Chapter Eight

The hot, arid air slapped Delilah in the face as she stepped out of her tent. She nudged her tank top up her shoulder. She never used to wear them. But since that mystical tattoo appeared, she went to great lengths to show it off. It bound her to the two people she cared the most for in the world.

She stared out over the desert, taking extra time to study the massive pit of overturned dirt ahead of her. She had been part of this dig for months. They already found a mummy and the traces of an ancient city. If they uncovered what she believed to be there, the discovery would cement her place as one of the leading archaeologists in the world.

Then she went home to visit her old friend, Henry. And she met his lover, Samuel Hallow. She seduced them, let them penetrate her alone and together. It was easily the best sex she ever had with two of the sexiest men she ever laid eyes on. It was supposed to be a fling, a quick release so she could focus on her work.

Then the tattoo appeared and Sam’s bullshit story about being a werewolf. Which wasn’t bullshit. It was the truth. Her mind went from contemplating the wonders buried in the dirt that would make her a legend to memories of the two men who had been buried deep inside her. She couldn’t stop thinking about them. No guy had ever gotten to her. These two did.

She messaged Henry whenever she had a chance. It didn’t matter the time of the day. He responded immediately. They talked for hours over the stupidest things. They reminisced about their childhoods and high school. They had emoji wars, so they kept talking. It didn’t replace being in his arms.

And Sam? She had no way to reach him. She didn’t bother to get his number before she left Minnesota. She had been so adamant about her career. She put her job before him, or so she made him believe. What he didn’t know was that she broke down in tears at the airport three times before she forced herself on the plane. She had been virtually useless the three weeks she had been in Egypt. She, Delilah Cavanaugh, one of the leading archaeologists of her time, had been taken out by a werewolf’s curse. The pull inside her, the one that bound her to her boys, ruthlessly demanded her return. She was about to throw in the towel and go home.

“Cavanaugh.”

Delilah turned to find Walt, one of her colleagues, hurrying across the sand and rocks to her. The tall, slender man with salt and pepper hair was surprisingly agile in the rough terrain. They had worked together for years. He mentored her in her early career. He was the one she worried she would disappoint the most.

She forced a smile on her face as she greeted him. “Anything new, Walt?”

“Nothing to write home about. Potter thought he found something. Might have been an old vase.”

“Well, I’m heading down to get to work. I got caught up in a conversation.”

Walt smirked. “I’ve noticed you’ve been distracted since you’ve been home. Everything all right back in Duluth?”

“Of course. Things are fine.”

“Good. So it’s a new relationship.”

Delilah felt her cheeks warm up. It wasn’t from the hot sun bearing down on her. “In a way, yes.”

“In a way? So there’s a lucky fella in your life?”

“It’s complicated, Walt.”

“Complicated, huh? A lucky lady, then?”

“Not exactly.”

“Dee, I’ve worked side by side with you for nearly a decade. I plucked you right out of college. Who hit the streets of Bangkok with you? Who visited the red light district of Amsterdam with you? If you need a hint, he’s tall and downright sexy for an old fart. So what’s so complicated?”

Delilah sighed. “It’s not one fella. It’s two. Remember my friend, Henry?”

“Your college crush? I remember.”

“It’s him and his boyfriend, Sam.”

“So, you had a ménage while you were gone. Very nice.”

“Except I can’t stop thinking about them. I didn’t miss my parents this much.”

“Well, missy, the quicker we unearth these ruins, the quicker you get back to them.”

“True.” She paused as the thoughts in her head churned. “Walt, have you ever heard of the Heka?”

“Ancient Egyptian magic? Of course I have. You wrote a paper on it.”

“Yes. But do you know of any time it took on human form?”

Walt stared at her as he pressed his lips into a thin line. “No. But there was a legend of a magician they referred to as the Heka. He was part of the Old Kingdom, maybe twenty-six, fourth-five BC, I believe. They called him the Heka because he was so powerful, those around him equated him with the god of magic. Some believed he was the god in human form. The Pharaoh at the time had him put to death.”

“Why?” Delilah asked.

“The Pharaoh had the Heka enchant an amulet for a young woman the Pharaoh had a thing for. It was supposed to give her love, peace, and prosperity. The Heka charmed the amulet as the Pharaoh commanded. However, he added an additional enchantment to it, one to conquer and rule the world. The Heka had planned to find the girl, kill her, and use the amulet for his own purpose. Someone learned of his plan and ratted him out. The Pharaoh had him executed.”

