Chapter Twelve

The back room of the club was lit by only a handful of light bulbs, each hanging from the ceiling by a wire. It was a room far too small for the dozen fighters that were summoned. It was clearly not the entire card. Only one woman fighter was there, surrounded by her coaches. Her opponent must not have been able to make it. Leroy had also said they had attracted some big names to fight. They probably couldn’t make it, either.

Sam sighed as he slumped against the wall. It didn’t matter. The meeting wasn’t for everyone else. It was for him, to demonstrate the hold Rock and Cort felt they had on him. Surprise, motherfuckers. You don’t have squat on me.

He took a deep breath to try to calm his quaking stomach. Micah and Caleb weren’t shitting him. This was the night nearly all the women he had messed around with were at the club. They all took the liberty to fondle him, caress him, attempt to kiss him. Halfway through the crowd, he felt his stomach lurch up its contents. He barely got to the hallway leading to the restrooms before he vomited. When he had Henry and Delilah in his arms, mating was certainly a blessing. At the moment, it was a curse.

He glanced at Josiah, Micah, and Caleb. All of them were pale. They didn’t fare much better through the mob. Ezekiel, Joshua, and Abraham did their best to protect them. But the mated managed to finally outnumber those not mated.

Samuel growled as Cort and Rock strode into the room. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Cort announced, “thank you for your time. We won’t keep you long. In light of recent events, we wanted to assure you that your event will go on as planned. We regret Leroy’s untimely passing. It is unfortunate.” He looked directly at Sam. “Our deepest sympathy to those who were closest to him.”

“You dragged us all down here to offer us your sympathy?” Samuel questioned. “Who is running this dog and pony show?”

Rock’s evil grin spread across his face. “We are, Mister Hallow. Not only do we own this promotion, we own this club. We look forward to working with each and every one of you to make you all world champions. Are there any other questions?”

His question raised a dull roar of murmurs, but no one spoke up to ask a question. Rock nodded to the group. “We will see you at weigh-ins in two weeks.” He smirked at the Hallows. “Or sooner.”

Slowly the crowd of fighters and their teams filed out of the room into the chaos of the club. Samuel never took his eyes off Cort and Rock. He wasn’t about to let his guard down. Someone else would end up like his aunts and Leroy. He felt his stomach twist in a knot and bile burn in the back of his throat.

“Hey, Sam.”

He looked down to find a blonde at his side, her long slender fingers running up his stomach toward his chest. Each stroke brought him closer to retching.

He took a double take at her. She was one of the girls he bent over and had sex with in the middle of the dance floor. Of course she knew his name.

Wait. Had sex with? Shit. Was he really that domesticated now?

She traced a circle across his chest. He caught her hand before he threw up again. She pouted. “Come on, Sammy. Fuck me. You know you want to. I’ll tell Derek to put some of that clear shit the new owners got into your beer. The sex has been amazing since they brought it in. Mind-blowing. Blow my mind, lover.”

Samuel glanced over to the bar. The bartender tilted an ancient looking glass decanter over the row of cocktails on the bar. He could barely see the drizzle of clear liquid he poured from it. He studied the crowd around him. He thought the shit that went down in the club before was bad. It had nothing on the orgies happening around him now. There were at least five couples naked and having sex near him, and that was just what he could see. He saw the flicker of a toothy grin from one man plowing into his lover from behind. Samuel swallowed back the fear that filled him. The dude was sporting a nice set of fangs.

He shook himself to his senses and held up his other hand. “I’m married.”

“So? She won’t ever know.”

“I’ll know. I’ll care. Not in a million years would I have sex with you again. Excuse me.” He didn’t wait to see her reaction. He shoved his way roughly through the crowd after his brothers.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Caleb demanded before he popped a couple of antacids in his mouth.

“Little young for an ulcer, bro,” Joshua commented.

“It helps a little. So, Sam? What took so long?” Caleb questioned.

“There’s more than Rock and Cort. I saw another one balls deep in a woman. And we need to keep Henry and the girls away from this place. They’re slipping some clear liquid in all the drinks, and it’s causing,” he motioned toward the club, “that.”

“So I wasn’t the only one who saw it,” Ezekiel replied. “Abe shouldn’t have been in there. Momma would kill us if she knew.”

Abraham frowned. “I’ve had sex.”

Ezekiel pointed at the building. “That wasn’t sex. It wasn’t even an orgy. That was light years past an orgy.”

