Chapter Nine

The noise of the crowd and the erupting butterflies in his belly couldn’t tear Micah away from the scene beside the stage. He fought to bite back the rage boiling inside him. Deacon Rivers, that bastard he’d nearly sold his soul to, was touching Eve. His Eve. The woman he loved. And he couldn’t do anything about it in front of this mob.

Even from this distance, Micah could see her flinch from him. He spun on his toe as he headed for the steps leading off the stage. He needed Ravens away from her. The son of a bitch would only hurt her.

He felt a hand on his arm. It clenched tight around his bicep stopping him dead in his tracks. “Young Micah, how are you?” Littlefoot greeted. A step or two behind him was Noah and another of his nephews.

“Fucking peachy,” Micah muttered as he struggled to get free.

“It’s almost time,” Leroy shouted in passing.

“Micah, what the fuck is going on?” Caleb demanded.

“Ravens is here, and he’s harassing my mate,” he answered with a growl.

“You aren’t going anywhere. You step off this stage, and Ravens will take it as you’re backing out. Give me a second.”

Micah’s gaze never left Eve and Deacon. He heard Caleb curse and then walk away and jog down the steps. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Caleb and Meg talking to each other. After a quick and passionate kiss, Meg dove into the crowd toward Eve.

Caleb hurried back onstage. “Eyes on the prize, champ.”

Leroy took the microphone and motioned both sides to him. Micah studied the group approaching them. They all had long, straight dark hair that fell to their waists. Each was dressed in jeans and T-shirts just like the brothers. Their dark brown eyes and angular faces looked eerily familiar. Micah frowned and then shot a look over his shoulder at Josiah, Samuel, and Caleb. They looked just as confused as he was.

“Where are these guys from?” Samuel questioned.

“Maine,” Josiah answered.

“Wasn’t Dad from Maine?”

“Yeah.”

Leroy grinned as he addressed the rowdy crowd. “It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for, ladies and gents. In eight weeks, these two men will step into the cage and go to war. Whoever leaves the victor will be the middleweight champ. How excited are you to see this?”

There was a roar from the mob below loud enough to shake the walls. Leroy continued. “Don’t forget to get your tickets. We’re almost sold out. You don’t want to miss this.”

Micah looked down to see Deacon’s evil grin. He sighed before taking a step closer until he was nearly nose to nose with his opponent. The smile on the guy’s face terrified him.

Leroy continued on. “On my left, from north of here, is Micah Hallow. You know him and his infamous brothers. On my left is Roman Lycan. He and his team have traveled all the way from Maine for this fight and have taken over Austin Graves’s gym to train.”

Roman cocked his head at Micah and only spoke loud enough for him to hear. “So you’re Micah? I should have known.”

“So? What the fuck about it?” Micah demanded as he felt his blood run cold. “How could you possibly know who I am?”

Roman just smiled without answering. He dropped into the customary fight stance for pictures. Micah near growled. “Who the hell are you?”

Leroy nudged Micah. “Just get into fight stance for pictures, Mike.”

Micah stared from one man to the other and then slowly lowered into stance. Flashes from a sea of cell phone cameras pierced his eyes. Once Leroy patted him on the shoulder, he slowly rose and retreated back to his brothers, his eyes never leaving Roman.

Caleb wrapped his arm around his shoulders and tugged him toward the steps. “Let’s get out of here. You made your entrance. Now let’s get your head figured out so you can kick that creepy punk’s ass.”

“Noah and David will meet us outside with the ladies in a few moments. We need to go,” Littlefoot added.

Micah glared one last time at Roman before following Littlefoot and his brothers from the stage and through the club. Hands reached out to touch him. Each stray finger caused his stomach to flip.

A painful grip pinched his shoulder. “The quicker you get through, the faster it’s over,” Caleb advised.

“You?” Micah asked.

“I’m about to hurl. So let’s go.”

Micah grabbed his brother’s arm and quickened his steps, passing the others. He didn’t stop until the cold winter air bit through him.

“Thanks,” Caleb said as he slumped against the frost-covered bricks of the building.

“No problem,” Micah replied. “We’re the only ones struck with the same affliction.”

