“Take care of Dad, yeah? I’ll see ya’ll soon. Try to let me know when you make it to his clan, okay?” Matty asked.
“I will. And check on Grady once in a while, so he won’t think you forgot him, please,” Maia asked.
“I will,” Matty promised.
Grady hugged him tight, “You are going to be a wonderful Alpha one day, Matty. I have no doubt. Call on me anytime you want advice. I’m just a phone call away.”
“Thank you, Grady. For everything,” Matty told him, getting choked up, “I’ll be calling you; I’ll need help.”
Grady smiled at him, “And call that one, too, for advice,” he indicated Maverik, “Best damn Alpha I’ve ever seen.”
Maverik just snorted, glad to not have to bear that mantle any longer, and turned away toward the woods already sniffing their surroundings, getting ready to leave, “Okay, then. We ready?” Maverik looked at Maia and Grady who both nodded their agreement.
They all hugged one more time, promised to stay in touch, and then Grady and Maverik turned their backs so Maia could shift. “Really?!” she asked. “We are wolves, people; why are you turning your backs?”
Maverik huffed, sighed exaggeratedly and dropped his head back on his shoulders staring straight at the sky. The first bit of mannerism that indicated that maybe his sense of humor was returning, “’Cause you’re my daughter, and I really don’t need to see your girly bits,” he complained loudly.
Maia just busted out laughing and as she threw her head back, her figure started to shimmer, and suddenly there was a deep brown Wolf with auburn undertones trotting off toward the woods. Jeans and shirt rolled up and in her mouth where Matty had placed them for her.
The others shifted, and he rolled their clothes and placed them in their mouths as well.
As they trotted off toward the trees, Matty closed and locked the door to Grady’s cabin behind himself. He pocketed the key and spent a minute pissing all around the perimeter of the cabin so that if anyone came near, they’d know that he had claimed it. After the mess that Maverik had made of Slade, he was more than a little sure that he’d have no one give him any issue over it.
<> <> <> <> <>
Maverik caught up to Maia and led the way through the trees, with Maia behind him and Grady bringing up the rear. The old man was quite a bit more spry as his Wolf and was clearly glorying in allowing the beast free. They made their way off McCullen Pack land and onto public property without any issues. Maverik kept a steady, but relaxed pace, frequently checking behind to make sure his little traveling party had no problems keeping up. Only about three hours later, Maverik sensed eyes watching them. He’d been aware when they crossed onto Highland Pack territory and was surprised that they hadn't been intercepted yet. Apparently, they’d been watched all along, this was how it should be. Their sentries were properly trained. They continued up the wooded hillside until they were only several hundred feet from the dining hall. Then suddenly Maverik shifted, careful to keep his back to Maia, and called out, “Hey! Ya’ll avert your eyes! My baby girl is going to shift, and if any of you even try to focus on her girly bits, I’m going to kick some serious Wolf ass!” He stood there for a minute, head cocked to the side, chin raised, eyes shooting the crazy vibe into the trees, until he heard snickering coming from different parts of the surrounding areas. Then a voice answered him, “Dude! We are all wolves; we see naked women all the time.”
“Yeah?! Well, you don’t see my daughter naked! And it ain’t happening today! Turn around!” he shouted. There was more snickering, then a few muffled sounds that were enough to convince him they’d turned around, so he said over his shoulder to Maia, “Okay, baby girl, shift and get your clothes on.”
“Already done, Daddy,” was the answer he got.
Mav whipped around just in time to see her zipping her jeans; she’d already slipped her shirt over her head.
Realizing that she’d shifted and changed while he negotiated her privacy, “Damn it, Maia, you got to work with Daddy, here. Ain’t a male alive going to see your bits until you’re married. You can’t be shifting and going naked in front of a bunch of males, darlin’. Understand?”
Maia straightened her clothes and walked past Grady, where he was finishing dressing, and past her daddy, looking straight ahead to where the sentries were emerging from the trees. “Daddy, chill, I run with the Highland Pack on most full moons. There’s not much of me they haven’t seen.”
