Chapter 28 ~ I Wasn’t Waiting ….

Maddox’s POV ~

Delilah and the girls had gone to the waterfall to apply the finishing touches to the altar they had made for her ceremony. When I had asked why she wanted to be above the waterfall she told me to be closer to the Goddess. And I found I am okay with that!

We also discovered we could be away from each other for a couple hours at a time.. as long as we kept our mind links open and our wolves could communicate.

Right now, I am sitting with Henri.. “Mr. Connors.. I want you to know I am in love with your daughter. In a few short months, she has become my very reason for existing. I promise to take care of her.. Protect her.. Defend her.. to my dying breath. She will never fear someone will not be there to rescue her.. to catch her when she falls. With your permission, sir.. I would like to ask Delilah to be my wife.”

Tears ran down his cheeks.. but he smiled through them.. reaching up to his neck.. he unfastened a chain, and removed an elegant five carat ruby.. encrusted with diamonds. Handing me the ring, he tells me “It was her mother’s.. it would make both of us very proud if you asked her.. with this ring.”

I placed the ring in my pocket.. and thanked him.. He hugged me and shook his head “No.. son! Thank You! For reminding me we are all a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. Now.. how soon can we convince that daughter of mine we need grandbabies?” I laughed and said “Yeah! That shit’s on you.. I want to keep my man bits a little longer..”

I walked into the conference room to find Venom and all of his circle.. as well as my inner circle all seated around the table. I asked “Was no one planning on informing me about a meeting?”

Venom said “Don’t look at me.. I just got here.. and Snake said there was something I needed to hear.” Nodding, I said “Let’s hear it..”

Gizmo pulled up a live feed of the diner in Trenton Falls.. and enhanced audio.. He backed the video up to just after eight this morning.. Marcus appears on camera and sits in the corner booth.. his coffee is served.. and a man joins him.. his back to the camera.. and his face obscured.

Marcus asked “What news do you have for us?” The man asks where Max is.. but Marcus doesn’t answer.. then the conversation turned in the direction we wanted to hear.

“Your daughter is a force to be reckoned with.. all by herself. Alpha Venom is a nightmare.. When they fight together, there is no stopping them. Always bear in mind.. she trained Maddox.. and that boy is hell on wheels.. He may be a turned wolf.. but he is a fully mantled dominant Alpha.”

Marcus sneered “On his own.. he will be no match for me! That’s my boy! I know what he can and can’t do. His sister is not my kid.. so never make that mistake again.. and she’s going to be too busy trying to stay alive to help Maddox, at all.”

“Max has to prevent that girl at the diner from mating anyone.. What can you tell me about her?” The man shrugs “Not much. Delaney has taken her under her wing.. and her combat training has stepped up exponentially. I can’t get close to the club.. Venom revoked my nomad status.. if any of them catch me.. I will be locked in the cells and tortured until I tell them what I know.”

Venom looked at me and we both said “Drake Slate.” So he’s still local.. laying low.. but keeping his ear to the ground to gather information.

Marcus said “Not my problem, kid. I suggest you stay off their radar. Max wants that girl.. bad.. and he will get her. I am just going to spank my kid and take his pack..” Drake said “When are the Alphas making a move on Venom? That will be the best time to attack MadDog..”

Marcus snarls “You talking strategy to me, boy!? I know exactly when to attack my boy. And Cabot has decided to go after his brother a week from tomorrow.. Something about the death anniversary of their father and he knows Venom will appreciate the irony.”

The men said their goodbyes.. just as Max walked in.. Marcus told him what Drake had said.. which was absolutely nothing.. and Max said “He’s a useless informant then. Next check in.. kill him. May as well start taking care of loose ends. I heard back from Dylan.. and the weapons delivery never made it.. No record of it stopping anywhere.. Nothing about it being hijacked. It’s just disappeared. I know fucking Stone did something.. I just have to backtrack the shipment.”

Marcus smirked “Maybe that little lieutenant you got in your pocket double crossed you.. When we meet with Venom in a few days.. maybe we should ask him. If he took it.. he’s going to want to brag.”

Max barked out a laugh “You damned sure don’t know Stone. Underestimating him can get you dead. He doesn’t brag.. he just does what needs doing!”

They broke up their meeting and went their separate ways.. Still no hint where Dylan and Cabot were holed up. I looked at Venom.. “a week from tomorrow.. Shit! Hunter.. you and Snake double up patrols.. increase training by two hours a day. Which one of us will tell the girls this bit of good news?”

Venom laughed “I will do it.. I ain’t skeered! Besides.. have you met our women? They will be standing on the frontlines.. Raining hellfire and brimstone down on anyone threatening to breach our territory!” I smiled “Yeah! That’s what I’m worried about.” Making him laugh again.

We adjourned and I went to my room to get ready for Delilah’s Luna ceremony. I wasn’t nervous.. all day.. I thought I had done pretty good.. all things considered. Now it feels like a million dragonflies are battering my ribcage with their wings.

Henri walked in.. carrying a glass of whiskey.. a glass.. of whiskey.. a tumbler.. filled with three ice cubes and topped with whiskey! He grins “Boy.. I could hear your knees knocking together all the way down the hall.” I smiled “Seriously?” He laughed “No.. my daughter said she could feel your stress.”

We went out.. and I walked down to the quads and carts lined up to take us to the peak.. and Venom and I headed out.. Once there.. I realized we couldn’t ask for a more beautiful place for our ceremony.

I stood and looked out over our territories.. Venom to the North.. and we are south. The Kootenai was darkened into shadow with the moon just cresting the horizon. The sounds of the waterfall making nature’s own music.. as I watched Delilah step out of the side by side.. with her father offering her his arm.

She took my breath away. Her hair was all swept to one side.. cascading down her shoulder.. her gown.. an ivory sheath.. with a bare lace back.. and small capped sleeves off her shoulders. A sweetheart neckline.. and a slit all the way from the floor to her upper thigh. She wore a crown of daisies and baby’s breath in her hair.

As she made her way to me.. her eyes never left mine.. her smile never wavered. This is our moment.. Our space in time.. and everything I have done in my life has led me here.. Right here.. right Now.. and I can’t think of one thing I would have changed.. or wanted to.. Because my heart knows.. one misstep.. and I wouldn’t be looking at this life.. this future. And that would be wholly unacceptable!

She reached me and smiled so radiantly I thought my heart flew off the waterfall.. and Venom.. seeing the expressions on our faces.. hurried through the acceptance ceremony.. and the club all cheered their approval. He looked at us and asked “Will you mark each other now?” Delilah shook her head “Dubois mark at mating.. It is tradition..” He nodded and I smiled..

I picked her up and said “Enjoy the party.. We’re going to be a little late..” and everyone started laughing.. I sat her in the side by side.. and drove to the cabin Delaney had fixed for us.

I wasn’t waiting a second longer to make her mine!