“You’re caught up in the sex,” Micah interjected. “Let’s not ignore the fact that they are currently brainwashing an entire club into obeying them. I don’t know if a vampire can turn a human into one of them. But let’s face it, boys. That clear liquid Sam saw is building them an army. Against us.”

“How do you figure?”

“Get the humans hooked on the pleasure. Then, once they’re addicted, take it away. They’ll do anything to get it back. They’ll lie, they’ll steal.” Micah paused. “They’ll kill.”

Josiah cleared his throat. “Everyone, in the cars. We’ll discuss this when we get home.”

The car ride back was quiet and tense. No one said a word. Samuel glanced around at the riders in Micah’s Jeep. Micah kept his gaze on the road. Josiah kept his on his cell, most likely texting his new mate. Caleb stared out the window and occasionally cursed. Samuel, for the first time in his life, felt helpless.

As they broke through the tree line, Josiah spoke. “Sam, I’m behind you one hundred percent in this fight. But you need to forfeit your number one contender spot.”

“Excuse me?” Samuel demanded. “No fucking way. I have busted my ass for this.”

Josiah turned in his seat to face him, the light from his cell the only thing illuminating him. “Think about it. You get your championship fight against Felix Ross. Who still controls your career? Who can still manipulate you? We need to cut ties with these sons of bitches as soon as possible.” He looked at Micah and Caleb. “That means you two need to drop your belts too.”

Micah cursed under his breath. Caleb sneered. “No fucking way.”

“Cay, think about it.”

“No, Joe. You think about it. I told you all. I am not content to fight in these little promotions. I will be world champion. I don’t care what it takes for me to get there.”

“How much are you willing to sacrifice for your championship, hot shot? Your mate? Your daughter? They will own you. And they will kill them. So what do you really love?”

“Fuck you.”

“Do whatever the fuck you want, Cay. You always do. Remember the rest of us have to protect the family. If we have to cut you out, we will.”

Caleb growled as he turned his attention to the trees flying past. Josiah sighed heavily and stared out the windshield. Samuel slumped in his seat. He didn’t think things could get worse. But he had a feeling they were far from the end.

The four Hallows hopped out of the Jeep as the engine died. Without a word, Josiah slid behind the wheel of his truck, fired it up, and disappeared down the tree-covered lane. Caleb stormed past Meg and Ruby, slamming his cabin door behind him. Micah slowly crossed the camp to his mate and wrapped her in his arms. Samuel stared at Henry and Delilah as he walked to them.

“Sam?” Delilah asked. He could hear the worry in her voice.

He shook his head as he opened the door. “It’s bad.” Before they could ask anything more, he escaped inside the cabin, closing the door behind him.

»»•««

The next two weeks passed quicker than any of them hoped. Delilah spent nearly every day with Eve in either woman’s cabin researching Henry’s birth line. Meg and Ruby joined them nearly all the time they were together. The process was painfully slow at the beginning. It became more terrifying as it picked up steam.

Samuel went to Henry’s appointment with the university president so he could resign from his job. While they were there, the other six Hallows packaged up all of Henry’s belongings and brought them to the camp just like they had with Eve and Meg. Henry moped for a day and a half until Littlefoot offered him a job at the library on the reservation. He was reluctant at first. That was until he realized he got to work with children. By the time the fight arrived, he talked non-stop about his day at work. Samuel and Delilah never saw him so happy.

Samuel spent all his time in the gym training with whatever brother was available. There was too much at stake to lose. When he took the fight, all he cared about was getting his shot at Felix. Now all he wanted was to keep his mates safe and his family intact.

The three of them spent all day apart. But at night, when the moon rose, they were wrapped tightly around each other. When Samuel couldn’t sleep, which seemed to be happening quite a bit lately, he lay silently to hear Henry and Delilah sigh as they slumbered. He didn’t know he could love someone this much. Instead of one, he had two to love and a baby on the way. His family was his only reason to be alive. He couldn’t let anyone take them from him.

Samuel coerced Henry to take a run with him at sunrise the morning of weigh-ins. Of course, they didn’t keep on track. A moment to stop for a sip of water led to kissing. Kissing led to touching. Touching led to making love in the lush ferns that lined the forest floor. Samuel had hoped to catch a shower before breakfast. Instead, they jogged into camp long after the breakfast dishes had been put away.

Delilah stood on the porch as they slowed their pace. By the look on her face, she wasn’t happy. She had a pile of papers rolled up in her fist. Did she guess what they had done in the woods? Was she angry she wasn’t included? They had made love the night before while Henry watched. Why would what he and Henry done bother her?

“Hello, beautiful,” he greeted. There was hesitation in his voice.