“Why had I never heard of this?”

“Because it’s a myth. Mothers told that story to their children to get them to sleep. It’s nothing academic. We need to get back to the dig before Potter finds a chicken bone someone threw out from lunch and calls National Geographic.”

“Of course. Let’s go.”

Delilah watched him turn and make his way back down the path. She frowned, confused. Did this tale have anything to do with Henry? It seemed so far-fetched. But was it as far-fetched as sharing a bed with a werewolf? She had no idea. All she knew was that a trip to Cairo was in order. With a sigh, she climbed down the path after Walt toward the dig.

»»•««

The soft white light of dawn gently lit the bedroom. Samuel tucked the sheet around himself as he sat at the foot of the bed. He silently watched Henry dress, studying his lover as he slid the slacks up his sculpted legs and fastened the zipper. Henry pulled the dress shirt up his arms and carefully pushed each button through its appropriate buttonhole. Ever since Jenny’s murder, the polos and khakis were gone. The whole debacle caused more ruckus than any of them had thought. Police detectives interviewed him. Reporters interviewed him. The whole incident left Henry cold and distant. There was nothing Sam could do to change it. But every night the mystic pull that bound them and Delilah together led Henry through the woods and back in his bed.

Samuel sighed sadly. Delilah. The redhead never called, never sent a message. He hadn’t realized how much he could miss her. Both she and Henry plagued every one of Samuel’s thoughts. It made it nearly impossible for him to train. Fortunately, two of his training partners knew exactly how he felt.

Samuel licked his lips to speak as Henry studied each cuff to secure it. “Full moon starts tonight.”

“So?” Henry countered.

“You’ll need to come during the day.”

“I work during the day.”

“Just don’t come at night, okay?”

“I understand.”

“Maybe you should wait until the sun is higher. Fuck knows what you’ll hit out there. Better yet, don’t go at all. I can’t protect you this week.”

Henry frowned. “Protect me?”

Sam scowled. “Your horror section at your library is lacking. Personal opinion. All the reading is fucking up my training schedule.”

“You’ve been spying on me?”

“I’ve watched over you. I’ve kept Rock and Cort at bay. Guess how many times they’ve been by. Seven in the last three weeks. You’re a hot commodity. So stay. Please.”

“I want to go before your family wakes up. I don’t think they approve of me.”

“It doesn’t matter what they think. It matters what I think. I love you.”

Henry scooped up his car keys and cell phone from the dresser and slipped them in his pants pocket. He strode across the bedroom and pressed a quick kiss to Samuel’s lips. “I have to go.”

Samuel jumped off the bed and followed Henry through the cabin as he struggled to tie the bed sheet around his waist. “How’s Delilah?”

Henry stopped cold and looked at him. “She’s fine. Why?”

Samuel shrugged. Then he scuffed a bare foot against the polished plank floor. “I haven’t talked to her since she left three weeks ago. I kind of miss her.”

Henry stared at him. Then he crossed the living area to Samuel. Pulling Samuel to him, he parted his mate’s lips with a soft, long, tantalizing kiss that made Samuel’s cock stiffen and his knees go weak. “My big, bad MMA fighter is getting soft.”

“I asked how she was. No need to make a federal case out of it.”

“She’s fine. By the way she rambles on, I’m pretty sure she misses you too. I’ll text you her number so you can message her.” He brushed his mouth against Samuel, smiling at the gasp he drew from his mate. “I love you. I have to go.”

“See you in a week.”

“Bye.” Henry kissed him once more. He gave Samuel a quick wave before he stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

Samuel loosened the knot and let the sheet fall to the floor. He stomped off to the bathroom and flipped on the knob in the shower. He growled as the hot steam filled the little room. He didn’t get it. His brothers’ mates moved in with them shortly after the mystic tattoo appeared. They may not have liked it, but they did. His? He was just a booty call. Their careers were more important than him. Henry showed up long enough to appease the pull. He had no idea how Delilah was surviving. It was killing him not to have her in his arms.

Maybe it was time for him to put his career before them. Pounding the shit out of someone took the edge off a little.

He stepped into the warm stream of water and lathered the washcloth with soap. He slowly rubbed the suds into his skin. Once he was rinsed off, he toweled dry. Hanging up his towel, he strutted out of the bathroom. He had a couple of hours before he started training. He might as well get more sleep.

