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Maddox’s eyes shifted to me. “Because he wanted to protect our mother, despite the fact that she was gone. That’s what he does,” he said softly.
“He protects those he loves.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Nolan
Dallas’s fingers squeezed mine at his brother’s words. I was barely holding it together as every single word spoken finally revealed the truth to the world about what an amazing man I’d fallen in love with and who somehow had come to love me back.
I ignored the whispers of the crowd behind me and turned to look at Dallas. I could see he was fighting back tears. I pushed into his arms as the voices around us grew louder and louder. I tuned out Sheriff Tulley’s voice as he began yelling at his deputy, then the council members. The room got louder and louder until poor Newt was forced to cover his ears with his hands.
“It’s over, baby,” I whispered in Dallas’s ear.
He nodded against me, then, not caring who was watching, kissed me softly. We became lost in our own little world until the sound of the gavel pulled us back to reality. Jeb hammered the block of wood in front of him repeatedly as he called out to the room to settle down. People were still talking above him, though, so he kept at it.
That was when I finally noticed Maddox.
He was practically dripping sweat and he’d shut his eyes. His hands were clenched at his sides and his body jumped every time the gavel hit the wooden block. No one else seemed to notice the behavior, but when Dallas tensed next to me, I realized he’d seen it too. He was pushing past me when Isaac suddenly appeared in front of Maddox, stepping over Loki and Newt in the process. His hands went up to grab Maddox’s face and I could hear him calling the man’s name. Maddox opened his eyes, but he seemed to struggle to focus them on Isaac.
“Dallas,” I said, but before either of us could move forward, people began appearing in front of us, blocking our view. I was dimly aware of several of them telling Dallas they were sorry, but my focus was on Isaac and Maddox. The younger man had managed to get ahold of one of Maddox’s clenched fists and began pulling him from the room. Loki and Newt quickly followed.
Before Dallas and I could turn to go after them, Jeb shouted again for the room to come to order. Once he added in the threat that he’d clear the room if people didn’t comply, everyone shut up, and those that had gotten up scrambled to get back to their seats. Jeb spoke only long enough to announce that the town council’s business with Dallas was concluded and no further action would be taken against him or the center. He spouted a blanket apology to Dallas, but like me, I suspected Dallas wasn’t really listening, because his eyes were on the door Isaac had led his brother through.
“Dallas.”
Dallas and I both turned at Doc Cleary’s voice. “Is there anything you want to say, son?”
I knew what Doc Cleary was offering with the question. A chance for Dallas to have his “I told you so” moment. He had free rein to call every single person out in that room for what they’d done to him. He took out his phone and typed something, then handed it to me. I steeled myself for whatever it was he wanted me to say to the now-silent room, but when I saw his words, I smiled.
“I have lots of amazing animals that need to find their forever homes...plus one crabby zebra. Any takers?”
The crowd erupted into laughter. As Dallas threaded his fingers through mine and led me from the room, my eyes connected with my mother’s and she sent me a smile and a nod. Warmth spread through me at the expression on her face – one I could only classify as pride.
I held up my hand to my ear to mimic a phone and she smiled wide and nodded.
And in that moment I knew what it was that had made that spark of warmth flare to life inside of me.
My mother was finally starting to hear me.
We never found Maddox that night - only Isaac, Newt, and Loki where they’d been waiting by Dallas’s truck for us. Isaac hadn’t said much other than to explain that Maddox had left on foot shortly after Isaac had gotten him outside. Sawyer had joined us outside and had mentioned that Maddox had gotten a ride to the meeting with the deputy. Dallas and I hadn’t realized it, but Maddox had become friends with Deputy Miller years earlier just before Maddox had left for West Point. When he’d gone to the deputy to ask for his help in getting Loki so he could prove to the community the wolf hybrid wasn’t dangerous, the deputy had come clean about the accident and his role in it.