Delilah lowered her head and stared at the papers. Samuel frowned. “Dee, what’s wrong?”

She looked at Henry. “Eve and I finished our research into your family line, Henry. It went painfully slow until about five BC. Then it broke loose. This guy was so terrifying that over a dozen people kept track of his family line. There has been case after case of his descendants tearing a bloody trail through history, and they were all dressed like an ancient Egyptian. Henry, sweetheart. I’m so, so sorry.” Her eyes glistened as she continued. “There is a reason Sam saw you look like you were from ancient Egypt. There’s a reason those bastards called you the Heka. You came from his direct line. You are his grandson. Henry, he passed his spirit to his son, and it continued from generation to generation. You have the spirit of the Heka in you. You are the Heka.”

“Wait.” Henry clenched his hands to his hips. “So you expect me to turn into this guy again and let him go batshit crazy?”

She shook her head as a tear slipped down her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

He jumped up the steps of the porch and enveloped her in his arms. “Dee, I promise you I won’t flip out. I won’t let him have control. You keep me grounded. As long as I have you, I’ll stay me. Okay?”

She nodded with a sob. Henry looked at Samuel. “What are your brothers going to say?”

“I’m not telling them until after the fight. Promise me you’ll stay by them and Littlefoot and Littlefoot’s nephews at the weigh-in. And for the love of all that’s good and holy, don’t drink anything. They’re building an army that way. That goes for you too, Delilah. I’ve seen what it does to women. I don’t want it happening to you. Let’s get through the next two days, and then we’ll figure out what to do about the Heka.”

Samuel hopped up the steps and strode past them. He didn’t stop until he was in the bathroom with the door shut and locked. Henry was indeed the Heka. Fuck. That was all he needed. He spun the knob to hot and waited for the room to fill with steam. Then he stepped into the warm stream. He let out a groan as the water gently pelted his sore muscles.

He didn’t know how long he stayed in there. He didn’t think it was very long, although he had been lost in his thoughts. He stepped out of the bathroom with only a towel knotted around his waist so he could get dressed. He was greeted with a whimper and a guttural moan that made him instantly hard.

He leaned against the doorframe of the bedroom door and then nudged his towel aside until his hand was wrapped tightly around his cock. He bit his lower lip to stay quiet.

He watched as his mates made love to each other. He stroked in time to their motions, fighting the urge to fill Henry like Henry filled Delilah. Henry drove hard into Delilah as he stared into her eyes. Samuel could see the delicate bumps of her knuckles under the sheet as she buried her fingers into Henry’s ass. Suddenly her neck arched back as she cried out his name.

Samuel’s hand quickened as he bit back a growl. Watching her come was always so incredibly sexy. Listening to Henry’s grunts as his body tensed and his brow furrowed nearly pushed him over the edge.

Henry slowly lowered himself and held Delilah tightly in his arms. The way his body shifted under the covers, Samuel could tell he was still buried deep in her. They whispered to each other between soft, deep kisses. It wasn’t the sex that aroused him. It was the intimacy they shared, the connection that sparked between them.

Delilah laughed. Her voice was a breath. “Look who’s watching us.”

Samuel looked up to see both Henry and Delilah watching him. Henry grinned. “Come here, Sam.”

Samuel wandered to the bed, his hand still gripped tightly to his erection. “I don’t have time to get into…”

His words died as Delilah peeled his hand free. Henry licked up the length of him back and forth before swallowing him. They took turns sucking him between kisses. Sam buried his fingers in Henry’s thick hair. He noticed Henry’s hips roll against Delilah. Her soft sighs against his cock echoed Henry’s strokes. Watching their bodies writhe together, digging deeper, searching for pleasure while feeling their warm mouths worshiping him was too much. He roared as he came. He barely heard Delilah’s cry or Henry’s muffled grunts. Did they all come together? It seemed like it.

“Sam, come to bed,” Delilah begged, her voice husky.

“I wish I could. I need to find something to eat. I have to go to work. I need to end this. I need to keep you safe. Tonight I’ll hold you both.”

She smiled at him and lifted her head for a kiss. Then he kissed Henry, tasting himself on his lover’s tongue. He crossed the bedroom to search for clothes in the drawers. He heard the rustle of the bed sheets behind him but thought nothing of it.

That was until Henry appeared beside him. “Mind if I tag along? I’m starving.”

Samuel looked behind them to Delilah sitting up in bed with the sheets tucked around her. “You’re picking food over sex?”

