Maverik's Ashes

by Sandra R Neeley

  Maverik, realizing how much he’d hurt the big man, felt like crap and allowed Bam to speak his piece. When finally Bam seemed to exhaust his accusations, Maverik tried to make what little amends he could. “I’m sorry, Bam. I really am. I just had to make peace with my past. I had to man up and face all that I’d run from for so long. It was something I had to face alone. Please try to understand.”

  Bam looked at Mav accusatorily, “Wasn’t fair, Maverik.”

  “I know, Bam. I do. I’m truly sorry.”

  Bam said nothing, still glaring at Maverik with a pained look in his eyes.

  “Look, I know we torque each other. I know we give each other hell, but you’re my best friend. I wouldn't have survived these last few years without you and your concern for me and my Wolf. I need you, especially you, to understand,” Mav told him.

  Bam looked at Maverik again as though gauging his sincerity.

  “Truth, Bam. Read me. Go ahead, try to feel my Wolf.”

  Bam allowed his Bear to reach out and feel for Maverik. Instead of a wall of blackness, he found… a goofy Wolf, with a Mohawk, smiling back at him. With his tongue hanging out, sideways. The Wolf yipped at him, just once. Bam came back to himself and found Mav standing there grinning at him with the same goofy grin, well except for the tongue hanging out of his mouth.

  “Thank you, Bam. For always being there for me. For never letting me quit,” Maverik had tears in his eyes as he thanked Bam.

  Bam lunged forward and wrapped Maverik up into another bear hug, but just before he let him go, he said very quietly, “Don’t do it again.”

  “I won’t. If I need to go again, you will know where I’m going. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Bam answered.

  Then Bam’s eyes drifted to the little female that had shifted and dressed while he and Maverik were busy making nice. She walked quietly forward to stand just behind Maverik.

  Bam inhaled and scented Maverik on her. He waited but a second before he commented, “Hi, Miss.” Then immediately to Maverik, “Ain’t she kinda young, and you do know that Valerie is gonna be mad as hell, right?”

  Maverik snorted, “’Course she’s young, she’s my daughter. Maia, this is Bam, Bramley, but Bam for short. Bam, this is Maia, my daughter.”

  Bam, his mouth hanging open, and his eyes wide with shock as they stared at Maia, “You got a daughter?” Then to Maverik, “Why didn’t you ever tell us you had a daughter?”

  Mav kind of looked down at his feet, then back up at Bam as he added sheepishly, “I got a son, too. His name is Matty.”

  Bam, his mouth gasping like a fish, “Two?! Two kids? And you never told us??”

  “I didn’t think they wanted me, Bam. It’s a long story. I’ll tell you all of it, but it wasn’t cause I didn't want you to know. I just didn’t think I was enough, and it hurt so fucking bad. I tried to bury it. You understand?”

  “Well, No! Not yet, but you got hours to explain,” Bam told him as he indicated the truck behind him.

  He stepped toward Maia. Reaching out to take her small hand in his huge one, “Hello, Maia. Welcome to our clan. I’m your dad’s best friend, and now I’ll be your Uncle Bam,” he grinned huge at her as she smiled at him and made no move to take her hand back as he pumped it up and down in a gentle shake.

  “Hi, Uncle Bam,” she answered, immediately loving this big bear of a man.

  “I’m a Bear,” he further explained, very enthusiastically, “I’m a healer Bear.”

  She nodded her understanding, “Cool! I’m a Wolf.”

  “I saw; you got a pretty Wolf,” he agreed. Then he noticed the smell of blood in the air. He inhaled deeply again, and there under all the other scents, he smelled her blood. Just a little, but enough for him to know she was bleeding.

  “Are you bleeding? Did somebody hurt you?” he immediately started scanning the area.

  “I’m bleeding a little,” she answered, and before she could elaborate, Bam's low growl cut her off.

  “Nobody hurt me!” she rushed to explain. “We’ve been walking a long way, and my paws got raw, and now they’re bleeding a bit. It’s why Daddy called for you; I just can’t walk anymore. I’m too tired, and my feet hurt.” She stopped explaining when she realized that Bam was grinning like a loon.

  “What are you smiling like that for?” she asked him.

