Chapter 24 ~ I’m Good Either Way

Maddox’s POV ~

This entire week has passed in a blur. Gizmo has translated the Dubois Papers.. discovering that Delilah.. with her mate.. are to build a new temple.. and the Moon Goddess would show them where.. once their marking and mating has taken place.

I am almost certain she is my mate.. Steele has noticed her scent is becoming more prominent when she is in our presence.. the air is infused with static.. making the hairs on our neck stand at attention.. When our hands touch… any skin on skin contact, actually.. very pronounced tingles occur. I haven’t called attention to it.. nor has she.. so I’m not even sure she’s aware of the subtle changes.

I have asked Delaney and Venom to meet with me.. I have to discuss this with someone.. I am slowly driving myself insane.

I didn’t hesitate.. or make any bones about it.. I just spit out “I think Delilah is my mate.” Delaney laughed.. and clapped her hands. “Finally! I damned near busted a gut holding that secret!”

I gasped “That’s what you knew? And you didn’t tell me? That’s a pretty important piece of information, Laney!” She just laughs more.. “Chill out! Henri and I decided it would be best for the two of you to discover it on your own. But now that you have.. I can make plans!”

That gave me pause.. “Plans? What plans? Henri knew? The fuck!? She has to acknowledge the bond and accept me.. Plans can wait until then. She’s already freaked out about her mate and that stupid gift.. Now we have to build a temple for the Goddess? That’s a LOT of pressure!”

Venom said “We have six days.. then we can decide everything else.. after she accepts you. And she’s going to accept you. Bet on it! She’s halfway in love with you, already.”

Hunter and Derek came in laughing.. I asked what was so funny.. Hunter said “We stopped by the diner for burgers.. and Delilah is so pissed she’s talking to herself.. Kathy had to run her out of the dining room twice because customers thought she was yelling at them.”

Delaney asked why and Derek replied “Not really sure.. something about how nobody ever handed her anything.. always worked for it.. but she didn’t have the good fortune to be borne to two homicidal maniacs.. and how was that her fault.. So.. I’m guessing it has to do with Emily.. but we both decided it was in our best interest to get our burgers to go.”

I laughed and looked at my sister “You might be getting an earful, though..” Delaney shrugged and smiled “Reckon we’ll find out at dinner.. I seriously thought Delilah’s work ethic and people skills would rub off on Emily.. Maybe not…”

Venom laughed “That won’t happen. Those girls have absolutely nothing in common. Fuck! Everything Delilah does Not know about girls like Emily could fill a book. And Emily hates everything about Delilah.. her beauty.. her brains.. her fighting skills.. her negotiating skills.. Delilah is everything Emily can never be.. and she resents the hell out of that!”

Delaney said “Your diplomacy is exemplary, babe! Thanks for telling me I fucked up putting them together.. That probably would have been helpful a week ago..”

Venom laughed “Nah! There was no fun in that.. I wanted to witness the fallout. I bet a hundred on Lilah snapping her neck.. Derek bet she’d beat her ass.. Brock bet she’d just slap her because Emily would break too easily.. and Hunter bet she’d humiliate her.. then slap her.”

I asked “Who won?” And they all answered “Nobody yet.” Making me laugh and Delaney said “Fuck!” Which made us all laugh.

Snake and Axe came in.. “We need a strategy meeting..” I stood immediately and led everyone to the conference room.. sending a maid to have Henri meet us.

Gizmo and Geek brought their laptops and were setting up.. as Henri joined us. We all got seated.. and waited for Snake to speak “We have had groups of two to four men riding the streets of Trenton Falls.. making our presence known.. Today.. Axe and I were in a group.. We stopped at a cafe’ for lunch.. Marcus and Unger sat down at our table. They want a meeting.”

I asked for what and Axe said “I think Marcus plans on challenging you for the pack.” I grinned and snarled “Finally! I wonder if he realizes my ‘pack’ is actually my club.. and as such.. they are free to make their own choice whom they follow.”

Venom said “Who is supposed to set this meeting? Because if they think I trust them enough to schedule a meeting without planning an ambush.. they need to think again!”

Snake told him “Unger gave us his number for you to call when you have everything set up. I don’t buy it.. where is Cabot.. Dylan? Why weren’t they there, too?”

Venom shrugged “Cabot is a dead man, anyway.. Dylan.. not far behind.. but it will be fun to find out if they are being double crossed..”

I said “I don’t want this meeting to take place until after Delilah’s birthday.. I have a feeling it has something to do with her.”

Venom nodded “I absolutely agree.. I was going to suggest two weeks. Her birthday is in six days.. I will call Unger the day after that and schedule our meeting.”

Gizmo and Geek showed video of Marcus and Max at various places around town.. proving something big was in the making.. if they weren’t worried about being seen.. We even had the motel they were staying at.. and room numbers. They aren’t that sloppy.

I said “Step up our presence in town.. I want to know how many men are joining those two.. check the campgrounds outside of town, as well. I want more people in Pine Grove.. especially around the diner. Something is off.. and I am not taking any chances.”

Axe said “I will take care of additional coverage of Trenton Falls.. Hunter.. you take Pine Grove?” Hunter nodded and Venom said “I am curious now.. Where Is Cabot?”

I suggested we send a few trackers out.. it wasn’t that far away.. and we could have reports by tonight.. Venom nodded.. so I arranged a team to head out.

I sat thinking a minute.. “I’m concerned about Dylan.. his pack practically borders Pine Grove on the southeast border..” Venom agreed “Let’s get some border patrol wolves out to patrol that end of town.”

Dinner was called, so we headed to the dining hall.. I had just sat down, when Delilah came in.. in a huff.. with a sullen Emily behind her..sporting a brand new bright assed shiner.

Axe yelled “Hot damn! I won!” Making all of us laugh.. when Delaney asked Delilah “Rough day?” To which she responded “Ask Little Miss Sunshine!” and when Emily went to open her mouth, Delilah spat “The truth! You tell the truth or I swear to Goddess, your right eye will match!”

Emily stammered “I’m..umm..apparently selfish, spoiled, inconsiderate, thoughtless, hateful, hurtful and lazy. Because I promised the line cook a blow job if he did my dishes. An..and.. a hand job to the stock guy to mop my floors. That makes me dishonest, disrespectful.. disgusting.. disreputable and devious. And from now on, every time I talk back I will get popped in the eye.”

I am trying so hard not to laugh.. especially at the smug look on Delilah’s face..when she asked Emily “And why did I pop you in the eye in the first place?”

Emily said “I talked back. I told you to fuck off you aren’t my boss.. Delaney is..” Delilah smirked “Yeah.. Learned you were wrong about that pretty fucking fast, though.. didn’t you? And by the way.. you’re not fired.. and since you aren’t allowed to quit.. looks like you might want to learn a little faster..”

That had everyone laughing.. Delaney said “I had honestly hoped Emily would learn something.. that she would be able to step outside her bubble.”

Delilah laughed and said “Oh.. She’s going to learn… something.. Good or bad is up to her. I’m good either way.”