Maverik looked at Matty, really seeing him. He was a big male. Strong, looked to be about 23 rather than his sixteen, almost seventeen years. Maverik knew Matty was Alpha; he could feel it pouring off him in waves. He just didn’t know if Matty could do it alone. Renegade had a group of worthless, dishonorable males that ran rampant under his hand and his brand of ruling the pack. They were unscrupulous and he didn't want Matty to face them alone.
“When are you planning to challenge, Matty?”
“Not now. It’s not time yet. But soon.”
“One condition. When it’s time, you call for me. You don’t need to fight them alone. I’ll stand behind you, beside you, wherever you want me. I’ll help you reclaim your pack. But I want no part of being Alpha ever again. I’ve found a home away from here, and I belong there. But if you want this pack, I’ll help you retake it.”
Matty smiled big; he reached out his hand to shake Maverik’s, “Deal! And we won’t be fighting alone. I have friends that support me. They’re gonna stand with me when the time comes. Until then, we just mind our own, keep our heads down and watch. Waiting for the right time to present itself.”
Maverik inclined his head, “And now me, you have my support, too. Can you let me know before you start the challenge, son?”
Matty grinned, a direct response to Maverik calling him son, “Yeah, Dad, I can do that. And Maia and I have a connection,” he pointed at his head, “so I can reach out to her if something happens unexpectedly.”
“Good, then Maia and I leave tonight. What about Grady?” Maverik turned to look at Grady, “You want to shift to leave with us tonight, or do you want to drive out? How are we going to do this?” Maverik had no issue with blasting the whole fucking pack apart now, except that he’d have to stay to help get it under control, because even Matty knew he wasn’t quite ready yet, and couldn't leave it in disarray. And he sure as hell didn’t want to have a run in with Malina. He didn't want her beaten, but had no use for her either. Better he just slip out with the darkness the same way he’d slipped in, only this time with Maia in tow. His heart gave a little surge; Maia was coming home with him. His baby girl was going to come home with him.
Grady brought him back to his senses, “I got this. I’ll shift and make my way down the mountain with ya'll. I’m old, but I ain't dead yet,” he grinned at Maverik.
Maverik grinned back, “What about all your stuff, Grady?” he asked looking around the small cabin.
Maia piped up then, “Matty and I are going to the store; the sentries are used to us coming and going for Grady in Grady's car. We’ll take whatever he wants to Highland today; then, tonight he won’t have to worry about anything but himself.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Matty said.
“Let’s pack the car,” Maverik answered, standing to start packing.
“I really ain’t got much, just some photos and a few keepsakes and clothes.”
It only took about half an hour to get everything that Grady wanted into the trunk of his car, and then they piled some blankets on top of it, just in case. A little over an hour later, and the kids were gone to the store and to make a quick side trip to drop off Grady’s things. Grady had spoken to the Alpha of Highland who had happily agreed to accept him as part of his pack. His dad and Grady had been friends when he was a kid, and he had lots of good memories of Grady and his dad when times were different, and the packs were friends.
“What do you figure will happen to this place?” Maverik asked, looking around the cabin.
“I figure that Matty will keep it up. He’ll likely come here from time-to-time to get away, or maybe he’ll move his mom up here to better protect her. Who knows? It’s been a good little cabin, but I’m past ready to move on.”
Maverik looked around, the walls mostly bare now that Grady had taken down all of his personal keepsakes. He had fond memories of being in this cabin with Grady while he patiently taught him all he needed to know of being not only an Alpha, but a good, honorable male.
“He’s not much older than you were when I started guiding you. He’ll be fine, you know,” Grady said.
Maverik looked at the old man, “You’re right. I hadn't realized that he’s actually a little older than I was.” Maverik smiled, “He’ll do fine.”
Then Maverik added, “But I will be back to help him. He will not fight alone.”
Grady smiled, eyes closed, head leaning back on the couch, resting a bit before they’d have to shift later that night, “I’m sure he won’t. It will all be just fine.”