Caleb gave a weak smile as Meg, Eve, and the other men popped out of the bar door onto the sidewalk. Meg searched around her frantically. Micah watched Eve do the same thing.

“I don’t know about you, but my affliction looks pretty fucking good naked,” Caleb remarked.

Micah chuckled. “I’d have to agree. Mine does too.”

Meg scuttled across the sidewalk, not stopping until her lips were firmly embedded against her husband's. Micah felt a tinge of jealousy until Eve followed suit. He cupped his hand behind her neck to pull her closer.

“What the hell is up with those guys?” Samuel demanded. “They were like Stepford fighters. Is it just me or does anyone else sense there’s something else going on with them?”

“Micah’s going to get in and lay waste,” Josiah responded. “He’s going to give them a reason to go back to where they came from.”

“A question,” Littlefoot asked. “What about your blind spells, Mike? How can you guarantee you won’t have one while you’re in the cage? You just recovered from one.”

Micah broke the kiss and glared at Littlefoot. Eve cuddled against his chest as she wrapped her arms around him. “How did you know that I just had one?”

“Your mother told me.”

“How did Momma find out?”

Samuel shrugged. “It slipped.”

“But I told her to hold off on the smothering. Eve was watching over you. Momma didn’t like it, but she dealt with it,” Josiah added.

Micah shook his head. “Whatever. We were going to talk to Noah anyway about it.” He turned to Noah as he brushed his fingers through Eve’s hair. “You treated Cay’s leg. Could you take a look at me?”

“I can. I don’t know how much help I can be. First I would like to get an MRI of your brain. I can arrange the test in Duluth. But I’m guessing I’m going to see abnormalities with you just like I did with Cay. With Caleb, I could rely on my brothers. And I have a couple of cousins who are nurses who know about the Hallows. But I need a dedicated nurse for this. Can you afford to let someone else know your secret?”

“I can help.” Meg’s voice was a squeak. Everyone turned to look at her as Caleb held her closer to him.

Noah smiled at her. “Thank you for the offer, Meg. But if I have to operate, I need someone who is qualified.”

“I am. I was a nurse before I came here. I’ve got the degree and everything.”

“Our Meggy is a nurse?” Samuel winked at her. He nodded at Caleb. “Did dumbass there know that?”

“Yes, motherfucker. I’m her husband and mate. I’m well aware she has a nursing degree. Shit, Sam. Your mouth knows no bounds, does it?”

“Probably not.”

Noah laughed at the bickering before he spoke. “I’ll arrange an appointment with radiology to use one of their machines then call Mike and Meg. Let’s see what we’re dealing with. All right?”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Littlefoot motioned away from the raucous club. “It’s late, all. We had better hit the road. It’ll be after midnight before any of us get home.”

“We’re not staying to party?” Samuel objected.

“If you wanted to party, you should have brought your own car,” Josiah chided before he shook Littlefoot’s hand. They exchanged their goodbyes before they trudged back to the vehicles. Micah helped Eve into the back of the Jeep.

Josiah held the keys out to him. “Do you want to drive?”

Micah glanced between his older brother and his mate. “Not particularly.”

“Get in. I will.”

Micah climbed in the back and pulled Eve against him to hold her tight. His brothers were talking as they took their seats and Josiah fired on the Jeep. The tail lights of Caleb’s truck pulled out into traffic. Josiah shifted into gear and followed. They weren’t out of the city before Micah’s eyes grew heavy. Eve’s soft snores were the last thing he heard before he dozed off.

»»•««

Eve nearly bolted out of bed at the knock on the door. She clung to Micah as her heart hammered in her chest. He moaned as he wrapped a hand in her hair and snuggled her closer.

“Get up, lover boy,” a male voice boomed from outside. “Time to train.”

“Fuck off, Zeke.”

Eve frowned at him. “Who?”

He yawned. “Ezekiel. But he’s right. I better go train.” He kissed her, one of his soft, lingering kisses that turned her inside out and made her open her legs to him, hoping for more. It was then she noticed she was still in her T-shirt, bra, and panties from the night before. Her brow wrinkled, confused. How did she get here? The last she remembered she’d fallen asleep in his arms. She forgot everything as he dragged a finger across her panties.

