Unedited folks

Chapter 19

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Everyone stopped talking when Max walked in to Nick's office.

Max calmly walked in and plopped himself down on an empty seat. Adrian trailed behind and with all the seats taken he leaned on to wall next to Nick's office table.

Cathy looked at Max with an unasked question in her eyes "She is resting" Max did not elaborate much. Cathy's eyes involuntarily moved to Adrian wondering if her daughter was alone in the house and that thought made her uncomfortable.

Adrian caught her gaze and caught the worry in her eyes "We have guards around the house ma'am" he reassured her.

After a moment of silence Max asked "What do we know?"

"Not much" Alex said leaning forward who as sitting on a chair on the right side of Max.

Max raised an eyebrow at Alex at that.

"It was well planned, we are digging around the bodies for any clues but we most likely will not get any leads. We found a phone though but passcode locked, can't get in" Alex elaborated.

At the mention of bodies Max asked "What about our men?"

"Some nasty bites, nothing life threatening" Alex said relieved, they had been lucky. His men who went back to the site to get rid of the evidence figured out the attacker's game plan. They had planned to ram the convoy with the Mack truck, which would have been disastrous which also meant one more thing, they were not interested in taking in prisoners. Someone wanted them gone, but the million dollar question was who the primary target was?

"Do we know who the target was?" Max asked the big question.

Alex just shook his head negative, he had no clue. "Don't know" he added out loud.

"Do you think they know?" Max asked, if someone knew who she was and still wanted to take her out...Fuck! He would make them wish they were never born.

"Not sure Maxwell...but if they knew..." Max cut off Alex.

"If they knew they still attacked and if they didn't that means you were the target. So regardless what they knew and did not know someone waged a war on us...I want to know who so we can reciprocate in kind." His hard tone was a promise of wrath to be unleashed at the said enemies.

"I am sure we know who it is...but proving it will be a different story" Alex gently added.

"Then better find the proof!" Max spat slamming his fist on the table. They dared attack his mate! And his brother! For Alex was a brother to him, might not be of blood but a brother never the less.

"Working on it Maxwell" Alex added trying to pacify the agitated prince.

"We need to clear up the site as well, we got rid of the bodies and SUV's and even the tree, which we managed to move it over but the Mack truck will be a problem" Alex said. It wasn't like you could burry a Mack touch, some things simply cannot vanish in to thin air.

"I will contact the sheriff, I worked with him in the past and it would look suspicious for a truck to be lying around close to our community and us not telling anyone about it. Will tell him that some of my folks discovered it abandoned...Will get the story right and will call him."

Alex nodded "My men will ensure that there is nothing there that will lead to us, all bodies and bullet shells we are getting rid of."

Max took a deep breath calming himself down and turned to Evelyn's parents, who had been mute spectators till then and addressed them in a calm tone "Evelyn's exams are just about in a week and a half, she will leave with me once her exams are done." He paused looking at them, his eyes dared Jeff to challenge him. All he saw was tightening of muscles in Jeff's jaw but Jeff kept quiet.

He then looked at her mother and his eyes softened a bit, he was stealing her child from her. He got up walked up to her. Kneeled in front of her and gently took her hand in his and looked in to her eyes "Cathy" he started gently "She is my mate, you know I will not do anything to make her unhappy or harm her. But she is not safe here in America at present, there are too many dangers lurking around here and you know what could have happened this morning....." he paused his gentle grip on her hand became firm and his eyes hardened. Her safety was paramount regardless of what anyone thought he was getting her out of here.

Cathy sighed, he put her other hand on his in a reassuring gesture "I know Max" she said looking back in to his eyes, he searched her eyes for any doubt and found none, only understanding. He sagged in relief, he would hate to give her grief. She was his mate's mother.

He got up and said out loud to the audience in the room "So once her exams are done we leave"

Nick couldn't agree fast enough. A weight lifted off his shoulders. No one in the room objected.

"I have one condition" Cathy whispered and Max turned sideways to look at her.

She looked at him steadily "I know you will protect her but before your leave with my daughter I want her to have one more thing" She said.

"What? Anything" He said.

"The protection of your name" She dropped the bomb on the room.

The statement was met with absolute silence everyone was looking at Max who looked at Cathy for a moment and then a smile broke out on his face, then a grin.

"You know what Cathy?" He continued smiling at her "You have a deal!"

She smiled back. She had to lookout for her daughter, marriage in their world was more of a formality, especially between mates, but recently werewolves have been recognizing the importance of having their union recognized by human laws. The human laws would ensure additional protection for her daughter. She was glad Max did not think any less of her for this.

"Looks like we have a wedding to plan" Nick grinned. Something to look forward from all this shit.

"Can't believe it you are getting hitched so readily" Alex said in disbelief.

Jeff just sat there looking like he swallowed a sour lemon.

Adrian calmly added in a reasonable voice "Aren't we forgetting something important?" everybody looked at him in confusion and he rolled his eyes. Talk about jumping the gun....

"Doesn't she have to say yes?"

Silence. Yep, forgot that tiny little detail didn't they?

Jeff was the one grinning now.

