Maverik's Ashes

by Sandra R Neeley

  Malina, wedged between Bam and Delilah, shot daggers at Maia from across the room.

  Maia glared back, “Yeah, you heard me! I’m humiliated that I’m related to the both of you!”

  Maverik had maneuvered himself and Valerie, still in his arms, over to be nearer Maia.

  “It’s okay, baby girl, don’t you ever forget, you’re mine. Don’t matter who created you, you’re mine!” Maverik told her.

  Before she could answer, Bam did.

  “That’s what I’m trying to tell you! They ain’t Renegade’s! They’re yours, Maverik. Well, at least Maia is. I ain’t ever met Matty, but Maia’s yours.”

  Maverik went stone still, watching Bam with eyes that were afraid to follow Bam’s logic, just in case he was wrong.

  Everybody was watching, looking back and forth between Maverik and Bam.

  Maverik swallowed, then cleared his throat, “Bam?” he asked hoarsely. “What do you mean?”

  Bam grinned, smiling for all he was worth, realizing that he was about to let Maverik know that he was a daddy, a real daddy, for the first time. “Maverik, they aren’t Renegade’s kids. They’re yours. I knew it the minute I met her. I told you in the truck on the way home that they were yours. Didn’t you hear me?”

  Maverik stood there for a second, then another, then he gently let go of Valerie, who had tears in her eyes, and turned to Maia, who stood to face him, her own eyes filled with tears. “Maia, honey? You’re really mine,” he choked out.

  She nodded her head, unable to speak, when he pulled her in for a very long hug, she held him back, crying, “Daddy,” was all she was able to get out.

  Bam, still sitting on the couch, grabbed Goldy, who was standing next to him, and in one fluid motion, he stood at the same time he shoved Goldy into the spot he was just sitting in. He just couldn't contain himself; he had to get across the room and hug Maverik and Maia as they hugged each other.

  A smiling Goldy turned from watching Maia and Maverik hugging and crying happy tears to snarl at Malina, “And do not think for one fuckin’ minute that this changes anything. You didn’t know if they was his kids or his brother’s and told him they was Renegade’s cause you wanted them to be Renegade’s. You’re still a bitch.”

  Bam was holding Maverik, who was holding Maia, who was holding Maverik, when he flung one arm out to the side and snagged Valerie before she could duck him and pulled her into the group hug. She was crying silent tears of happiness for Maverik and Maia, too. She genuinely liked the girl, and Lord knew, she loved Maverik.

  Maia finally came up for air, “Daddy, Matty’s yours, too. We’re twins, so that means he’s yours, too. Right, Bam?” she asked, turning her attention to Bam.

  “I think so; I’ll make sure when he gets here,” Bam told her, smashing them all together again so that he could hug them all at once.

  Avaleigh was sitting in the recliner with Remi and Cristie in her lap, openly crying, hugging Remi to her. Daniel had his arm around her shoulders. Remi was looking at her with his little brows all crinkled up, “Happy tears again?” he asked her.

  “Yes, little man. Happy tears,” he just looked at her, still not convinced. He couldn't figure out why anybody would cry when they were happy.

  Once Bam released Maverik, Kaid went over, hugging him hard, pounding his back. “You got kids, brother!” he told him.

  Maverik nodded, one arm still around Maia, and the other hugging Kaid back; his lower lip was trembling when he looked Kaid in the eye and said, “They’re mine. They really are.”

  Maia looked up at him, “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you, too, Maia,” then looked at Valerie, who still stood between himself and Bam, “And I love you, Valerie. I’m so fucking sorry for all the hurt I caused. I love you, darlin’.”

  Then there was a loud — painfully loud, horn outside. “Aw, shit! I forgot about the house.” He wiped tears from his eyes with the backs of his hands, “When I went after Valerie, I told them to give me a minute, hang around for a bit, I’d pay them for their overtime, but I’m sure they tired of waiting.” He looked at his family, then his Mate. “Ya’ll come see! I bought us a house, the best house. Come see!” he said excitedly as he pulled Maia by the hand and wrapped his other arm around Valerie to urge her toward the door, too.

  “Maverik, you will go show the others; Goldy and I will keep this female under control,” Delilah told him.

