect you wanted, and Torres’s team is ready with the molecular light show.”
Marcus nodded, touching the small box in his pocket. Inside, a ring he’d designed himself - platinum and diamonds arrangedin the exact molecular structure of their original formula. The accident that brought them together.
“The pack’s in position.” Emily’s voice crackled through his earpiece. “Though Mom’s already crying, and Natalie hasn’t even arrived yet.”
A smile tugged at Marcus’s lips. His mother had barely contained her joy when he’d shared his plans. The entire pack had mobilized to help create this moment, each member contributing their talents to merge science and shifter magic into something uniquely them.