Max narrowed his eyes looking at Jeff smiling away to glory, what he could give to punch that fucking beta in them mouth and get rid of some of his teeth. May be he would do it and ask for forgiveness? Yes, sounded so tempting.

He looked at Cathy whose reaction on the face seems to say, that is your department and you work it out. She had said her piece now the rest was up to him.

"Don't worry" Max said casually to no one in particular "By the time she goes with me her last name will be Roma" he paused and added "And I think its best we keep this discussion to ourselves."

"Agreed" Cathy readily jumped in. She did not think Evy would appreciate what she did here but as a mother you need to look out for you kids, even if they didn't like it.

"By the way, one more thing." Max said flicking his eyes between Cathy and Jeff "Until we go back, she stays with me."

"What?! Who do you thing..." Jeff exploded but Cathy put a hand on him to try and control him.

"I am her mate and she stays with me" Max's tone left no room for discussion.

"Ok Max" Cathy agreed readily.

"What? Cathy?" Jeff pleaded.

"He is her mate Jeff" She said as a matter of fact. Jeff could be a knuckle head sometimes.

"If she wants to stay with him. She stays with him" Cathy added.

"She is packing a bag as we speak" Max revealed.

Cathy simply nodded "Why don't I make some lunch?" She said to no one in particular "Can we meet in our house in an hour Max?"

"Sure Cathy" Max agreed.

"Good" She nodded in agreement and pulled Jeff with her and walked out of the Alpha's office.

After they left it as just Nick, Adrian, Alex and Max in the room.

Max looked at Adrian "Adrian, call Sebastian I want him here guarding her until we return to Roma. I need him here in the next twenty four hours"

Adrian nodded and Maxwell further added "I want you to go back and stay with mom"

"Got it" Adrian agreed. He would take Sebastian's place and be the Queens bodyguard.

"What about reinforcements?" We need reinforcements" Max said.

"Already on it. Should have our guys here by tomorrow" Adrian added.

"Good" Max agreed and looked at Adrian "I want to set up a task force, who will only work to uncover every single one who is behind this act. Nobody tries to attack my mate or my brother and gets away with it..alive" He wanted them to know that it just wasn't his mate he wanted revenge for but for them as well.

Adrian nodded grimly "Consider it done"

***

Evy scurried down when she heard the door open, her heart skipping a beat and butterflies in her stomach but it wasn't Max that walked in from the door but her mom and Jeff.

"oh...Hi" She said, trying to keep her disappointment off her voice. Disappointment? Since when did she get disappointed in seeing her folks? Feeling guilty she walked up to them.

Her mom had seen her look and knew who she was expecting, so she casually added "I invited Max to lunch he should be here in an hour."

"Ok" Evy said trying to sound casual.

Her mother stopped in front of her and then pulled her in to a hug "My baby!" she whispered in to her ear.

"Mom" Evy said gently "I am fine, I am ok, nothing happened to me" reassuring her parent.

Her mom pulled back, tears in her eyes, hastily wiping them away "I know, thank god you had those boys taking care of you...and now your mate. God you have a mate! My baby is all grown up...her own woman" Her mother babbled holding her daughter's shoulders in her hand.

"Mom!" Evy said, not sure what else to say.

Her mother hugged her again. She closed her eyes and soaked in to the feeling surrounding her a feeling only a mother could give and then she suddenly felt a new presence around them, Jeff came around to hug both his girls.

"All right enough of this!" her mother broke apart "I need to make some food, are you up to help me out?" She asked Evy.

"Sure" She nodded eagerly and both of them moved to the kitchen while Jeff trailed behind them.

As the preparation of food began Jeff was lounging around the dining table and the three of them were having a small talk.

Evy was nervous on how to broach the topic of her moving in with Max. But she knew something, she felt something after today....the urge to be with her mate was strong...undeniable and it was not sexual, she and her wolf wanted to be around her mate...it was like a craving...she could not be rid of, did not want to be rid of...it was the mate bond doing what it was meant to do, driving them to each other. At some level she knew that it was the mate bond but what she also realized is that she didn't want to fight it any more, she wanted to accept it, embrace it and bask in everything the bond was offering. She now understood what all of them said she would know when she got a mate...this feeling was not something that can be explained.

"Evy. It's not wise to be miles away in your head with a knife in your hand" her mother gently admonished pulling her back from her thought. Evy looked down and winced, she had cut the lettuce in to a billion pieces probably.

"Sorry" Evy said.

"No worries dear" Her mother reassured "The last thing I want is for you to cut yourself"

"I know" she said and added "Um...mom...I need to tell you...both of you something" She threw a glance over her shoulder to Jeff who as busy flipping channels of TV and he did not hear her.

"Yes?" Her mother prodded gently, coming close but continuing to knead the dough.

"Uh...Um...Max wants me to move in with him" there she said it. It was out. Glad it was out. Now she shifted nervously, she had set the knife down, right now she could not be holding it steadily.

Her mother looked at her for a moment, her eyes roaming her face, trying to read her or something.

"Is that what you want?" Her mother asked.

Her mother was letting her know that her choice was important, even when she had a mate she could have a say in what she wanted to do and she would support her.