Grady was bending over, one hand on Maverik's shoulder as he tried to hold himself up as he laughed harder than he had in years, “Oh, damn, Maverik! You should see yourself, mouth opening like a guppy fish, completely speechless, funny as hell!”
And he was, absolutely speechless, trying to follow Maia at the same time he was trying to keep Grady from falling over while he laughed himself silly, “Maia, baby?! Now that ain't funny, honey. Don’t be saying shit like that to Daddy!” He finally got Grady stable on his own feet and started after Maia. Maia approached the sentries as they entered the clearing, and they all hugged her, high fived her, welcomed her. It was apparent they all knew one another.
And didn't that just piss him off! These bastards had seen his baby’s girly bits!
“Your daddy’s funny, Maia. He knows naked ain't nothing to us, don’t he?” one of the males said to Maia right before he embraced her.
Maverik was just about to read the punk the riot act when the Highland Alpha approached from the other side of the trees.
“Welcome, Alpha Maverik,” the Highland Alpha greeted him.
“Alpha Keith, thank you. But I am not Alpha. I much prefer it this way. Hey, you know these males run with my baby girl on a full moon? I got issues with this! We need to talk, Keith!”
Keith smiled, chuckling to himself, “We all run together, Maverik. Trust me, she’s safer with us than that group running with your brother. And until the McCullen clan has an Alpha I respect, you will be addressed as Alpha.”
“Not staying, Keith. Not Alpha. And for the record, thank you for keeping her safe.”
“No problem. How you been, Mav? Been a long time, my friend. What? About ten years, huh?”
“Yup, about that. I’m alright, getting better by the day. Got my girl coming home with me, got a woman waiting to get claimed soon as I get back.” Not that Valerie knew that, but she would soon enough, he thought to himself.
“Good for you, my friend, good for you. That was some fucked up shit they put you through. Wanted to kick their asses myself. Would have offered to help you clean house, but by the time I learned of it, you were long gone. I’ve been taking in your elders, your families that wanted to make a clean break and start over.”
“Thank you for that. I appreciate you. There were some that were totally clueless, and they didn't deserve to live under Renegade’s rule. But at the time, I was shattered. I ain't embarrassed to admit it. I couldn't see beyond the pain. Thank you for looking after those that requested sanctuary.”
“You’re welcome. Now what’s going on here? Grady finally made the jump?”
“Yes sir, I did. Saw my responsibility to its end, and now I just want quiet. Thank you for taking me in, Alpha Keith.”
“You’re welcome, Grady. Got a little cabin right near the dining hall and the chapel. Got it fully stocked and your things already moved in. Got a rocker on the porch, TV inside, sheets, dishes, everything. If we missed something, just let me know what it is. And none of that Alpha stuff, Keith is fine. You spanked my butt more than a few times when I got into trouble as a kid.”
“You got it, Keith. I appreciate everything you doing for me.”
“Maverik?” Keith tried to get his attention, but he was intently staring at a group of males who were laughing and teasing with Maia.
“Maverik?!” Keith said again, but louder.
“What!” Maverik snapped.
Keith laughed at him, “Man, you have got to relax. She’s almost seventeen; she’s not a little baby anymore.”
&nb
sp; Maverik just glared at him, “To me she is! To me she’s the same little 6-year-old baby playing with her dolls in the living room every evening.”
“She’s a young woman, Mav. And she’s a gorgeous young woman. You better get a grip, or you’ll be fighting every male between here and home.”
“I’m gonna fight them then! Ain't a one of them gonna touch her til she finds her Mate. Then I’ll whip his ass just for good measure!”
Keith laughed, slapping him on the back, “You gonna stay for while, share a meal?”
“No, thank you, though. We gotta get gone. Want to be home soon.”
“All right. I understand, but if you change your mind, come on back. You’re always welcome here.”
“Thank you, Keith.”