A couple of hours later and the sound of Grady's car coming up the hill alerted them that the kids were back. Maverik stood near the window and watched as they parked the car and started getting out bags of groceries and other supplies. They walked into the cabin, and he couldn't resist asking, “Why did you buy so much food? Grady isn't really going to be here.”
“’Cause I’m going to be here. Maybe not every day, but sometimes.” Matty looked around the old cabin smiling, “I like it here. It’s always felt like home.”
“Glad you’re gonna keep the old place up, Matty,” Grady told him.
“What about you, Maia? There’s not much we can carry, baby. But if there is something that you really want to have, we can try to take it with us,” Maverik said.
She wrapped her hand around her Purple Heart pendant, “I have what means the most to me. I’m good. But I’d like to go spend a little time with Mom before tonight. I’ll see ya’ll later, okay?”
“That’s fine, baby. But don’t slip up and give me away. I don’t want to ruin things for Matty, and if they find out I’m here, I’ll end up ripping this place apart. He’s not quite ready yet, and I sure as hell don’t want it,” Maverik told her.
“I know, Daddy. Don’t worry.”
“Maia, if there’s anything you want sent to you, put it in my room, under my bed or in the closet; I’ll find a way to get it to you as soon as I can.”
“Thanks, Matty,” she hugged him, then Maverik, “I’m so glad you came for us,” she whispered to him as she hugged him tight. “I’ll see you tonight,” then she kissed Grady on the cheek, “I’ll see you later tonight, too, Grady.”
“You coming, Matty?” she called over her shoulder as she paused in the doorway.
“Naw, I’m going to visit with Dad a while before ya’ll go.”
“Okay, laters!” and she was gone through the door.
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Maia spent the rest of the day with her mother. Trying to spend a little quality time with her, engage her in conversation, which inevitably her mother steered to herself. She loved talking about nothing more than herself. Her clothes, her jewelry, her looks, her opinions, others’ opinions of her, what she used to look like, what she used to do, how everybody used to want to be her. Her, that was her favorite subject. Always had been, would never change. So Maia gave up and just let her ramble on about whatever she wanted. That would be all Malina would remember anyway, and if nothing else, it just reinforced the decision that Maia had already made. There was nothing for her here. Nothing but her brother, and he wanted her to go, too, so he wouldn't have to worry about her when he decided to make his stand. And it wasn't like she’d be leaving forever; she’d be able to come back to visit once he had the pack under his control.
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Matty spent the rest of the day with Maverik. They talked and laughed, and yes, even cried a little. They talked about everything from battles that’d been fought, battles that had yet to be fought and women; girls in Matty’s case, and everything in between. They shared a beer, like fathers and sons will do, and they bonded. “This is what it would have been like if you’d been able to stay,” Matty said.
Maverik’s eyes dropped immediately to the beer in his hands, “Yeah, maybe.”
Matty realized what he’d said and how it sounded. He rushed to clarify “I didn’t mean it like that, Dad. I meant if they’d not done what they had, if they hadn’t ripped you apa
rt like they had, if we’d been a normal family and you’d been able to stay. That’s what I meant.”
Maverik wrapped a hand around Matty's neck, pulling him forward til their foreheads touched, much like Kaid had a habit of doing, “I know, Matty. It’s okay. And yeah, it would have been like this. But you know what? Everything happens for a reason, and one day we might be able to figure out what that reason is. But just knowing that I still have you and your sister, it’s okay. It makes it okay; none of the rest matters. You were the best parts of it anyway.”
<> <> <> <> <>
Maia waited until Malina drank herself into a stupor then slipped out of the front door on her way to Grady’s. She was excited about her new life with her dad and wasn't paying attention to her surroundings. She didn't get more than twenty feet from her own front porch before she was grabbed from behind, a dirty red work rag stuffed in her mouth, her eyes covered and taken against her will into a house down the way.