  “Thank you, Delilah. I’ll show it to you special tomorrow.”

  As the rest of the clan followed Maverik outside to see his house, Delilah leaned over until her nose was almost touching Malina’s, “You will continue to behave, or I may accidentally hurt you, badly.” Then, Delilah sneered at the sudden scent of fear wafting off Malina. Malina turned her head toward Goldy, who just snarled at her, “Don’t think for a minute I’d stop her. After what you done to Maverik, I’d sooner kill you myself. Be glad Maia’s here, or you wouldn't be breathing now.”

  Outside, Kaid and Riley rushed to turn on the flood lights, where they’d been erected behind the main house, as Maverik explained to the men where he wanted the double wide parked and walked around the back with them to see the space. Valerie, Maia, who was holding Cristie, Daniel, Avaleigh and Remi stood on the porch waiting. Once the men had seen the spot, and the lights had been turned on, Kaid showed them where they could turn and drive almost to the tree line so that they could then back the two sections of the double wide to the spot Maverik had chosen. It took about forty-five minutes of maneuvering before they had them in place, then another hour of bracing and connecting the sections, then releasing them from the semis. Once they were unhooked, Maverik paid them, and they went on their way. Riley grabbed a couple of flash lights from his truck and handed one to Maverik, who took Valerie by the hand, “Come look, darlin’. I just know you’re gonna love it. Come on, baby girl,” he said to Maia. “Come pick out your room.”

  They all followed him to the double wide and followed him inside as he proudly showed off their new home. He used the flashlight to highlight the rooms, and Riley and Kaid each had one, too. Between them, they were able to get a really good look at it even though it was dark.

  It was really a beautiful home.

  “And this is our room, Valerie. Look, it’s got its own bathroom, and it has a garden tub in it for long hot soaks, and that room right there next door, I thought would be perfect for a nursery.”

  Valerie was stunned; she just stood there looking at him, no words.

  He realized that maybe in his excitement he’d pushed a little hard, “I mean, not right away, just for when we’re ready, you know?” he smiled at her. “I mean, I’d like more kids, and I just figured that you might, I mean, I hoped that you might, too. You do, don’t cha?” he asked almost hesitantly.

  She stuttered a bit before managing to speak clearly, “Well, yeah, I do, but, I, Maverik, it’s just…”

  Maverik’s whole demeanor changed. He dropped his eyes, his smile disappearing, “You can’t forgive me, can you? You just can’t see around all the hurt I caused you.”

  “No! That’s not it. I do forgive you. I just,” she hesitated, searching for the right words, “it’s just so much, so fast. Think about it, Maverik. You never showed anything but disdain for me, and I was engaged to someone else just a few days ago!” she said exasperatedly.

  “Should never have been engaged to him,” Bam mumbled.

  Everybody shushed Bam.

  “What? She shouldn't have been,” he said defensively.

  “I know it’s fast. I’m sorry. I just, I want you so damn bad. And I finally moved past all that was holding me back.” He smiled at Maia, “And now I have my baby girl with me, and you’re here, and I’m just so ready to move forward.”

  Valerie stood there watching Maverik explain himself to her, and she got it, she really did, but she needed more time. “I know. I do. But I just need to go a little slower. Please. Give me a little more time. I’m just not quite where you ar
e. Give me a little time; I’ll get there.”

  Maverik didn’t meet her eyes; he just nodded, while looking down at the flashlight in his hands.

  The mood broken, the rest of the clan feeling awkward, they began to come up with excuses to leave the house.

  “Maverik, I’m gonna go make sure that Delilah hasn't frozen Malina yet. Okay?” Kaid told him.

  “Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Maverik replied.

  Riley reached for Maia, “Maia, have you chosen your room yet? Why don’t we go look at the other rooms and see which one you like best?” Maia nodded her agreement, but when she walked past Valerie, she stopped and hugged her, waiting for her to look her in the eyes. When Valerie did meet her eyes, she whispered, “He really loves you, Valerie.”

  Valerie nodded, “It’s going to be fine, Maia. Riley’s waiting on you.”

  Maia nodded at her, then looked back at her daddy and moved to follow Riley.