Chapter 6
A couple hours later and Maverik and Maia had made pretty good time. They’d stuck to the trees and raw woodlands as they made their way south. The sun was rising, and Maia was beginning to slow. He made his way into a particularly dense part of the woods and found a slight overhang where the land made a natural shelter. He nosed Maia into the covered area and curled up at her back. There they slept most of the day away. When they woke, he hunted them a couple of rabbits and shifted back to put them on a spit and roast them over the small fire he’d made. It was cooler here up north, and when they traveled and rested, it would be in Wolf form. But he couldn't cook her a rabbit or build a fire as his Wolf, so human it was for the moment. He could have eaten the rabbit as his Wolf, but he didn’t think Maia had done much of that. Shifting and running as your Wolf on the full moon was one thing; existing as your Wolf, eating your prey, uncleaned and still fresh, as your Wolf was another. So he shifted, and built a fire so he could clean and cook her food for her.
Maia happily ate the rabbit from the stick he’d handed her, grinning her way through it.
“What are you so smiley about?” he asked her, himself grinning as he nudged her foot.
She shrugged, smiling even bigger, “Cause I’m here with you. This is so awesome. I dreamed of you coming for me so many times over the years. I can’t believe that it’s really happening.”
Maverik lowered his rabbit, “I’m sorry it took me so long, Maia.”
“Naw, everything happens for a reason. Time wasn't right before now,” she took another big bite of her rabbit, chewing noisily.
“Yes, it does, baby. Yes it does,” Maverik answered.
“Soon as we’re done eating and the sun starts setting, we should head out again. You good to go? Not too tired?”
“Nope, I’m good. Can’t wait to see where you live and meet your family, Daddy. Do you think they’ll like me? Will they be angry that you brought me without asking permission from Alpha Kaid?” she asked him.
He could sense her nervousness, “They are going to love you, Maia. No way will they be angry at all. Our clan isn't like you’re used to. We are family. We care about each other. It’s not about power, or who’s in charge, or who makes the rules. Yeah, Kaid is our Alpha, but we’re family first before all else. And they are going to love you just like I do. Don’t you worry about it at all, baby. Okay?”
“Yes, Sir.”
They continued on this way for several days, traveling in Wolf form at night, resting during the day, eating whatever he could catch and cook over an open flame for them. They were in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas, area, about six hours north of home by car, when Maverik decided that he needed to call for help. His Maia was fading fast. She was doing her best and carrying on valiantly, not one word of complaint, but she was exhausted. Her paws were sore, and one had even begun to bleed a bit. He could hang, but he was used to roughing it if necessary. She wasn't, and she was a sixteen-year-old girl. He found them a place to curl up and rest, then told her that he was calling his family. “Maia, I’m calling home, honey. They’ll come for us. We won’t have to make it all the way on foot.”
The relief on her face was evident, but still she tried to be strong, “Daddy, I’m fine, you don’t have to call for them. We can make it.”
“I know, but I’m calling for help. We’re both tired, honey. And we’re close enough now that they’ll be here soon.”
It was early morning, barely 6am when he reached out for Bam.
<> <> <> <> <>
Bam was seated at the breakfast table, picking at the food that Ms. Sadie had placed in front of him. He was up very early. He just wasn't sleeping well since Maverik had been gone. Ms. Sadie got up early every day and made coffee and breakfast before anyone else got up, and he knew she did, so he’d wandered over to visit with her while he waited for everyone else to start moving around.
It wasn't long before Goldy made his way downstairs, and Delilah joined them right after. Kaid was in the shower. He could hear him singing “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” from the breakfast table. He snickered, Kaid didn't really have a good singing voice, but he had so much fun singing in the mornings, it made everybody smile anyway. It was a new habit he’d picked up since he and Delilah had mated. Daniel came in next with Avaleigh in tow. Avaleigh went right to the coffee and immediately poured herself a huge cup, sighing happily as she sipped the first taste of the bitter brew into her mouth. “You make the best coffee, Ms. Sadie.”
“Thank you, sweetie. I’m glad you enjoy it. You want some eggs, sweetheart?” Sadie asked her.
“Yes, Ma’am. Please,” Avaleigh told her as she took her seat beside Daniel. “Why the hell are we up so early again?” Avaleigh asked Daniel, pouting.
It was Saturday morning, and it was early. And she was not happy about it.
Daniel lovingly kissed the top of her head where it rested against his shoulder, “I’m up because I felt antsy, love. You’re up because when I started getting dressed, you followed.”
