The director demanded contingency plans. Reinforced enclosures. Emergency protocols. Zachary’s pulse roared in his ears, and Daisy’s image flashed in his mind—her trust, her unshakable care. He swore quietly to himself he’d fight until the very last for her sake.
Daisy was oblivious to all the noise. She herded the cubs with practiced patience, curling them close when night settled. Zachary sometimes lingered past the end of his shift, crouching just beyond the barrier, watching the miraculous family. He felt both guardian and prisoner—entrusted with a miracle, chained to its looming fragility.