  Daniel said, “Avaleigh, let’s go get Remi to bed, love.”

  Avaleigh kissed Remi’s head, then handed him to Daniel, “Let’s let Papa get you to bed tonight, man. I’ll be there in a little while to kiss you and read you a story, okay?”

  Remi looked like he was going to object, but Daniel did it for him, “Avaleigh?”

  Avaleigh squared her shoulders, and she turned on Daniel fast, “Mav sat with me when you and Kaid decided my fate; I will stand with him now.”

  Daniel looked at her for only a second before nodding his head and telling Remi, “Let’s show Mommy what a good team we are; let’s get all cleaned up and ready for bed before she gets there,” as they left the room.

  Bam stood there, leaning against the door jamb, his arms crossed over his massive chest, and as Daniel walked through the door, he tried to get Bam to leave, too.

  “What? I ain’t leaving. Mav’s my best friend. I am not leaving.” Then he turned to Avaleigh, “Tell him, Ave.”

  Avaleigh walked over to Bam and stood beside him, “We aren’t leaving.” She kissed Remi, then Daniel, “I won’t be long.” Then she and Bam stood there in the doorway as Valerie and Mav just stood there, neither really knowing what to say.

  Finally Avaleigh couldn’t take it anymore. “You know what?” she blurted out a little too cheerily. “Tomorrow Daniel and I are going into town. We have a few things to pick up, and we are going to take Remi to the Diner for lunch and then Joanne's to pick out a book and get some pastries. Why don’t you come with us, Mav? And Valerie, you could meet us and spend the day with us, too.”

  Maverik raised his eyes to see if Valerie thought it was a good idea; she was nodding her head and smiling.

  He was encouraged, “Would you like that, Valerie? We could go on a date, a lunch date.”

  “Yes, I would. I’d really like that,” she answered, relief pouring off her in waves.

  “It’s a date then,” Maverik told her.

  “About 1:00 okay with ya’ll? We were going to have a late lunch,” Avaleigh asked.

  “Yeah, that’s fine,” Valerie said.

  “I want to come, too!” Bam exclaimed.

  “’Course you can come, Bam,” Mav told him.

  “Good. Okay, then. I’ll, ah. I’m going to go then, and I’ll see you tomorrow at one o’clock,” Valerie told Maverik.

  She took a few steps backwards toward the door before turning to walk out of it. As she got to the door she stopped, looked back at Maverik, “It’s a truly beautiful home, Maverik. I especially love the bay window in the front.”

  Maverik smiled wide, “Me, too, I thought you’d like that window. Made me think of you sittin’ in it when I saw it.”

  She smiled at him, nodded again, and was gone.

  Chapter 18

  Maverik refused to go back into the house, he would not be in the same room with Malina again. He busied himself working in the glow of the flood lights that his clan had set up for the delivery of his home. He was working on getting the plumbing line hooked up to the septic tank and the clean water lines run from the well to the proper hookups under the trailer. At some point Bam was there with him, and together they worked wordlessly to just get things done.

  He lost track of time until he heard the truck come to a stop in front of the house. He crawled out from under the mobile home where he worked to tighten the last washer and bolt and wiped his hands on a towel. Bam came out beside him. Maverik looked down at his watch and realized that they’d been working most of the night, it was after 3 o’clock in the morning.

  “Damn, we worked all night,” Maverik said.

  “Yup, sure did,” then, “That must be Matty,” Bam said, indicating the sound from the front of the house of the truck door closing.

  “Yeah, wish he was just coming for a visit instead of having to haul his delusional mother back to his pack,” Maverik answered.

  “He knows what she’s about,” Bam said, “he called to warn you, so he ain't surprised.”

  Maverik nodded, resigned that dealing with Malina one last time was unavoidable, “Let’s go say hello.”

  “Yeah, and introduce me to my new nephew,” Bam grinned, marching off on a mission to meet Matty.

  As they came around the corner of the house, Matty was standing on the porch, shaking hands with Kaid and introducing himself.

  “Matty!” Maverik said as he came into sight.

  Matty turned to see Maverik coming from the side of the house, “Dad!” he exclaimed and bounded down the porch steps to get to him. They hugged and laughed and hugged some more.

