Ethan clenched his jaw, unwilling to give ground but unable to silence the echo of their words. At night, he lingered by the nursery, watching Bella curled around the cubs, their golden coats pressed against her dark fur. He knew what the others couldn’t see—that something extraordinary was happening, something worth protecting.
But he also knew the clock was ticking. Nature was patient, but not forgiving. The director summoned him not long after. His voice was clipped, businesslike. “It’s gone on too long. One accident, one headline, and this zoo collapses. They must be separated.” Ethan’s throat tightened. “Just a little longer,” he said. But the director shook his head.