Henry shrugged. Delilah laughed and shooed them away. “Go eat. I’m going to go find Meg and Eve and find out what a girl wears to one of these. I’ve seen the world. I haven’t seen the weigh-in for an MMA fight.”

The guys chuckled as they left the room, taking a second to gaze at her bare ass as she climbed out of bed. They chatted to each other as they slipped inside the family building and made their way to the kitchen. Samuel scrambled nearly a dozen eggs while Henry chopped up fruit. Then they hopped up on the counter and started to feast.

Henry laid his fork on the counter. “I’m sorry.”

Samuel frowned. “For what?”

“For getting stuck with me and this craziness. For the Heka. I honestly didn’t know my great grandpa times a thousand was a bloodthirsty maniac set on ending the world.”

Samuel laughed as he set his bowl down. He jumped down from the counter and braced his hands on either side of Henry’s knees. “Henry, you’re talking to a living, breathing werewolf. Like a legit werewolf. I brought crazy to the party a long time ago.”

Both of them laughed and then shared a kiss. They parted when they heard someone clear his throat. Micah stood in the doorway. There was a slightly stunned look on his face.

Samuel rolled his eyes. “Dude, you’re going to have to get used to it. He’s my husband. He’s not going anywhere.”

Micah frowned. “When did you get married?”

“It’s not official yet. But in my eyes, it is.”

“It’s great. I’ll get used to it. You guys are cute together. Josiah wants you to get your stuff so we can go. He wants you to get this over with.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

Henry hopped off the counter and took Samuel’s hand. Together they made their way through the building and back to the cabin.

Like earlier that day, Delilah met them on the porch dressed in a Hallow Brothers T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Henry’s face fell. “Shit. Not more bad news.”

She beamed at them. “No, I’m the bearer of glad tidings this time. My associate at the Tibetan Department of Archeology messaged me. He knows a Buddhist monk who will marry us. We have to let my friend know when we’ll be there, and he’ll inform the monk.”

“Wait. So they’ll marry three Americans in Tibet?”

“No. One of us needs to be a resident of China and has to present a Chinese resident permit.”

Samuel shook his head. “I’m confused. Which one of us has that?”

“I do. Remember how your brothers moved Henry’s things? Well, mine are in Beijing right now. Well, the stuff that isn’t immediately necessary at the moment. We should probably pack that stuff up while we’re there.”

Samuel gaped at her. “Okay.”

She stepped down from the porch and kissed each of them. “You guys leave the planning to me. Have your passports ready.”

“What passport?”

“You don’t have a passport?”

“I’m a werewolf. What would I do with a passport?”

Delilah sighed. “We’ll expedite one.”

“Okay. I’m going to go get ready for my weigh-in.”

“And I’m going to change,” Henry interjected.

“Fine. You should probably hurry. And no hanky-panky.”

Henry took Sam’s hand in his. “Can’t promise anything.”

Both men laughed as Delilah strode off exasperated. They jogged up the steps and into the cabin, closing the door behind them.

»»•««

The club was packed wall to wall as Samuel expected. Although he noticed the ancient decanter had been put high on the top shelf, there were still couples getting nasty on the dance floor. The stuff must have a residual effect. The quicker they could get out of here, the better.

He glanced over at Delilah and Henry standing below the stage beside Meg and Eve. Both were dressed in jeans and Hallow Brothers T-shirts. It wasn’t a look he was used to seeing on either of them, but seeing them sport his family’s colors was a turn-on for him. As far as he was concerned, they were the two hottest people in the place. No, the planet. Behind them, Littlefoot and his nephews built a wall with their bodies to protect them. The crowds around them tried their worst to get by, but they didn’t budge.

He felt his stomach flip. He wished someone had built something around him and his brothers. He shoved away the hand touching him as he noticed Bowser McNamara ascend the opposite staircase.

“It’s show time,” Josiah shouted over the noise as he nudged Samuel up the stairs. Samuel stormed up them with his brothers on his heels.

They stood on the edge of the stage as Bowser stripped down to his fight shorts and stepped on the scale. Rock and Cort waited at the back of the stage, observing the entire process. He locked stares with Cort. The vampire smiled at him. Samuel growled under his breath.

“Two hundred and sixty-five point five pounds,” the announcer shouted into the microphone. Bowser stepped off the scale and turned to sneer at Samuel. He finished it off with a dog bark.

Samuel scowled. “I will smack that look off your face.”

Josiah shoved him gently toward the scale. “He can’t hear you. Save it for the cage.”