“I carried you in last night,” he told her. “I only got your jeans off before I fell asleep beside you.”

She arched her hips against his hand. “Oh.”

Another set of fists pounded on the door. “Mike, come on.”

Micah lowered his head. “Josh. They’re each going to come pound on the door until I come out.” He softly kissed her. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Make it up to me later?”

“I’ll spend all night making it up to you. I’ll make it up to you until you can’t walk.”

Eve grinned as she kissed him. “Can’t wait.”

He laughed as he crawled out of bed and crossed to his dresser. First, he pulled on a pair of fight shorts and a T-shirt, and then covered those with a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. He pressed one last kiss to her lips before he picked up the duffle on the floor and headed out the bedroom door.

Eve buried herself in the thick, fluffy pillows and closed her eyes to go back to sleep. There was another knock at the door. “He’s headed for the gym,” she called.

A feminine voice answered her. “I’m here to see you.”

Eve sat up in bed and frowned. Slowly she climbed out of the huge bed and shuffled to the front door. She pulled it open to find Meg standing on the deck dressed in a jacket, fuzzy sweater, and yoga pants.

“Umm, you do know that you live in a camp of seven very horny guys, right? Not that they would act on it except Mike, but awkward,” Meg commented.

Eve looked down at her T-shirt and panties. “Shit. Sorry. Come in.” She stepped aside to let Meg in and then closed the door behind her.

“You don’t need to apologize to me. I get it. I’m here for the same reason you are. We’re mated to a Hallow. In my cabin, I wear far less.”

Eve felt her cheeks warm. “Me too. We were just too tired when we got home last night.”

“Us too.”

“So, any particular reason you stopped by?”

Meg slipped her hands in the pocket of her coat. “I haven’t seen you around the camp much. I can’t understand why. You need to eat.”

Eve motioned to the small kitchenette complete with a stove, sink, and refrigerator. “Micah had some food here. He doesn’t anymore.”

“Then I’m here to give you the grand tour of the place. We started off on the wrong foot last night. I don’t want to continue that way.”

“Why would you want to help me?”

Meg smiled. “Like I said. We’re in the same boat. Whether we like it or not, we are a part of this family. We might as well stick together. Go get dressed, and we’ll get breakfast.”

“All right.” Eve started across the living room but stopped. She turned back to Meg. “Do you love him?”

Meg frowned. “Who? Micah?”

“No. Caleb.”

Meg laughed. “Not at first. First, it was just hot possessed sex.”

“Now?”

“Now I love him with everything that I am. I couldn’t live without him. He’s my everything.”

“How does he feel about you?”

“The same.”

“Oh.” Eve stared at her for a long moment before she stepped into the bedroom. She quickly found a pair of jeans and a hoodie and dressed. She found Meg sitting on the edge of the couch checking her phone. She looked up at Eve. “Ready?”

“Let’s go.”

Eve shut the front door behind them and then followed behind Meg. Meg pointed to the seven small cabins. “The seven small cabins belong to each of the brothers. They go by order of birth. The farthest one is Abraham. Then Ezekiel, Joshua, then Caleb and me. The one between us is Samuel. Then there’s you and Micah then finally Josiah. The larger cabin next to Joe is Momma’s.”

“I understand Momma doesn’t like me,” Eve responded.

“Momma and Micah have a special relationship. I think she believed Micah would never mate, that he would always be there. I believe that it shocked her when he was the second to mate.”

“Got it.”

“We’re going into the main building. That’s where the gym, business office, dining room and kitchen are.”

“I’ve been in the gym.”

Meg stopped in her tracks and frowned at her. “When?”

“After the full moon when Micah picked me up.”

“And he didn’t show you the rest of it?”

Eve looked away as she bit her lower lip. “We had other things in mind at the time.”

Meg laughed as she continued on toward the largest building. “Completely understand. I’ll finish where he left off.”

Eve followed behind her as Meg showed her each of the rooms in the building. They spent several extra minutes watching through the window of the gym. They couldn’t have picked a better moment. Micah squared off with Caleb, with both men clad only in fight shorts and gloves. They traded punches until Micah took his brother to the ground. The sight leveled Eve. Fighting never appealed to her. But watching her mate battle his brother made her proud and turned her on all at the same time.