Samuel clicked the button on his phone to check the time and smiled. There was a text message from Henry. A phone number and the words I love you. He quickly tapped Love you too and sent it back to his mate.

Copying the phone number, he pasted it into a new text message screen and then typed.

How’s it going, sweetheart?

There was silence for several painful moments. Samuel realized he was clutching his phone harder than he should. He let it drop on the mattress. As it hit the comforter, it lit up. He scooped it up and read it.

Who is this?

He tapped the screen furiously. Your friendly neighborhood werewolf.

He watched the screen. His heart fell into the pit of his stomach as the reply popped up.

Not texting.

He heaved a sigh as he set the phone on the bedside table. He settled into his pillow and buried his face into it. This mating thing was so fucked up.

His head shot off the pillow as his phone buzzed. Glancing at it, he saw the number he texted calling it. He slid the prompt across the screen to answer it. “Hello?”

“I don’t want to text. I want to hear your voice,” Delilah replied.

Sam cocked a grin. His heart stampeded out of control. “Miss me, huh?”

“Do you miss me?”

“I asked you first.”

“You accused me of being a ballbuster. You were right. So there’s no possible way I would admit to missing you.”

Samuel chuckled. “So you do miss me.”

There was no answer. He frowned. “Delilah?”

“What?”

“If it means anything, ballbuster, I miss you too. And I’m terrified. You’re not near me. How do I protect you?”

“My dig is in the middle of nowhere, Sam. We can see vehicles a half mile away before they reach us.”

“We don’t know what these things are capable of.”

“Well, I lined my tent with garlic too, if that means anything.”

“Not really.”

“I’m a big girl, Sam. I’m keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.”

“Come home and keep an eye on me. I’m pretty suspicious.”

He heard her laugh before she spoke. “It must be six o’clock in the morning there. What are you doing?”

“Henry just left. He won’t stay here with me, but he ends up in my bed every night.”

“I wish I were in your bed every night. That thing that took us over is driving me crazy.”

He mindlessly wrapped his hand around his cock. “You do? What would you do if you were?”

“Sam, not now. I can’t. I wish I could. I’m at the library in Cairo.”

He frowned as he left himself go. “I thought you were on a dig.”

“I was. I am. I was talking to my colleague, Walt.”

“Walt, huh?”

“Get that out of your head. He’s old enough to be our dad. Even though he brushed against me a couple times and I almost threw up. It was odd.”

“It’s the pull. If someone who wants you who isn’t your mate touches you, there’s a violent reaction. So this guy is innocent, huh?”

“He’s not you, okay? I don’t want him. I want you. And Henry.”

Samuel smiled smugly even though she couldn’t see it. “All right. So why are you in Cairo?”

“Walt told me a story of a magician they referred to as the Heka. He was around over four thousand years ago. He was incredibly powerful. He enchanted an amulet with the power to rule the world so he could use it after he murdered the Pharaoh’s girl on the side. It would make him invincible. He could wipe out nations. He would rule by fear. He was executed instead. I came here to do more research, and I’m glad I did. Walt said it was a fairy tale, but there have been historians who believe differently. The Heka had impregnated one of the local prostitutes. She gave birth to a son. They say that the boy was possessed with the spirit of his father. He inherited his father’s power and everything. One researcher reported incidents throughout history where the Heka appeared. The amulet was passed down from generation to generation and was sold or stolen. It seems that every time the Heka and the amulet crossed paths, a major war broke out. But these could be myth.”

“This amulet. Is there a picture of what it looks like?”

“A sketch. Yes.”

Sam ran a hand through his Mohawk. “Shit, Dee. I got to go for a minute. I think she’s up. I hope she is. She can’t wake up to that old shit rooster she calls a pet. I’m going to take a picture and send it to you. Then I’ll call you right back. All right?”

He could hear the hesitation in her voice. “Sam, where are you going?”

“I need to go see my mom. Talk to you in a bit. Hang on for a second.” Samuel ended the call and climbed out of bed. He swiped up his cell phone and the sweats he left on the floor the night before when Henry undressed him. He didn’t stop as he tugged them on. He barely got them up to his waist as he charged out the door.

He bounced from one toe to the other as he knocked on Momma’s cabin door. He was going to get an earful from her if he woke her up. He breathed a sigh of relief when she pulled open the door clothed in her best dress.

