Red Wolf

  ****

  Thirty minutes later Boone and Delilah met back in the parking lot showered and in clean clothes. “Here’s your rope,” Boone stated handing Delilah her golden hand woven restraint. “Let’s get this over with so we can eat and then get some sleep. I have a long drive tomorrow.”

  “Me too,” Delilah announced while giving nothing away.

  The unlikely duo headed to the police station to complete their statements and to get paid. The Police Chief had the virtual paperwork ready, handing them each a tablet. “This should make the two of you quite rich for a while. I have never seen a bounty so large. The state of Wisconsin is thrilled to have this bastard in custody. You are quite the heroes.”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Kruger are the real heroes,” Boone rebutted. “I would like to donate half of my share to the renovation of their home.”

  “That is a quarter of a million dollars, son,” the Police Chief exclaimed in surprise.

  “Still, they deserve it for what they had to endure,” Boone stated sadly. “They did not ask to be a part of Walters’ reign of terror.”

  “Me too,” Delilah announced. “I can live on the remainder for the winter.”

  The Police Chief shook both Boone’s and Delilah’s hands and smiled. He beamed as he made arrangements for the division of the money. “We will be able to make the house as good as new with your donations.”

  “Huxley?” the clerk questioned looking up at Boone. “What kind of name is that? Did your parents hate you?”

  “It is just a name,” Boone shrugged. He knew neither of his parents named him Huxley. He had taken the name on his own.

  “You are too handsome for a name like Huxley,” the clerk cooed before she felt Delilah’s cold stare. “Sorry,” the clerk smirked and looked back at her computer. “All funds have been transferred, Mr. Boone. Ms. Wodan, you are next.”

  “Wodan?” Boone smiled as he learned Delilah’s last name.

  “It is just a name,” Delilah smiled as she signed her name on the tablet. Glancing at Boone, she announced, “Let’s go.” Delilah turned and headed for the exit. Boone quickly caught up with her outside.

  “Hell woman, how did you get them to reimburse you for your destroyed jeans?”

  “Just a trick I know,” Delilah grinned smugly.

  “What are you; some kind of charmer? A Nephilim?”

  “Me, an angel?” Delilah laughed. “I am so much more than that!”

  Boone thought for a moment. What’s more than an angel? Then his eyes went wide, and he stared at Delilah. Delilah smiled and continued walking.

  “So where do we go from here?” Boone asked realizing Delilah wasn't going to answer his question about being a half angel.

  “I do not know about we, but you are buying me dinner and a bottle of wine.”

  “Me? I thought this was a joint effort,” Boone countered.

  “I took the psycho down. I restrained him. You gotta buy dinner and drinks.”

  Boone shook his head in disbelief. But fair was fair, and she did capture Walters, not him. Boone then nodded in agreement. “Pick a place,” Boone acquiesced.

  “I know of a great lodge nearby with the thickest prime rib in the state of Wyoming. And their wine selection is adequate.”

  “I could go for some prime rib,” Boone smiled with an approving nod. “Lead the way.”

  Thirty minutes later Delilah was pulling into the parking lot of the lodge. They quickly placed their food and drink orders. Boone stared at his glass of beer while Delilah stared at her glass of sweet red wine. It was awkward. Boone wanted to know more about Delilah. He also wanted to know what she knew about him. She already knew his real name, that he was a wolf and that he had the ability to heal.

  Delilah was apprehensive to reveal what she knew. Her duty was only to watch over Boone, to protect him, to keep him safe. But after ten years and watching over him from afar she had spent the entire day at his side. The tortured lonely wolf was a man, a real man. He had protected her today. He had healed her today. Their relationship had drastically changed in the past ten hours. They had both shown their human side, their emotions, their happiness and their fear.

  Delilah was afraid if she revealed everything she knew, he would hate her. And it would devastate her. It had been a very long time since she had someone she could consider a friend, a confidante. They both had secrets. But could she trust him with hers? He could trust her. He just did not know it yet.

  “Wodan?” Boone asked again breaking the deafening silence.

  “Yes. My father is of Germanic descent.”

  “But you have dark features,” Boone stated as a question.

  “My mother was French-Canadian,” Delilah revealed.

  “That explains the accent,” Boone chuckled. “And the medicine pouch?” Boone added as a question.

  “It conceals the amulet my father gave me.”

  Boone was curious, but he did not ask for more details. He did not want to pry or to lose her trust. She could trust him. She just did not know it yet.

  “Well, I do not exactly look like my mother,” Boone grinned. “I guess I look like my father, but I have never met him so I do not really know.”

  “Your mother never told you and your grandparents about your father?” Delilah asked confused.

  “My mother died giving birth to me. My grandparents never talked about my father. They told me what he was but never who he was. He is not even named on my birth certificate.”

  Delilah quickly realized Boone knew none of the truth about his heritage. There was so much he needed to know. But how much and how soon? It was a lot to reveal on their first day together.

  Luckily the arrival of their dinner gave Delilah a reprieve from the doom looming over their conversation. It gave her more time to think.

  The silence throughout dinner was overwhelming. Both needed to talk. Both needed answers. Both knew it was neither the time nor the place. The lodge was not crowded, but it was public. This was a conversation to have out of the public eye; in private.

  After dinner, they split a heavenly chocolate soufflé and left the lodge. The drive back to the motel was equally quiet. Boone pulled into a convenient store and picked up more beer and wine. Delilah followed Boone into his motel room.

  Delilah sat nervously at the end of the king size bed. After pouring Delilah a glass of sweet red wine, actually a disposable plastic cup of wine, Boone sat on the only chair in the room. Delilah took a large sip of wine and then took a deep breath.

  “Hooxei,” she started. “I know a lot about you. I like you, and I do not want you to think I have been keeping secrets from you. I do not want to tell you everything. Not tonight. But I will tell you about your father.”

  “You know who my father is?”

  “Yes,” Delilah revealed and reached out and took Boone’s hand. “Let’s sit together.”

  Delilah slid onto the floor with her back braced against the well-used bed. “I will tell you the truth. I will not lie to you. I just cannot tell you everything. Not yet. But I will, in time.”

  Boone joined Delilah on the floor and stared into her eyes. He knew she was sad and frightened. Not frightened of him but of the story she was about to tell. His body became tense as he readied himself for the story about to unwind before him. He took another draw of his beer and waited for Delilah to start.