Samuel strode across the stage. The cheers and catcalls were nearly deafening. They got louder as he slowly peeled his clothes off. He glanced down at the floor below him. Delilah was clearly annoyed with the attention other women were giving him. Henry was fixated with Samuel stripping. He elbowed Delilah, who shot him the nastiest look Samuel had ever seen her flash. When Henry pointed at the stage, the expression disappeared. His little wifey stared at him wide-eyed as he dropped his jeans, leaving him in his fight shorts.

“Sam, get on the scale,” Josiah demanded.

Samuel stepped on the scale and stood stone still. A hush fell on the crowd. The physician muttered to the announcer who then called it out to the crowd. “Two hundred and sixty-four point five pounds. This will be an epic battle. Let’s face off, gentlemen.”

Samuel stepped off the scale and spun on his toe to face Bowser and his team. He could see his brothers flank him out of the corner of his eye.

Bowser stepped up to him until they were nose to nose. “I’m going to crush you, Hallow. Then I’m going to feast on your bones.”

“I’m gonna put you down like the dog you think you are,” Samuel replied. “You won’t be getting up, son. They’ll have to carry you out.”

Bowser shoved against Samuel to push him back. Samuel stood his ground, his whole body cold and calculating. Security guards lining the stage and their own teams pulled them apart. “Drop into fight stances for pictures, boys,” one of the guards instructed.

Samuel’s stare never left Bowser as he lifted his fists and dropped into fight stance. When the sea of cell phone flashes died, they were ushered to opposite sides of the stage. He started dressing and noticed a brother missing. “Where’s Cay?”

“He took off to take a leak before we go,” Abraham reported.

Samuel looked at Josiah and Micah as he tugged a boot on. “Can you get Dee and Henry safe through this crowd to my truck? I’ll go get Cay.”

“We’ll get them out,” Josiah replied. Samuel pulled his second boot on and then launched himself off the stage toward the restrooms. He slapped hands away as he went. It helped a little. He couldn’t stop the ones that grabbed his ass. He shook the final hand free as he stepped into the cold, dim hallway.

He heard Rock’s voice before he saw him. It made the already cool hall downright frigid. “I know you want to be world champion. You don’t need your brothers. I can do that for you. I can pave the way to the greatest stage there is. Let me do that for you. What I need in return is simple. Bring me the amulet and the librarian. That is all I require.”

Samuel flattened himself against the damp wall. He peered around the corner to find Caleb standing still, the championship belt he had brought strapped across his shoulder. His face was stone as Rock slowly circled him, crooning to the fighter. Sam’s heart fell in his gut. If Caleb wanted no part of it, he would have already cussed out the vampire and stormed off. His younger brother was seriously considering the offer.

Rock cocked his head and studied Caleb. “Nothing? What else do you require? Maybe I should reiterate my deal. I will make you the greatest fighter alive. Power, riches? They are yours. But I can also take away the dearest things you love. That blonde who was standing next to the librarian tonight. She’s beautiful.”

Samuel watched Caleb. To anyone else, he was stone still. But Sam knew him. Caleb bristled at Rock’s words. Unfortunately, the vampire noticed too. His smile widened. “The daughter she bore you is lovely also.” He ran his tongue along his fangs. “Something of that exquisite beauty usually has the sweetest taste.”

Caleb’s nostrils flared. Before he could act, Samuel stepped out and grabbed his arm. “Walk away, Cay. He’s not worth it. He and his kind aren’t going to touch any of our mates.”

Rock laughed. “Our kind? After your fight tomorrow, we will own you too. You Hallows are too stupid to walk away from the battle. It’s typical of your kind. Mangy mutts.”

Samuel huffed. “Mutts? Shit. At least we can walk outside during the day, you asshole. A meeting in the middle of the night? How about we meet at noon next time? Oh, wait. I bet you’ll go up in flames, huh? You’re not smiling anymore. Guess I hit a nerve.”

Rock growled. “Watch where you tread, Hallow.”

“You don’t scare me. We don’t fight because we’re too stupid to walk away. We fight because we’re the alpha males. We are the top of the food chain, and a bunch of bloodsuckers aren’t going to knock us off the mountain. So go crawl back in your coffin, Drac. We’ll see you tomorrow night.”

He tugged Caleb with him. His brother offered no resistance. They shoved their way through the crowd and out the door, not stopping until they reached the others waiting for them.

“What’s going on?” Josiah demanded.

“We’re not talking about it.” Samuel glared at Caleb before he hopped behind the wheel of his truck beside Delilah. “Let’s go home. I need some sleep.”

He slammed the door and started the vehicle. He pulled out and down the road before any word was said.