She was tied to a chair, and the rags removed from her eyes and mouth, while the male in front of her lectured her about how he was tired of waiting. She’d been promised to him, and it was time. He spent so much time telling her her place and what she was going to learn to do and how she’d behave or be punished, that she had plenty of time to reach for Matty before Slade even touched her again. They were twins and they’d long ago discovered they had a special connection. She closed her eyes and concentrated on Matty. She pushed her emotions toward the image in her mind of him, just like they’d done since they were kids. She had no doubt, he’d feel her distress.
<> <> <> <> <>
Matty jumped to his feet, panic apparent on his face, then suddenly a calm fell down around him and anger suffused his features. Maverik stood, recognizing that something was wrong. “What?” he asked Matty.
“Maia’s in trouble; I can feel her fear, and she’s sending me pictures of Slade,” he snarled and headed for the door, with Maverik on his heels.
“Wait, Dad, if they see you…” Matty started.
“I got this, no one will see me. Just stay here. I’ve got this,” Maverik responded.
“I’m coming too; we’ll do this together,” Matty said, leaving no place for discussion.
Together they slipped down the hill, made their way behind the row of houses and came up into the yard that was Slade's. Matty waited outside while Maverik slipped into the house without a single sound. None knew he was there; there was a reason his nickname in the military was Ghost. He made his way through the house until he was standing directly behind Slade, where he stood lecturing Maia on how she was going to behave, and how she was going to fuck him every day and make him believe she liked it, that she was his fucking property now that her daddy had given her to him, and he could do whatever he damn well pleased to her. Maverik snorted in disbelief, the sound startling Slade who turned quickly to see who was standing behind him.
Maverik snorted again, “No, I didn’t. I would never give my daughter to you or any other motherfucker in this godforsaken pack.”
“What the fuck are you doing here?!” Slade shouted. “Get the hell out of my house! You ain’t her daddy anyway.”
Maverik smiled evilly, “Yes, I am her daddy; her father is the male you referenced. And he will get his, but first… first you gonna get yours.” Maverik turned his head slightly, in that confused puppy dog way that he had, and pounced. He held Slade in his hands, his fingers digging into his windpipe to keep him from making a sound. Then he said, “Matty, come get her,” knowing full well that Matty could hear him speaking in a normal tone of voice and was probably watching through the window as well.
The door opened, and Matty came in immediately. He cut the ropes his sister was tied with and hurried her out of the door, pausing to look back at Maverik. Maverik motioned toward the door with his chin, “Take her out of here; you go, too. Neither of you needs to see this.”
Matty hurried Maia outside and started her toward Grady’s house. He didn't even pause when he heard Maverik say, “We’re gonna have some fun. Let me show you what happens to motherfuckers that try to kidnap and rape my daughter.” Matty heard Slade whimper then nothing. He noticed the lights had gone out in Slade’s kitchen the last time he looked back, but he kept a steady pace to get Maia up to Grady's.
Chapter 5
It was a couple of hours before Maverik arrived back at Grady’s cabin. Darkness had fallen, and it was pitch black outside as he opened the front door and slipped inside. Maia, Matty, and Grady were all sitting in the living room, and their mouths dropped in a collective state of shock as they took in his appearance. His clothes were covered in blood, his eyes were the bright blue of his Wolf, and there was an eerie calm about him. “Maverik, you okay?” Grady ventured.
Maverik looked from one to the other of them before answering, “Yeah, I’m good. Asshole will never fuck with my daughter again, or anyone else’s.”
Maverik made his way over to Maia, kneeling in front of her, “You okay, baby girl? He hurt you?”
“No, Daddy. I’m okay. He just scared me, but I knew that Matty’d feel me and come get me. I’m sorry you had to get involved in more crap around here.”
“I’m not, bastard deserved it.”
“What did you do?” Matty asked.
Maverik pinned him with a dominant look, “You don’t need to know.”
“Well, yeah, I kinda do. If I’m going to take responsibility for defending my sister. I kinda need to know what I did,” Matty told him with a nervous chuckle.