Even though Cathy had agreed to Max she would go back on it if her daughter was not ready. Mate or no mate she would not stand for something her daughter was not in for and as her mate he surely would not do something that she was not happy to do.

"Yes" Evy responded so confidently that she surprised herself like up till this moment she really was not sure how ready she was.

"Well then. That's settled" Cathy answered, moving her focus back to the preparation at hand.

Evy's mouth gaped open, she just told her mother she was going to shack up with a guy...her guy but, not even a peep of protest? She knew they would have eventually agreed but not so readily.

"um...you ok with this" She had to ask.

Her mother looked at her and gave a sad smile "I knew one day you will have to leave...either with a mate or on your own...as you had planned to go to college. I am sorry it didn't work out the way you wanted it to Evy. I knew you had plans. It might be selfish of me but I am glad you have someone who will look after you, will have your interest at heart...I am glad of that and who knows you might end up getting best of both worlds." She paused and added "am I ready? What mother is? But...you are no longer my baby now...as much I want you to be. You are a young woman who is starting the most exciting phase of her life and the decisions you make should be yours and yours alone. Remember that Evy, no matter what, no matter who, never do something you are not ready for."

Evy could not help her eyes tear up. "Thank you mom" she sniffed.

Her mother turned again to the food she was cooking and said without looking at her "And Evy. Be careful. I am not ready to be a grandmother anytime soon."

Evy just blushed and went back to the lettuce. She would not try to destroy it.

***

She opened the door and stared at him, she had literally jumped up and rushed to the door when the doorbell rang in all eagerness.

He smiled down at her and whispered "Hi"

"Hi. Back" She whispered back moving closer to him.

He leaned down at her and quickly stole a kiss from her.

"Tasty" he grinned "I don't know about having lunch when I have a tasty little morsel right here."

"Well, this morsel cannot survive on kisses, she need proper food" She retorted back.

"Are you saying you prefer food over my kisses?" He demanded pretending to be offended.

"Hmm" she pretended to think over it, tapping her finger on her chin.

"Ouch" he muttered "My ego....i don't think it can take it anymore"

She just laughed evilly and invited him in leading him in to the house.

***

They all had settled down for lunch.

"So you ready for your exams?" Max asked her.

"I think so" she said "I did cover a lot of ground, I think I am ready" They were starting next week.

"Great. I am sure you will ace them without a problem" He said, trying to pep talk her.

"When do you plan to go back to Roma?" Cathy asked.

"ah.." he said eyeing the three of them "Initially I thought two weeks after Evy's exams now, the sooner the better...didn't think through it though." He confessed.

Evy froze, he wanted to leave early? Her heart dropper in to her stomach. He naturally wanted to go home and she has been keeping him here for a while now and she knew he would not go back without her, especially now.

"When do you want to leave?" Evy asked.

He looked at her "I plan to leave a week after your exams...I want us to leave...but if you need more time" Time was not something they had, not that he would discuss this over lunch with her family but in private he would urge her to consider.

"Ok" She responded. She knew that every day they stayed here they would be in danger.

"Nothing is set in stone. We can iron out the details Evy" Max promised.

"It's ok Max I am ok to leave whenever you want to after my exams" She gave him a small smile indicating her willingness hoping to cover her nervousness of leaving everything that was familiar to her.

Jeff held his mouth. Even though he hated it he know Evy would be safe in Roma than anywhere else in the world and regardless of how much he didn't want her to go...that was the best solution.

The rest of the lunch conversation was filled with small talk and after that Max and Evy headed upstairs to her room.

"This will be one of my favorite beds ever" Max said looking at her bed fondly "Some nice memories here" he teased lightly looking at her and grinned when he saw her blushing.

"Come her" he whispered to her and she walked closer, he grabbed her in to a hug and started kissing her senseless.

She put her hands around him readily reciprocating and deepening it. They broke up after a while but she was still in his arms.

"So ready to go?" he whispered in to her ear huskily.

She nodded in to his chest unable to answer verbally.

"Lets go then." He said, he couldn't wait to get her alone "Do you have everything you need?" he asked her and she moved to a bag she packed earlier to pick it up.

"Yes, I have a few things for now, we can come back for the rest later"

"Sounds good" He confirmed "Did you tell your folks or you want to go down and talk to them?"

"They know, I told them earlier today"

He nodded in response and extended his hand to her.

She took his hand in one of her which he clasped tightly and in the other hand she held her bag.

Together they walked down and her mother and Jeff were in the living room.

"We will be leaving now" Max announced.

"Ok" Cathy answered.

And as they walked out of the house there was an SUV waiting. The woman hugged quickly and Evy went over and gave Jeff a quick hug and a kiss on his cheek and he stood there stoic.

Max opened the back door for her and as she climbed in he closed the door and as he was about to go to the other side for him to get in, Cathy called him

"Max" She asked "Take care of my girl"

He nodded at her and said in an absolute confidence "You have my word on that Cathy"

With that he climbed in and the SUV sped away leaving behind an emotional mother whom Jeff grabbed in to his arms to offer her the support she needed.

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