  Mav already knew, “’Cause you called me Daddy. He ain’t never thought of me as anything other than Mav or a pain in the ass. And you called me Daddy.”

  Maia pulled her hand from Bam’s where he still held it and took a step toward Maverik. She leaned her head against his shoulder, “You’ll always be Daddy, Daddy.”

  They shared a special smile, and he hugged her, kissing her on the forehead.

  Bam couldn't take it. He stepped to them and wrapped them both in a bear hug, smashing them together, “I just love this!” he said loudly, hugging them both tightly. Then he remembered Maia’s feet and bent low, sweeping her up in his arms, as he looked over Maverik’s shoulder toward the wooded area behind them, “Where’s Matty? Does he need help, too?”

  “No, Matty didn't come. He’s got things to take care of at home,” Maverik answered.

  Bam detected a bit of worry in Maverik’s voice, “Does he call you Daddy, too?” he asked.

  Maverik knew what he meant. Bam was asking in his own way if Matty had accepted him as well.

  “No, he doesn't call me Daddy,” Maverik answered, which produced a low growl from Bam. But Maverik smiled, “He calls me Dad.”

  Bam shook his head, a smirk on his face as he walked past Maverik, Maia in his arms, and used one elbow to knock Maverik off balance as he went.

  As Maverik followed them to the truck, he heard Bam tell Maia, “Daddy’s an ass sometimes, Maia. Just so you know.”

  Maia laughed out loud, “I’m sure he is, Uncle Bam.”

  Chapter 7

  As they drove, Maverik told him the story of how he and his Wolf became broken. Of how his pack and his family had betrayed him. Broken his heart and his soul. And the fury coming off Bam was palpable. The only other emotion clear on Bam was a single tear as it traced its way down his cheek as he drove, staring straight ahead, both hands gripping the steering wheel. Every once in a while, Maia would reach out and pat his arm, or rub his bicep, her way of trying to let him know it was okay. He’d explained how Maia and Matty were actually his brother’s children, but the son and daughter of his heart, and Bam had snapped at him, pinning him with a stare, “No! They are yours! Well, at least Maia is!”

  Mav had agreed, “Yes, they are. They are mine.”

  Bam inclined his head once, affirming that statement, quickly returning his attention to the road and keeping the truck in the lane.

  Maverik went back to his story, and as he finished, he reached across Maia, hand extended waiting for Bam to take it. Bam reached his toward Mav, glancing curiously his way before looking back to the road while still grasping Maverik's outstretched hand, “Thank you, Bam. For everything. For being my friend all these years, for understanding, for coming for me after I just disappeared. Thank you.”

  Bam swallowed audibly, nodding his head, before quietly whispering, “Always, brother.”

  It was hours later as they pulled onto the dirt road that led to their property that Maia woke after her nap. She’d fallen asleep wedged between her dad and Bam when the exhaustion overtook her. She sat up stretching, yawning. “I don’t even remember falling asleep,” she said.

  “You were out, baby girl. Out!” Maverik emphasized.

  “Well, now I’m starving,” she said, grinning.

  It was late afternoon, and the sun was behind the trees as they pulled into the drive in front of the house. By the time they came to a stop, the entire clan had gathered from wherever they’d been and were waiting for them. They’d heard Bam’s truck coming. The grins and squeals of excitement were hard to ignore as the women saw Maverik in the passenger seat.

  Bane’s exclamation
of “Thank fuck!” when he saw his brother and Maverik safe and home, made everybody grin. He’d been steadily reassuring everyone that Bam was fine, but his worry was apparent regardless of his attempt to hide it.

  Maverik climbed out of the truck and into the arms of his clan mates. The sound of exclaiming and hugging and giving good natured shoulder punches and embraces mixed in with the happy squeals of the women was deafening. And Maia just sat there in the truck with the door opened and smiled, watching the love and the concern of the people that her daddy called family. Realizing, maybe for the first time, how much she wanted this same thing and happy that he’d been surrounded by love all this time.

  “Who’s this?” Goldy asked, spying the pretty young girl sitting in the truck.

  Maverik positively glowed with pride, “This… this is my daughter, Maia,” he proudly announced, hand sweeping toward her as though he was a model on The Price Is Right showing off a new product.