Maverik rubbed the fingertips of his right hand along his chin and jawline, “Hmpf, didn't think about that. Well, they’ll sure as hell leave you alone after this.”
Matty smiled a half smile, “Annnnnd?”
Maverik’s eyes narrowed, “I neutered him. I stabbed a knife through his shoulder to pin him to the wall; then, I sliced open his sac, pulled his testicles out, wrapped them around his neck, and then used my bloody hands to slowly suffocate him while he cried like a pussy. Then just for good measure I cut his throat, so he could bleed out all over the place. Fucker! No fucking body fucks with my daughter.”
Maverik stood, then very calmly walked into the bathroom and started cleaning himself up.
Matty looked around the room at the other two, “Well, okay then.”
Maia just nervously giggled.
Grady realized there was a lot that none of them would ever know, “Ya’ll know that he was trained for some special stuff in the military, don’t cha? I think some of that just surfaced, but you don’t ever have to worry about that being turned on you, you know that, right?”
“Absolutely! I feel safer than I ever have; my Daddy’s got this!” Maia said, grinning.
Matty just smiled, shaking his head, “Damn, Lord help the people that mess with him.”
Maverik walked out of the bathroom, a pair of Grady’s pants on, running a towel through his mohawk, “Or mine! No fucking body messes with mine,” he told them, humorless smile in place, his Wolf still peering through his eyes.
“This going to be a problem, Matty? I’ll go dispose of it if need be,” Maverik told Matty, realizing that Slade’s death and the condition he’d be found in may cause trouble for Matty.
“Naw, I think this just might gain me a little more rep. Leave it be. No problem,” Matty told him. “I’m going to head back down to the village, stop by Slade's, make myself a little bloody, and then go to Mom’s and fall asleep in my room. Let her find me in the morning. I’m gonna tell them that I found Slade trying to rape Maia and killed him, and that I sent her and Grady to Highland Pack.”
“You’re sure they’ll give you no trouble?” Maverik asked again.
“They’ll probably celebrate him thinking that he’s more brutal than even they are,” Maia said.
“Let’s do this then,” Maverik said. He was still hyped from doling out his own justice on the motherfucker that had tried to snatch and rape his daughter, and there was no way he could rest at all before
they left. Plus his level of hyper activity was a good thing for them; he was extremely alert and no one would get the drop on them while they traveled. They said their goodbyes; he and Matty taking a few private minutes alone.
“I don’t want to leave you here, Matty. Please think about coming with us,” Maverik told him.
“Dad, I’m fine. Even better now that everybody will think I’m a little blood thirsty,” Matty chuckled. “Can’t believe that fucker thought he’d grab Maia. One thing’s for sure; everybody’s gonna give me a wider circle now.”
“That they will,” Maverik hugged him tight. “I love you, Matty. Always have. I’m truly sorry I wasn’t here for you.”
“I love you, too, Dad. And you don’t need to apologize. I’m not a little kid anymore, I understand better, now. I’m glad you left, glad you found a way to keep your sanity and come back to us just like this.”
Maverik pressed his forehead to Matty’s again, “You call me the minute you decide when you’re doing this, you hear? I’m coming, and I’m bringing hell with me.”
“Yes, Sir. I will.”
“And if you can’t call, you reach out for Maia; I’ll be here just as quick as I can. I got friends can get me here quick!” Maverik smiled, thinking of Daniel and Delilah.
“I will, Dad. Promise. But it’s going to be okay for a while. It just don’t feel right yet. Ya know?” Matty asked.
“Yeah, I know what you mean.”
Maia stepped up to hug her brother, “I’ll miss you, butthead,” she fake punched him in the arm.
“I’ll miss you, too, pain in my ass!” he shot back at her, then more quietly, “I’m really glad Slade didn’t hurt you tonight.”
“Me, too. I was scared. But I knew you’d come. So I didn’t panic.”
Maverik's Ashes Page 4
