"No," Tim agreed, his voice dropping to that possessive rumble that had her nipples hardening."They're not."
The CB interrupted their moment: "Big Timber, this is Snowman.We've got law enforcement mobilizing across three states.Someone's coordinating a massive response to stop this convoy."
"Cottonmouth?"Tim asked.
"Bigger than Cottonmouth.This looks federal."
The truck accelerated as Tim's foot pressed harder on the accelerator.Around them, the convoy tightened formation, supernatural truckers and civilian supporters alike preparing for whatever came next.
"Any second thoughts now?"Tim asked.
Ali looked at the growing procession in her mirrors, thought about the werewolf children who needed insulin, about her Cottonmouth's corruption, about spending her whole life avoiding conflict.
"About standing up to Cottonmouth?No."She squeezed his hand."About accidentally turning your medical run into a national incident?Maybe a few."
Tim's laugh was rough around the edges."Too late for second thoughts now."
"Good," Ali said, surprising herself with how much she meant it."I'm tired of playing it safe."
The CB crackled with Luna's voice, but this time it carried real urgency: "Big Timber, we've got visual on roadblocks ahead.Fairweather County Sheriff units are setting up a checkpoint at the state line.Looks like they're coordinating with federal agencies."
Tim's knuckles went white on the steering wheel."Copy that, Luna.How many units are we talking about?"
"At least twenty patrol cars, plus what looks like federal vehicles.And Big Timber?I'm seeing someone with a bullhorn who's built like a grizzly bear and looks madder than hell."
Ali and Tim exchanged glances.Through their mate bond, she could feel his tension creep upwards.
"That would be Sheriff Grizzley T.Lawman," Tim said grimly."Grizz is a good sheriff when he's thinking for himself, but if Cottonmouth convinced him we're criminals..."
"He'll throw everything he's got at stopping us," Ali finished.
The radio erupted with chatter as convoy members spotted the roadblock.Behind them, Rolling Thunder for Medical Freedom stretched for miles—hundreds of vehicles that had joined their cause.Ahead of them, law enforcement was preparing for what looked like the confrontation of the decade.
"Big Timber," Luna's voice cut through the chaos, "whatever we're gonna do, we better decide fast.That roadblock's got enough firepower to stop an army."
Tim reached for Ali's hand, lacing their fingers together."You still with me?"
Before Ali could answer, a booming voice echoed across the CB frequency—loud, authoritative, and absolutely furious:
"This is Sheriff Grizzley T.Lawman, and I got myself a convoy of scum-suckin' degenerates haulin' illegal contraband through my jurisdiction.Now you listen up, Big Timber, you hairy sumbitch—you and your gang of criminal associates got exactly five minutes to pull them rigs over and surrender yourselves for arrest.And if you think you can outrun the Fairweather County Sheriff's Department, you got another think comin', because I am gonna pursue your sorry asses from here to the Pacific Ocean if I have to.There is no way, and I mean NO WAY, you're gonna make Sheriff Grizzley T.Lawman look like some bush-league amateur in front of his fellow law enforcement officers.So what's it gonna be, boy—you gonna do this the easy way, or am I gonna have to get creative with my roadblock procedures?"
As they approached Grizz's roadblock, Ali pressed her palms together and whispered a scattering hex - nothing harmful, just enough magical interference to make coordination impossible.Radio signals would cross, deputies would suddenly needed bathroom breaks, and their engines would mysteriously stall.Tim glanced at her, sensing the spell, and she smiled innocently.
