Chapter 1 ~ Prologue

Delaney stands in the living room.. her four children… Artemis, Aaron.. and the twins Dellene and Colleen, at her feet. “Maddox Adrian Quinn! I swear to the Goddess.. if you make us late one more day this month .. you won’t get your car for another year!”

Maddox flew down the stairs.. barely hitting every fourth one “I’m coming! I’m here! Are you pregnant again?” She growled “No! I am not pregnant!” Maddox said “Hangry? Wrong side of the bed? Somebody piss in your Cheerios? Cause you’re cranky”

She smacks his head and tells him to help her with the littles. He grabs Colleen and puts her on his hip.. Following Artemis to the SUV. Helping them all into their seats.

Driving to school, Delaney asks “Has your wolf spoken to you yet?” Maddox shrugs “I don’t know, sis. I don’t know how I am supposed to feel. Sometimes, I feel a pressure in my head.. I am on a short fuse this past week..even Hunt avoids me… but my wolf hasn’t said anything. Maybe it didn’t take. Which would suck.. to go through being bitten all three times and feeling like my body is going to explode.. and then no wolf? That would suck.”

She laughed “Oh no, Buddy Roe! You have a wolf. He’s there. We can sense him.. smell him.” Maddox grinned ear to ear “No way! I have a wolf? I can’t wait! These two weeks need to hurry up! I want to meet him!”

Delaney said “I am dropping Artie off at kindergarten before you, today. With Vicki already over at the daycare.. it’s too much to unpack all the other babies, just to walk Art to class.” Maddox told her “I will walk him in.. then hop on over to the high school. Just take the other three to Vicki.. after you drop us off.”

Maddox dropped Artemis off with his teacher.. then jogged across the campus to the high school. When Venom built the new schools.. he built them in a horseshoe pattern.. making them easily defensible..

Since Venom became Alpha five years ago, the club had increased in size.. from a thousand members.. to over four thousand. At least three quarters of them being ex-military. He refuses to call them a pack. He accepts any rejected or widowed military personnel needing a place to feel that brotherhood that comes with it.

Easily, four hundred members are Nomads. Meaning they wear the Warrior Wolves cut.. but are granted nomad status.. allowing them to travel. Which is fine.. because Venom is considering opening two new chapters in different states. He says he wants his presence felt.. it gives their enemies pause.

Maddox walked through the doors of the school… saying hello to everyone who greeted him. Valerie bounced up and hugged him “What’s shakin’, big guy?” He grinned at her and asked “What’s got you so perky this morning?”

She smiled and started to answer, as Hunter joined them “We have two new students.. sisters. I have been tasked with showing… umm.. Delilah around. So.. I am excused from classes today.. unless we have some of the same.”

Hunter groaned “I got the other sister.. Emily.” Valerie growled.. then covered her mouth.. eyes wide “I don’t even know what the hell that was. But I do know she better keep her mitts to herself.” Hunter laughed and hugged her “I’m all yours, bugaboo.”

Maddox walked off.. towards his locker to grab books. He had rounded a corner just as a girl bumped into him.. bouncing off his chest and then bouncing her ass off the floor. She sprung back to her feet.. rubbing her butt.. and her nose.. at the same time.

He laughed and asked “Are you okay?” She craned her neck and answered “Fuck! You’re tall! No wonder I thought you were a wall. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He laughed louder and said “Nah! I’m good.. I’m Maddox Quinn.. you.. I assume.. are one of the new kids?”

She whined “Yessss! I hate being the new kid. But my stepmother is an idiot. Delilah Collins, by the way.” Maddox asked “An idiot? Is she wicked, too?” Delilah grinned and replied “Yep! She makes Maleficent look like a guardian angel. Ahh.. such is my plight. Enough about me!”

Valerie and Hunter walked up and Maddox introduced everyone.. Hunter asks “Where’s your sister? I’m her school guide, today.” She shrugged “Stepsister. And she’s probably looking for the cheer captain to convince her why Emily is better for the position.”

Valerie asked “Have you gotten your schedule?” Delilah shook her head “Nope. Soon as I got here.. I hit a wall.” Maddox laughed again “I’m the wall.”

The girls left for the office.. and just as Maddox turned to walk to class and Hunter just stayed in place.. Maddox called his name.. Hunter said “I don’t know what to do.. I mean that chick isn’t here.. should I go to the office, you think?”

He laughed “Yes dumbass! Go to the office before they summon you over the P.A. system!” Hunter took off in the direction of the office.. passing Valerie and Delilah… “Is the other girl inside?” They nodded and he entered through the doors.

He saw a pretty girl at the front counter “Are you Emily?” She smiled prettily and told him “I thought you forgot about me.” He grinned “Never… I got hung up.. but I’m here now. Let’s get started.. shall we?”

She tucked her hand into his elbow, and they went out to find her classes. She chattered the whole time.. setting Hunter’s teeth on edge. He knew it was going to be a long day.

By the time lunch rolled around and Hunter could find Maddox and Valerie, Delilah busted out laughing. “Dude! Your ears bleeding yet? She never shuts up!” He shook his head and wrapped his arms around Valerie and groaned “Save me.” She giggled and snuggled into him.

Emily walked over and asked Maddox “Is this the cool kids table?” He shrugged and said “I don’t know. I don’t think in terms of cool kids. I think in terms of my friends.”

She scoffed “Well.. I heard you’re the captain of the football team.. I thought the cheerleaders would be here.” Valerie laughed.. “Ohh nope! That would be over there.. by the windows.. See? The head cheerleader is Bethany.. tell her I sent you.” Making Hunter and Maddox laugh.

Delilah asked “Why is that funny? Did I miss something?” Maddox grinned “Valerie and Hunter have been together since middle school. Bethany thought she could come between them by spreading rumors.. saying Val was cheating.. My older sister helped her find Bethany’s skeletons.. and Valerie rattled them all over school.”

Delilah grinned at Valerie “Ohh girl! We are going to be besties! I can already tell! What were her skeletons?” Valerie laughed “Apparently the entire football team.. at a party.. and a bet.. How long does it take to give happy endings to them.. no matter the method.” Delilah hooked her eyebrows into her hairline “The entire football team?”

Maddox laughed “Yeah.. Not me.. and not Hunter. When that shit starts.. we leave. And before you ask.. I hang out with girls.. I go to events and dances.. but I don’t kiss them.. much less anything else. I am waiting for my mate and I don’t want her dealing with an ex’s drama. Besides, my sister would kill me.”

Delilah laughed “Relax, bro! I wasn’t thinking that.. I was thinking.. Ewwww… fucking skank.” Making them all laugh. Emily stormed back over to them and said “Lilah go over there and show that girl what it means to piss me off!”

Delilah sighed and told her “Emily! I warned you! I am not beating up anybody else for you! I want to finish my diploma and get the fuck away from you and your mother. I am not getting kicked out again!”

Emily shrieked “I’m telling Mom! She will make you!” Delilah shook her head “Can’t make me do anything. Not anymore, Emily. Never again!”

The rest of the day was uneventful.. They discovered they all had gym together.. much to Delilah’s delight.. and Emily’s displeasure. Maddox told Delilah his sister was hiring at the diner, when she mentioned needing a job.. then invited them both to his birthday bonfire at the lake.. in two weeks.

At the end of the day.. they all said goodbye and parted ways.