  And again, Bam couldn't help himself. He hugged them both and patted them both on the back, which ended with Maverik laughing and including Bam in the hug, and Matty just looking a bit confused and humoring the big Bear with half-hearted pats.

  “Uh, Dad?”

  Maverik chuckled, “This is Bam. Bam’s my best friend and brother of my heart.”

  “I’m Uncle Bam! And I’m so damn glad to meet you, Matty!” Bam beamed a huge smile at him.

  “Well, I can always use another Uncle; glad to meet you, too, Uncle Bam.”

  Bam patted Matty once more, then leaned in, closed his eyes and let his Bear touch Matty’s Wolf, before leaning back and meeting Maverik’s eyes, grinning and nodding. “It’s a boy, Daddy,” he said to Mav.

  Mav couldn't help it; he started laughing; then, he laughed even harder. Pretty soon everybody was laughing, and then the women came outside, well, all except Delilah, who was taking particular delight in terrorizing Malina, and though they didn't know what was happening, the laughter was contagious. They couldn't help it; they all laughed, too. They all needed the relief.

  As it died off, Matty asked, “What’s he mean? It’s a boy?”

  Maverik put a hand behind Matty’s head, pulling their foreheads together, “He means you’re mine. You’re my son; Maia’s my daughter. Renegade is not your father, I am.”

  Matty just looked at him, speechless, his mouth hanging open, slowly realization dawning, “Are you sure?” he finally whispered.

  “Yup, it’s what I do. I know things,” Bam answered.

  Maia came down off the porch to hug her brother, “Yes, he’s sure. He’s really our dad. Our real dad.”

  Matty held her tight, his chin on top of her head as he hugged her, his eyes meeting Maverik's, his father, across her head. Then he nodded, with a happy smile and misty eyes as he said, “I am so fucking happy to know that, Dad. I used to be so resentful. I’d watch Renegade and Miller and just felt nothing. I always wished you were my dad. And now… I know that you are, and I have a whole new sense of self.” He took a moment to swallow the lump in his throat, to try to regain his composure. “I’m so proud to be yours.” Then he reached out, and Maverik stepped into the hug with Matty and Maia. And naturally Bam got in on the hug, grinning and hugging them all in his huge embrace.

  A low, drawn out rumble sounded from inside the house, and Kaid turned and rushed back inside. They heard him say exasperatedly, “Damn it, Monster!”
A few moments later Delilah stepped out onto the porch, smiling and completely satisfied with herself. She looked at Matty and stepped regally down the porch stairs, head held high, chin raised, hand extended to him in greeting. Matty thought she was the most exquisite, noble creature he had ever seen. Without realizing it, he stepped forward, taking her hand and inclining his head in greeting.

  “Hello, son of Maverik. I am Delilah, Mate to Alpha Kaid, welcome to our clan.”

  Matty smiled at the unusual greeting, “Hello, Delilah. I’m Matty.”

  “You are the son that we will stand beside when you issue your challenge, yes?” Delilah asked.

  “Uh, yeah, I guess. Dad?” Matty turned to look askance at Maverik.

  “My clan stands behind you, too, Matty,” Maverik explained.

  “Yes, young Alpha, you are family because your father is family,” Delilah said. Then she smiled in her sinister trademark way, “My Dragon is impatient, she wishes to play. Issue your challenge soon.”

  At that, Matty’s flirty smile faded, his eyebrows shot up nearly to his hairline. He twisted to see his dad, who was chuckling at Delilah’s remark.

  Maverik saw Matty’s surprised expression and said, “This is the Ice Dragon, Matty. She has a special enjoyment for punishing those that hurt others weaker than themselves.”

  Matty turned to look at her again, “You’re a Dragon?” he asked in awe. He’d never met a Dragon.

  She regarded him for a moment before a wide smile spread across her beautiful face, “I am a Dragon Queen. And I am pleased that you have met me.”

  Then Kaid came through the door, holding Malina by the arm; he’d untied her ankles but left her hands tied and her gag in place.

  Matty’s entire demeanor changed. “What is wrong with you? Why would you even think that Dad would have you after all you’ve done to him? Then you come here and humiliate him in front of his new pack.”