“Except those animals,” Maverik said.
“Yeah. It’s been eating at me. And Hell said that she’s going back out to cover her territory in a week or so. I don’t want her stumbling on them. They’ll take her out for sure. But I can’t tell her about it either. She’ll go hunting them all.”
“She let you call her Hell? Usually only lets her brother and me get away with that.”
Lucien grinned. “Nope. Really pisses her off.”
Maverik chuckled. “Here’s the thing, or a few things, if you will. I like you. I think you’ll be good for Hellen, which is why she’s so pissed off you’re here.”
“Actually, I think she’s pissed because when she left me to come back here when one of her cousins was attacked, I didn’t stay where she left me. I left, trying to follow her, and ended up lying low in the water, waiting for the salt in the briny water to heal me. Then I followed her. And when she came back to find me missing, she was afraid whoever attacked me had found me and finished the job. She was worried.”
Maverik nodded. “I can see why she’d be pissed. When she cares, she cares deeply. She pretends she don’t, but she does. She didn’t say anything to me, but she talked to her momma about thinking for a long time she didn’t have a mate. Everybody else had met somebody and she hadn’t. She’s never really had much interaction with males. I’m guessing she found you, and you’realmost dead, and then you disappear. She might have thought it was her one chance, but I know she thought if she’d stayed she’d have been able to protect you. So, anyway, back to the things. You’re a good fit for Hellen. I like you. You’re strong enough. But you got some baggage. If it finds you, you’re bringing hell to our doors. You’re putting her in danger. But you’re also her mate. If you’re seriously going to be leaving, then just do it. Go now. She don’t deserve this shit. But the shit that almost killed you can’t be ignored. We’re going to have to handle this. If we don’t, it’s just going to keep happening, and we can’t allow this to happen anymore than you could. And that is why I’m going to talk to our people, and set up a time for you to talk to us in detail. Where, when, how many, habits of movement, types of vehicles, boats, etc. We’ve got to address this. We’re going to have to tell her at some point, but she can’t bring her bosses and coworkers in on this. They’re not shifters. We can’t risk the shifter community being discovered. Now, as far as she goes. If you’re staying. Stop fighting her. Win her over. But if you’re thinking you’re going to leave, do it now. Tell us what we need to know to handle this shit, and then go on your way.”
“No way I’m letting you clean up my mess without my input. And as far as Hellen goes, I’ll die before anybody harms her in any way. I don’t care if they’re her Alpha, a stranger or even you. Nobody’s hurting her.”
“So, you’re staying?” Maverik asked, sarcastically.
Lucien shook his head. “Fuck me. I guess I am.”
Maverik pulled off the highway into a red dirt parking lot and came to a stop. “Good. You’ll find her in there. She’s mad, I’m sure. Be nice, but not too nice. Brandt was right about one thing… she’ll lean more into you if you play hard to get. But you got some making up to do, too. So, I have no idea how to tell you to handle my daughter. Just no bullshit is all I got.”
“Gee, thanks,” Lucien said.
“If you hurt her, I’ll kill you,” Maverik said, smiling brightly.
“What if she hurts me?” Lucien said.
“Sleep with one eye open so you’re prepared,” he said. The corners of Maverik’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “Oh, my bad. You only got one.”
“You’re an asshole, you know that?” Lucien asked.
“Oh, yeah. Delilah called me Maverik Ass for the first whole year she knew me.”
Lucien shook his head as he opened the door to get out of the truck. “So, I’m supposed to go in there, make nice and apologize, then play hard to get.”
Maverik winked at him. “Something like that. If you’re worthy of her, you’ll figure it out. And you just might make it around here long enough to get some grandbabies after all.”
~~~
“How’s your burger?” Christian asked.
“Oh, so good!” Addie said. “I can’t believe you cooked this!”
“Hey, I have lots of talents,” Christian said, laughing as he stole another of her onion rings.
“I know you do,” Addie said. “I just didn’t think cooking was one of them.”
The front door opened and Vince walked in. “Hey! What are you doing in here? Thought you were in New Orleans.”
“I was, got the afternoon off, surprisingly. So I came to see Addie.”
“Don’t tell your mom. She’ll pout you didn’t come spend your free time with her,” Vince said.
Christian chuckled.
“Good to see you, Addie. You doing well?”
“Yes, sir. Just trying to find something to keep me busy when Christian is away.”
