Everett tapped his fingers on the table, his expression thoughtful. Then he sat up straighter. “What if she doesn’t have to waste her potential?”
I looked at him. “What do you mean?”
Everett’s eyes held the gleam they often got when he’d landed on a new idea. “I’ve been on the fence about it until now, but I’ve been thinking of expanding my work. I want to move from theory to experimentation. Instead of trying to understand why compatibility is so rare, I’d like to find a way to edit our genes.” He leaned forward. “I could use Charlotte’s help.”
My heart kicked against my ribs. “You’re serious.”
Everett nodded. “She’s smart as hell. If anyone can help me figure it out, it’s her.”
“Anything you need,” I said, “just name it. Money, equipment, extra space. I’ll build you a new lab.”
Everett grinned. “You might regret saying that. Henry was a dick, but seeing his setup last night got me thinking. We can get CRISPR equipment and run our own experiments.” He started ticking items off his fingers. “We’ll need better climate control and probably a second lab with its own power source. I’d like to get a new autoclave and a thermocycler?—”
A shuffling sound made all three of us turn.
Charlotte stood in the doorway. She wore one of my flannel shirts, the hem hitting her mid-thigh. Her hair was a red tangle around her shoulders, and her glasses sat slightly crooked on her nose. She looked adorable.
And well-loved.
My bear stirred, pleased at the beard rash that peeked above the shirt collar.
I fought the urge to scoop her up and carry her back to bed so I could put more on her skin.
“I heard you talking about a lab,” she said, pink touching her cheeks.
Rising, I went to her and took her hand. “Sit, honey. Everett will explain.”
Charlotte settled into the chair, and I brought her a mug of coffee and pulled a second chair next to her.
Everett launched into his explanation, sharing his vision for expanded genetic research and his quest for a deeper understanding of shifter-human compatibility.
“And I’d love to have your expertise,” he finished. “I think we’d make a great team.”
The sleep had cleared from Charlotte’s eyes, and she leaned on her elbows with an excited look on her face. “It’s an ambitious idea.”
Everett smiled. “It’s Alaska. Everything is bigger here.”
She frowned. “I thought that was Texas.”
Cal huffed. “We have twice the land mass. Texas is putting up rookie numbers.”
Touching Charlotte’s chin, I turned her gaze to mine. “This isn’t just a consolation prize, sweetheart. The work you do in Bear Cove will matter.”
Her brown eyes searched mine. “You really think so?”
“Absolutely.” I brushed my thumb over her jaw. “There’s no one else I trust more to help the clan.”
Tears glistened in her eyes, but she was smiling. “When can I start?”
Everett laughed. “Give me a month to get the equipment ordered. Maybe two.”
Joy and mischief sparkled in Charlotte’s eyes. “I guess I’ll have to find something to keep me busy until then.”
Epilogue
CHARLOTTE
Six Months Later
