Chapter 25 ~ Definitely Not The Same

Delaney ~

When I finally caught my breath.. from laughing so hard.. I suggested “Why don’t you discuss placing a temporary Alpha in place.. until you decide what to do. I am suggesting not asking your brother. Combining both packs will give him entirely too much territory.. and from looking around this place, he can barely manage what he’s got.”

Venom turned in a circle.. looking around “Wow! This place is a shithole. All the buildings are in various states of disrepair.. the grounds are unkempt.. patches of dirt where grass should be. What the hell is Cabot doing?”

He marched up to the pack house door.. finding it locked, he kicked it in.. Searching for Cabot. Finding him.. locked in his office.. he kicked that door in, as well.

He snarled “Cabot.. I have always known you were a lazy bastard. Today, you proved you are a coward, as well. I came to help you gain back control of Golden Lake.. and you hid yourself away with the women!”

Cabot responded “That isn’t what I did! I was getting the she-wolves to safety! Good news, though.. Donada has agreed to become my mate! We are going to combine the packs.”

I asked “Donada? Is that the daughter of Silverton?” At Venom’s nod.. I said “I see the play now.. this little game cost a lot of lives, Cabot! Donada is your mate.. isn’t she!? And her father wanted the best of the best for her.. so you thought you would dangle your brother in front of him. This whole fucking thing was your plan. Not Silverton’s. You knew Venom would kill him for you.. What you failed to factor in.. Venom is now Alpha of Blood Moon.. not your little schemer. She can’t inherit the pack. Not when her father is killed as a casualty of war.”

Torin growled so loud the windows shook “Cabot! I see my mate is correct. You used US! I will be placing a temporary Alpha at Blood Moon. I will also be moving my home base to pack territory in a month. You have fucked up. We will never be allies. I will never come to your aid again. Who killed Uncle Benjamin, Cabot?”

Well. Shit! I wasn’t expecting that.. but.. okay. My Torin has staked his claim… and where he leads.. I will follow. The pack is actually closer to Pine Grove, anyway.. just further from Trenton Falls. It will be nice to be able to let Iris run when she wants.. and Maddox will love it.

Venom said “Who, Cabot? Did you murder him in his sleep? You knew that would be the only way to ensure my aid.. You answer me.. Now!”

He stuttered through some bullshit “We don’t know who killed him. We found him one morning.. he had been dead several hours.”

I said “He’s lying.” Venom nodded at me “I caught it.. his voice wavered.. Cabot Stone.. I hereby renounce all ties to you. We are no longer brothers. If you ever cross my path again.. I will kill you.”

He grabbed my hand and walked us out to the bikes. He yelled “Mount up, Men! We ride!” As soon as he cranked his bike over, I climbed on.. and we headed home.

We definitely had a full plate now. I am grateful summer is here. I will be able to dedicate more time to our pack..and getting everything settled.

Once we reached home.. Venom called our men for Church. I went to find Maddox.. to let him know what was going on.

He was excited. Asking a million and one questions.. then he asked the one I knew would eventually be coming. “Why can’t I be a wolf?” I smiled.. hugging him close, I asked him “Have you ever wondered why I am so stringent in your training?” He shook his head no. “You just told me to do it. So I did it.”

I laughed at his sweet innocence “Buddy Roe.. I trained you as strictly as a wolf trains. And I do it because.. there is a chance you could be a wolf. But! You would have to really want it. You would have to be fully committed. It can’t happen before your fifteenth birthday.. but you will be eleven in six days and I do not want you to answer.. until you have taken a long while thinking about it, okay?”

He jumped up and said “I won’t have to think about it. I have always wanted to be like you and Iris. I have always felt more wolf than just a measly human. That won’t ever change. But I won’t ask for the change.. until my fifteenth birthday.”

Venom mind linked me to let me know Church had been dismissed so I went to find him. He was in the office.. with a man I hadn’t met..

Venom said “Delaney.. this is Captain Maxwell Unger. He is actively tracking the Colonel.. I told him what happened to you. And what we found at his home in Idaho.”

I shook the man’s hand.. still at a loss as to why I was summoned.. So I just waited. Max smiled and asked “You are certain it was Richard Slate who harmed you?”

I watched this man for a long minute.. still sitting the fence on whether I was going to trust him. I asked Venom.. “If Slate was dishonorably discharged.. court martialed.. whatever.. why is he being investigated by the military?”

Max answered “After his discharge.. a series of break ins occurred at several military bases around the country. I am investigating those thefts.” I nodded.. “Okay, then yes. I didn’t know who he was at the time. I recognized him and his two companions from photographs after I woke up.”

He smiled and asked “What can you tell me about the explosion?” I shrugged.. “I don’t remember much. It was loud. It was beeping.. and it stunk.. like burnt motor oil. That was my first memory when I woke up. The stink of rancid motor oil.”

His eyes lit up “That’s perfect! Is there anyway to inspect the bomb debris? I would like to see it.”

We stood up and led the man to the shed where Axe had put my Jeep so I wouldn’t have to see it until I was ready. He opened the doors and Max went straight to the driver’s side.

I found it impossible to look at. My brother could be gone right now. That psycho targeted us… to get back at Venom. This military captain had better hope he finds him first.

Max came back out after a half hour.. He looked at me “You were very lucky, young lady. He used some of the C-4 he stole to bomb your car.. That close to impact should have killed you. I’m impressed.”

I sneered “Impressed? Lucky? My definition of a lucky day.. and yours? Definitely not the same!”