I Don't Want to Fall

Chapter 14: Pick up

Solemnly, we waited for Gavin Maxwell to speed down the dirt road. I had instructed Cassidy to stay with Papaw at the house to keep her out of harms way and the drama. Leaving Carter and I to wait with the twins. In a cloud of dust, Gavin appeared in the dirt road to find his way blocked by my truck.

He abruptly stopped confused momentarily and then got out of the vehicle, slamming the door. He wasted no time coming up to us and demanding what was going on.

"Where is Ellowyn? What the hell are the two of you doing here." He asked, annoyed with the situation.

Carter immediately took charge. "Mr. Maxwell, I am Ms. Ellowyn's new lawyer, Carter Massengill. I will be in charge of all her legal affairs, including your divorce and child custody agreement."

Gavin looked at him blankly and then growled, "Where is Ellowyn?"

"She is sick and unable to meet with you, so Mr. Cunningham and I have stepped in to make sure the custody agreement is upheld. We are here to make sure the children are available to you for the weekend as your visitation is entailed."

Gavin frowned. "Sick with what? Has she not been taking her medicine. I demand you take me to my wife at once as I am her only family, and she is my responsibility."

"I'm sorry, sir, but as you are legally separated. You no longer hold such standing over Ms. Slade."

"Maxwell!" Gavin corrected.

"As her attorney, I am legally over her welfare until she names someone else or Emerson Maxwell is of age." Carter continued calmly.

"Bullshit! Take me to my wife right now!" Gavin commanded. Knowledge flickered in his eyes as he was mentally piecing together what was going on.

I stepped forward. "No, she is not your possession, and you have no ownership of her. Unless she states she wants to see you, then you have no right to demand anything here."

He smirked evilly as he stepped even closer to me, so we were face to face. "You think you can keep her from me simply cause she fell into your hands? She is mine, and I will have her back. Don't cross me, Carson. You have no power here." He said my name with such sarcasm and disdain.

"Don't I?" I smirked back at him, remaining eye contact.

"This is only the beginning. You will regret standing in my way. I promise you that. You might think she is yours, but she is mine."

"She is her own. Unlike you, I don't want to possess her or tear her down. She is her own person, and she will choose what she wants. You think you are so powerful for weakening her and beating her down. You are weak." I spit in his face revolted by his presence and mentality.

He laughed in mine. "You have no idea the fire you are playing with. I will destroy you and everything you care about. Is she worth all that to you?"

Our alpha auras clashed as we glared each other down. He was definitely a werewolf and a powerful one at that. Emmeline clutched at her brother's side, trembling while Emerson stood strong, keeping a neutral face. Carter shivered at our out stretching dominance, his neck unwilling, showing submission.

Our eyes locked in a stare down neither of us willing to give in. Carter was down to his knees from the force pushed out by our auras. Emerson shielded his sister behind him. Without breaking eye contact with me, Gavin told the children to get in the vehicle. They did so without a word or the slightest hesitation.

"We will be waiting for their return Sunday evening." I finally responded in a commanding tone.

He smirked, "Only if Ellowyn is here for pickup. I will not release my children to non-parental care. If she is still sick and unable to care for them, then I have the right to keep them within my care."

He turned away and walked towards the car. Only stopping to add, "That is if she survives this weekend." He laughed.

"She will. She is strong, which you know. Otherwise, you wouldn't have needed to weaken her to keep control." I sneered, and his eyes narrowed at my evaluation.

He got in the car and sped off without so much as checking his children's seat belts. Dust rose behind him as he drove like a bat out of hell. Carter had since stood back up, dusting his pants off.

"He is right, Carson. If Ellowyn is unable to care for her children as the other parent, he doesn't have to relinquish them to anyone else. You have no guardianship or claim on them. He is rightfully their father."

"She will be fine." I stated firmly. "She has to be."