“Sam, why are you up this early?” she asked.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he countered.

“Watch your sass. It’s the full moon. I’m packing to leave with your sisters.”

“Heading to Littlefoot’s, huh? Not staying with Aunt Edna and Aunt Edith?”

“I’m having lunch with your aunts and Adam tomorrow. Not that it’s any of your concern.”

“Uh-huh. Momma, I need to see your amulet.”

“Why?”

“I just do. Please?”

She snorted indignantly at him before she turned on her toe and stormed through her house. She returned with a chain laced through her fingers. She handed it to him. “Don’t go far with that.”

He studied the blood red stone set in gold. Mysterious etchings wrapped around the gem. He aimed his cell at it and snapped a picture.

Then he handed it back to her. “That’s all I needed. Thanks.”

“What are you doing with that photo?”

Sam buried his nose in his cell as he sent the photo to his mate. “Delilah is looking into something for me. It’s nothing to be concerned about.”

Momma’s eyes narrowed as she glared. “Who is Delilah?”

He dropped the phone to his side exasperated. “My mate, Momma.”

“Don’t give me that tone, young man. What about the one that I saw sneak off this morning?”

“Henry?”

“Yes, Henry. Samuel Antonius Hallow, why haven’t you introduced me to your mates?”

“Delilah had to work. And frankly, Henry thinks none of you will like him.”

“Does he make you happy?”

Samuel paused before he answered. “Yes. He makes me happy.”

Momma smiled. “Then I already love him like he’s my own. But you’d better get those two back here and settled in pronto. The magic that bound you all together doesn’t mess around. Understand me?”

Samuel gaped, astounded at his mother. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Now shoo.” She kissed him on the cheek. “I need to finish packing.”

Samuel backed off the porch steps as he watched Momma close the door. Shaking himself to his senses, he dialed Delilah back.

“You said you’d call right back,” she chided.

“Sorry. Found out my mother is far more open-minded than I ever gave her credit for. I’m a little stunned. Did you get my photo?”

“I did. It’s exactly the same as my sketch. Where did you find it?”

“It belongs to my mother. My father stole it from my grandfather before he ran off with her to protect her from his pack. He wanted to sell it to provide for them, but she fell in love with it.” He felt his voice pitch dangerously into a whine, but he didn’t care. “Delilah, please come home. Something is going on. If things go down, I need you by my side, not half a world away. Please, beautiful. I’m begging you. I can’t protect you in Egypt. Come home to me and Henry.”

Her voice was soft when she replied. “But I’m finding out so much. The information is here. If it protects your family, I need to keep trying to find it.”

“Fuck my family. You’re what’s important.”

“Sam.”

“Is any of this digitized?”

“I’m sure it all is but on secured servers. It took all the clearance I had to access it. I don’t have access to the digital files.”

“I bet Eve can get them. She’s a world-class hacker. She can get in and get them. Just come home. It’s not safe there. It’s not safe anywhere but my arms.”

There was silence on the other end. Samuel continued. “Delilah, I know how important your job is to you. But you are my everything. You and Henry. If anything happened to either of you, it would destroy me. It tears me apart to think about it. The three of us are stronger together. Please, Delilah. What do I need to do to make you see how much I need you?”

He cringed at the quiet. He checked the screen of his phone to see if she was still there.

He pressed it back to his ear when she started to talk. “I need to get back to the dig site to wrap my stuff up. It should only take a day or two at most. Then I need to get my flights arranged. The full moon starts tonight, right?”

His voice was weak. “Yeah. Tonight.”

“I’ll be back in your arms when you’re done wolfing out. I have some other things to look into stateside anyway.”

“What’s up?”

He could hear the hesitation in her voice. “Nothing to worry about right now.”

“All right. If you need me…”

“You’re my first call. Go get some sleep, Sam. You have a long night ahead.”

“We have to see my mom, Meg, and Eve off first. But yeah, I’ll be thinking of you and Henry in my dreams.”

“I’m counting on it. See you soon. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Samuel ended the call with a smile. It wasn’t the information that she gave him that was priceless. She would be home soon. He could hold her tight and kiss her softly. All he had to do was convince Henry too. Regardless, he couldn’t wait. With a grin so big his cheeks hurt, he ran off to talk to Josiah about the Heka.