"Big Timber," Luna's voice crackled over the CB with barely contained amusement, "congratulations on completing the mate bond.Your scent signature just shifted from 'desperate and territorial' to 'smug and satisfied.'The entire convoy is very happy for you both."
Ali buried her face in her hands."Kill me now."
Tim's laugh rumbled through his chest as he pulled her closer against his side.They were dressed now—barely—and sitting in the driver's area while the convoy regrouped at the rest stop.Through the windshield, Ali could see other truckers giving their rig respectful distance, though several were grinning and giving Tim thumbs up.
"It's normal," Tim said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head."Supernatural communities celebrate successful matings.It's good news."
"Good news?"Ali's voice came out as a squeak."They can smell that we had sex.Multiple times.With supernatural stamina."
"Legendary stamina," Bertha's voice chimed in over the radio."Honey, that boy's been wound tighter than a spring for twenty years.Nobody's surprised he made up for lost time."
"Oh my god."Ali slid lower in the seat, wishing she could disappear entirely.
"Big Timber," came Snowman's deep voice, "we need to move.State patrol units are converging on our position, and someone called in federal backup."
Tim reached for the radio, his voice steady despite their circumstances."Copy that, Snowman.Form up, everyone.We've got medical supplies to deliver."
As they sped along the highway, Ali tried to focus on anything other than the knowing looks from the other convoy members.Her phone had been buzzing nonstop, and when she finally checked it, her Instagram account was exploding with activity.
"What the hell?"she muttered, scrolling through notifications.
"Problem?"Tim asked, navigating through increasingly heavy traffic.
"My convoy photos are going viral."Ali stared at her phone in disbelief."This picture of Luna's pack has been shared fifteen thousand times in two hours."
The image showed Luna's trucks maintaining perfect formation, but Ali's magical photography had captured something more—the pack bonds, the family loyalty, the way they moved as one unit despite being in separate vehicles.
The CB crackled with urgent chatter: "Big Timber, this is Luna.We've got news crews setting up at truck stops ahead.Someone leaked our route to the media."
"Shit," Tim muttered."How much media are we talking about?"
"CNN, Fox News, local affiliates.They're calling us the 'Freedom Convoy' and asking about supernatural civil rights."Luna's voice carried a note of disbelief."This medical run just became a national news story."
Ali scrolled through the comments on her posts, her anger building as she read the mixture of support and outrage:
"Finally someone documenting real discrimination against supernatural communities."
"My werewolf brother died because he couldn't get proper medication.Thank you for showing people this is real."
"Government corruption at its finest.These supplies belong to the communities that need them."
"Fake news.Monsters don't deserve special treatment."
But it was the call from her editor that made really pissed her off.
"Ali, what the hell have you stumbled into?"Scott Lotus's voice carried excitement and dollar signs."I've got news outlets calling about your supernatural trucker photos.This could be career-making.But I need interviews, documentation, evidence of systematic discrimination."
"It's not about my career, Marcus."
"Medical discrimination, government corruption, civil rights violations—this is Pulitzer territory.But social media posts aren't enough.I need the real story."
Ali looked at Tim, whose jaw had tightened at the words "interviews" and "evidence."These communities had spent decades staying hidden for their own protection.Her photos had just blown that apart.
"I'll call you back," she said, ending the call.
"Second thoughts?"Tim asked.
"About the mate bond?Never."Ali reached over to touch his thigh, feeling the solid reassurance of him."About accidentally turning your medical run into a media circus?Maybe a few."