  Eyebrows rose to hairlines, eyes popped wide, mouths hung open as they all grappled with their shock to find something to say.

  Bam strode around the truck, again sweeping her into his arms, “Ya’ll close your mouths, ya gonna catch flies. Here, Maia, let Uncle Bam get you inside.” Then to the clan, “She’s a Wolf, like Mav. Only pretty,” he flashed a grin at Maverik, “and her paws was raw from running so far, so Mav called me to come get them. And I did. End of story.”

  Kaid stepped in front of them; he smiled a smile that only a very few ever saw, “Maia? I’m Kaid, this is my clan. Welcome home, honey.”

  Maia didn’t meet Kaid’s eyes; she looked at a point just below his chin, “Thank you, Alpha Kaid.”

  “No.” Kaid said flatly, then, “Honey?” He gestured with his hand, “my eyes are up here.”

  Maia hesitantly lifted her eyes to Kaid’s, but she said nothing. Where she came from, you didn’t meet the eyes of the Alpha.

  Kaid continued, “It’s Kaid, not Alpha Kaid. And my eyes are up here. I expect you to treat me just like everybody else. There is no hierarchy here, unless there’s trouble. Then we all work through it together. Okay?”

  Maia smiled at him, nodding, “Yes, Sir. I understand. Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome. Now, Bam, go get her comfortable, and we’ll soak those feet.”

  “She said she’s hungry, Kaid,” Bam told him as he headed toward the kitchen.

  “Okay, well, get her settled at the table, and we’ll bring something to soak her feet in.”

  But Bam was already gone down the hall, Avaleigh fluttering behind him, jabbering away as she followed him to help take care of Maverik’s daughter.

  Kaid turned to Maverik, who was speaking low with Bane and Daniel, “Daughter? You have a teenage daughter?”

  “Yep. Got a teenage son, too,” Maverik told him, waiting to see what Kaid’s response would be.

  Kaid just looked at him, stunned that there was so much he didn't know about a male he considered family. After a few moments, “Well, is it a story you can tell now?”

  “Yeah, I want ya’ll to know. So you’ll understand and be prepared if any of it ever bleeds over to our clan. Or if I ever have to go all of a sudden.”

  Kaid raised one eyebrow in question.

  “Matty’s there alone. If he needs me, he’ll send for me or reach out to Maia. And I’m going,” Maverik said.

  “Okay, is it something that Maia would be upset over? If so, we can go elsewhere to talk.”

  “No, she knows it all. She’s probably tired of hearing it, but it won’t upset her. We can go on in and talk.”

  They made their way into the house, Bane holding Daisy as he brought up the rear. When they got into the kitchen, Avaleigh already had a huge bowl of bisque in front of Maia along with a small plate of dinner rolls. Of course, Bam had the same in front of himself, and they both had huge glasses of sweet tea. Kaid smiled when he noticed that Avaleigh had set Maverik's place at the table, and there was a steaming bowl waiting at his place, too. “That’s how it should be,” Kaid said.

  Maverik looked at him, confusion clear on his face.

  “It about killed us every day when the table was full, and your place was empty,” Kaid explained.

  Mav gave them all a half smile, meeting the eyes of everyone of his family, “I’m sorry I left without explaining.”

  Ms. Sadie answered for them all, “We were just worried, Maverik.”

  “I know. And thank you for that.”

  Maverik took his seat and dug into his bowl of bisque, groaning appreciatively. “Damn, Ave, I missed your cooking, darlin’.”

  “Maverik?” Kaid said quietly.

  Maverik looked up from his food, to meet a very solemn look on Kaid’s face.

  “Don’t do it again,” Kaid said, no room for bargaining in his voice.

  “I won’t. When I go, I’ll let you know.”

  “You’re leaving us?” Janie squealed.

  "No, no, I’m not leaving,” Maverik hurried to assure her. “But Matty may need me. And when he calls, I’m going. I’ll be back, but I’m going.”

  “What’s he going to need you for, Mav?” Bane asked.

  “He’s challenging Renegade for leadership of the pack,” Maverik explained.

  “Who’s Renegade?” Daniel asked.