Avaleigh grumbled something unintelligible under her breath.
Then the sound of Kaid’s singing got even louder, “Why the hell is he screeching like that this early?” Avaleigh complained.
“My Mate is happy. He is sharing his happiness with the world. We will allow him to think it pleases us, because you pretend these things when you love,” Delilah explained to Avaleigh as though she were the only one with this knowledge.
Avaleigh was just about to respond when Bam suddenly dropped his fork onto his plate with a clatter, sitting ramrod straight, staring directly ahead. Then he jumped to his feet so suddenly his thighs hit the table, making everything on it rattle and shake. He reached out for a split second to steady the table, then jumped over it. Literally, all the way over it, snatching his keys off the rack by the kitchen cabinets to the right, and running full speed through the house and toward the front door. Kaid was almost mowed down by Bam as he raced for the door, and he jumped back out of the way as Bam ran out of the house. A split second later the sound of his truck being fired up was heard, then the splatter of dirt and gravel flying from his tires as he raced away from their house and down their dirt road. The humans couldn't hear it, but to the shifters it was clear that he went north when he pulled out onto the highway, still squealing his tires as he went. The town and most all else in the area lay to the south.
“The fuck was that about?” Kaid asked no one in particular as he entered the kitchen.
“Don’t know, he looked straight ahead, jumped up and raced out of the house,” Avaleigh answered.
“And he went north when he got to the highway, you notice that?” Daniel asked Kaid, shooting him a meaningful look.
“Yeah, I did. Where the hell is he going?” Kaid wondered aloud.
<> <> <> <> <>
Bam sat and picked at the breakfast Ms. Sadie had given him. His appetite wasn't what it used to be, but he ate because his Bear made him. The clan were making their way in, seemed like it was going to be an early Saturday morning for all of them. Maybe he’d go babysit for Janie and Bane today, give them a little alone time. Just as that thought cleared his mind, he felt a nudge at his psyche. He paused for a minute… Nope. Nothing. Must have been h
is imagination. He went back to pushing his breakfast around his plate again, and suddenly there it was again. A definite prod against his psyche. He sat up straight, paying more attention. Then he got the message loud and clear. Maverik. It was Maverik, and he was calling for help. Bam focused a second more, then he got a bit of information. The truck. He needed Bam to bring the truck; he couldn't walk all the way home on his own. Bam was overjoyed; he jumped up from the table, grabbed his keys, fired up his truck and went north. That’s all he had at the time, north, but now as he drove, Maverik was sending him more information. Arkansas, that’s where he was headed; he was going to Arkansas, and he was going to bring Maverik home. He was so happy, he allowed his Bear to let out a roar and some chuff's for good measure as he drove along. Maverik was coming home!
Bam drove for the better part of five hours, just following the connection that Maverik provided. Finally, as he drove down a pretty two-lane country highway, he got the sense that this was where he was headed. He slowed, looking around, trying to focus through the trees. Then he saw it, there, up ahead in the distance, a Wolf standing just barely clear of the trees. And as he watched, another, smaller Wolf emerged from the trees to stand beside the first. Bam accelerated enough to get him nearer the Wolves, then pulled over to get as close as he could before killing the engine. He nearly ripped the door off its hinges in his rush to get outside the truck and to Maverik. He ran full speed, straight at the Wolves; the larger, Maverik, shifting as Bam approached. Bam did not slow. He did not hesitate. He swept Maverik into a huge bear hug, squeezing him half to death as he patted Maverik’s back, and Maverik chuckled and patted Bam the same way. Eventually, Bam put Maverik on his feet, using the back of one of his massive hands to swipe the tears from his eyes. Suddenly, with no warning, Bam went from grinning and swiping the happy tears from his eyes, to snarly and shoving Maverik back several feet with one shove. “Do not ever leave our family like that again!” Bam shouted, clearly angry. “We were worried! We didn't sleep! We didn’t eat! Avaleigh’s upset, Janie’s upset, and Daisy don’t even know you! It wasn’t fair!” Bam continued yelling at Maverik.
Maverik's Ashes Page 5