She looked over to find Meg staring in the gym mesmerized, her finger trailing down her neck and across her breast. She blushed red when she met Eve’s gaze. “Sorry. It just when I watch Cay fight, it sort of gets me going.”

“No need to apologize. Seeing Micah do this is doing the same to me.”

Meg took her hand. “Come on. Let’s get breakfast.”

She led Eve through the dining room to the kitchen. Her mouth dropped as she took in the industrial appliances, the large island, the pantry stocked with all sorts of food.

Meg nudged her. “That was my reaction, too. This is my favorite place in the camp. Well, second only to Cay’s bed.”

Eve grinned at her. “What can we have?”

“Anything. It’s all ours. We aren’t second class citizens here. We are family. What sounds good to you?”

“Is there any sort of fruit or pastries?”

“I made raspberry croissants yesterday. If the boys left any, you’re welcome to them. And there’s always fruit.” Meg led her to the pantry and opened a container. She held it out to Eve. Inside were three pastries ribboned with a raspberry purée. Eve chose one, and Meg took one also. They each bit into theirs as Meg scrambled for plates. She stopped as a buzz came from her hip. She slipped her phone out of her pocket and looked at it. “Shit. I have to find Micah.”

Eve set her croissant on the counter. “Why? Who texted?”

“Noah. He has the MRI machine this afternoon. We’re going back to Duluth. We have to leave soon.” Meg took another bite of her breakfast as she rushed from the room. Eve scooped up hers and followed her to the gym.

Caleb snarled when he caught sight of the croissants. “That’s fucking cold. He can’t have those.”

Meg held up her phone. “Noah has the machine. He wants to see you at two o’clock this afternoon, Mike.”

Micah stared at her and then pulled off his gloves. “Fuck. I don’t have time for a shower. I’m going to go change.”

“I’ll make you a sandwich for the road,” Eve volunteered.

Micah pulled her to him and kissed her hard enough to steal her breath. “Thank you, baby.”

“I’ll help,” Meg agreed. “We’ll meet you at the Jeep.”

Caleb tore off his gloves and clenched his hands on his hips as he faced his mate. “You? Why are you meeting them there?”

Meg crossed her arms across her chest. “I’m assisting Noah, remember? He and Micah need me.

“Not without me.” Caleb slipped his gloves in his bag and then zipped it shut. “I’m going with you. I’ll go change.”

“Hurry up.”

Caleb chuckled as he kissed her and took off after Micah. Meg cocked a grin at Eve. “Guess we’re making two sandwiches.”

“I have no idea what to make for him,” Eve admitted.

“I’ll help you. Let’s go get it done, though. They’ll be ready pretty quick.”

Eve and Meg returned to the kitchen. Eve stopped short when her gaze fell on the rotund older woman standing at the sink. Her heart flipped in her chest. By the glare in the old woman’s eyes, she was persona non grata at the moment.

Meg greeted her cheerfully. “Good morning, Momma.”

Momma’s voice was hesitant as she stared at Eve. “Good morning.”

“There’s still one croissant left. Do you want me to get it for you?”

“Not now. Thank you.”

Meg looked behind her at Eve and then back to Momma. “Momma, I would like you to meet Eve. Eve, this is Evelyn Hallow. Or as we call her, Momma.”

Eve swallowed hard and offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Momma glared at her for a moment silently before turning to Meg. Eve let her hand fall to her side. “What are you doing?”

“Making the boys a sandwich. Mike, Cay, Eve and I need to run into town.”

“Why?”

“Just to run an errand. We’ll be back soon.”

Momma huffed and then scuttled to the pantry. “I’m going to get a croissant.”

“I’ll get you a plate.” Meg looked at Eve as she strode to a cabinet and opened the door. “There’s butcher paper wrapped packages in the refrigerator of meat and cheese. Grab whatever you think sounds good. The guys eat anything.”