  “He was my brother. And he’s a fucker. And when Matty challenges, I don’t want him standing alone. He’s promised to call for me, and I’m going.”

  “What pack?” Goldy asked.

  “Our pack, my pack. The McCullen Pack,” Maverik explained.

  “I didn’t know you had a pack named after you, Mav,” Avaleigh told him.

  Maia, who had been eating her bisque and silently observing until now, said, “Daddy’s Alpha, or he would be if my father and my mother hadn't screwed him over and almost killed him.”

  Delilah turned her head to Maia, “Your father? But you call Maverik, Daddy,” she questioned quietly.

  Maia nodded, “He is Daddy.”

  The rest of the table erupted with surprise at Maverik being an Alpha.

  Avaleigh reached out a hand slapping Kaid on the arm, “You ass! You knew! You did, didn’t you? That’s why you’re not surprised!”

  “Yeah, I knew. I could feel it. Didn’t know if he knew, but I did. And he chose not to address it… his business,” Kaid shrugged, pulling his shoulder away and smiling as Avaleigh went to slap him again.

  A brief discussion rose around the table about Maverik being an Alpha and no one being aware except Kaid, who had decided not to share it, until he, Maverik, let out a sharp whistle. All eyes turned his way. He waited a moment until he was sure they were all paying attention, “I was born Alpha. I choose not to be. I wore that mantle very young and for longer than I wanted to, and I don’t want it no more. I am completely happy here in this clan, in this family. I want this,” he looked around and gestured at the kitchen and the people in it, “and I want my daughter,” he smiled lovingly at Maia. He paused again before looking back up at everyone, “and I want my own family, I want Valerie. I want more kids. I just want quiet. I want peace, and I want love. I am so fucking tired of pain and conflict. I’ve had more than my share.”

  Bam quietly spoke up then, “Tell them why, Maverik. Tell them so they’ll know.”

  Maverik spent the better part of an hour, telling them about the night that he’d found out the kids weren’t his. About the night he’d found out that his brother was fucking his wife, his Mate, and how his life came crashing down around him. How members of his own pack had known, and chose not to tell him. How they had all betrayed him, and he’d left in the night after being sure that Grady would watch over the kids for him. He told them about the military, just a little, enough to let them know they didn't really want to know. They knew the other parts, of when he’d been with them. Then he told them about making his way back there, his visit with Grady, and then finding out that both Matty and Maia still loved him and even wore his medals as a reminder of him. A
t that little piece of information, Maia pulled his purple heart out of her shirt, still dangling on her silver chain and held it out for them to see. And she said, “Matty wears his Medal of Honor.”

  Janie’s mouth fell open, “Oh my God, Maverik, you’re a hero!”

  “Naw, Janie. I ain't no such thing. I’m just a male that was trying to lose myself. I ended up finding myself instead. Here, with ya’ll.”

  Avaleigh sat there with tears in her eyes. Slowly she got up and made her way around the table; she got to Maverik and leaned over, taking his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her, “I knew you were a good male, Maverik. The rest of the world knows it, too. I’m glad you finally figured it out. I’m so proud to call you brother. I love you,” and she kissed his forehead. He wrapped her in a hug and snuggled her for a minute. They’d always had a special bond; it’d been his Wolf that’d sat with her when she was waiting for Kaid and Daniel to come to her after Daniel had requested sanctuary. Now she knew why he was so against her having to mate Daniel if she didn't choose it. Why he’d reacted the way he did when Bane had found Janie. He was ripped apart by his own Mate because she’d really wanted his brother. And he’d lost his family because of it.

  “Maverik-Ass?” Delilah finally addressed him.

  He snickered, “Yes, Delilah.”

  “When your Matty calls to you. When he challenges this Renegade… I will take you there,” Delilah smiled an evil smile. “I will stand beside your Matty. I will destroy all that breathes.”

  “I’m coming, too. Anybody threatens yours, threatens us,” Daniel said with his Dragon rumbly and close to the surface.

  “Little Wolf,” Delilah said to Maia, “I do not wish to cause you distress, but if this female, Malina, and her male Renegade, choose to hurt our Maverik-Ass, they will be destroyed.” Delilah tilted her head to the side, like an animal would do as she regarded Maia.