“Good to know.” Eve yanked open the refrigerator door as her heart fell. It was true. Micah’s mother hated her. She was bound for eternity to a man whose only living parent wouldn’t give her the time of day. Like I don’t think I’m the worst possible solution for him anyway. She scooped up a couple of packages from the shelf and then gathered the lettuce and tomatoes against her. She nudged the refrigerator door shut with her foot before she staggered across the kitchen to the island and unloaded her arms. She never noticed that Meg was gone until the blonde walked back into the kitchen with a loaf of bread. All Eve was aware of was Momma’s cold, hard gaze locked on her.

“Roast beef and Colby jack. Great choice.” Meg set the loaf of bread on a cutting board and sliced off eight pieces. She handed four to Eve.

Eve stared at the pieces but then shrugged. “I’ve never seen Micah eat quite this much but all right.”

Meg laughed. “Two pieces are for your sandwich. You don’t have to starve. We’re their mates, not their concubines.”

Eve chuckled as she nodded. “Got it.”

The two women quickly unwrapped packages and sliced vegetables to assemble the sandwiches. Just as they finished, Caleb and Micah strode into the kitchen. “Ready, ladies?” Caleb asked. He pressed a long kiss to Meg’s lips.

Eve watched as she scowled. They seemed so deeply in love. “We’re just finish…”

Micah’s mouth smothering hers cut off her words. She couldn’t react. She could only stand there and kiss him back, a fully made sandwich still in her grip. She heard someone clear their throat.

“We’re losing time, Mike,” Caleb chided.

Micah broke the kiss and then cocked a grin at his brother. “You started it.”

Eve stared at them all, dazed. Her gaze fell on Momma. The older woman looked infuriated. “Where are you boys going?” Momma demanded.

“Just running into town, Momma,” Caleb assured. “We’ll be back about suppertime.”

Before she could object, the brothers grabbed their sandwiches and escorted their mates from the kitchen, through the building, and out the door toward the Jeep. Both women jumped in the back and started eating. Even though she just had breakfast, Eve was still hungry, and it tasted so good. Micah shifted into drive and drove down the lane into the woods.

Eve stared at her lunch in her hands and sighed. “Momma really does hate me.”

Micah looked at her through the rearview mirror. “I’ll talk to her, baby.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to.”

“Let it go for a while,” Caleb interrupted with his mouth full of sandwich. “She’ll come around. She just has to get her arms around losing her ‘little pooky monster.’”

“Shut the fuck up, Caleb,” Micah warned.

Caleb laughed as he went back to his sandwich. Micah turned briefly to give Eve an encouraging smile. Meg squeezed her hand supportively. None of it helped. None of it erased the thoughts in Eve’s mind. I am the wrong woman for Micah.

The rest of the ride was quiet except the occasional small talk. Eve reached her hand in her purse and felt around. She had no syringes. But she had her compact and a baggie of powder. She needed to shut up the voices in her mind.

Once they reached the hospital and walked inside, Eve veered off from them on her own.

“Where are you going?” Micah questioned.

“Restroom. Three-hour car ride,” Eve answered.

“Fuck, you have a small bladder,” Caleb commented. Meg smacked him in the arm to reprimand him.

“We’ll be in radiology. Please hurry.” Micah crossed the lobby of the hospital to kiss her. She tried to smile at him as she ended the kiss and walked away. Was she betraying him? Shit, why did she have to feel this way?

Eve locked herself in the stall and then gathered what she needed from her purse. It was an awkward, tight squeeze but she managed. She pulled out her compact and the baggie and then popped it open. A hopeless laugh escaped her lips as her eyes lifted to read the drug prevention poster taped to the back of the door.

Her thoughts wandered as she balanced the compact to dump the powder on the glass. Momma hated her. Eve didn’t blame her. She was a junkie with no redeemable qualities paired up forever to her son.

She slumped to the floor. Micah. Fuck, she loved him so much it hurt. She stared at the bag in her hand. “He deserves better than me.” He clenched her eyes closed. The pain of her abuse, the thought of losing him welled up in her soul, threatening to tear her apart. She started to rock as she curled up in a ball. It didn’t make the demons go away. It made them torture her violently. She fought back the scream caught in her throat as she rocked harder. “He deserves better. Why? Why did I fall in love with him? He deserves better.”