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“Wait. Everly? Is that you?” Amber says, finally looking in my direction. I glare at her as recognition dawns on her.
“Holy shit, it is you. Everyone wondered what happened to you? Your father said you ran away,” she gushes with tears in her eyes. Is this bimbo for real right now? She tries to embrace me, but I step away from her.
“Everly?” Amber says. I can't believe she dares to look hurt in the situation.
“Leave, both of you, or I will be forced to call the police,” I tell them. Micah makes a run for the door and jerks Zoe back by the back of her shirt. She smashes against the ground before he grabs Casey, and I move, holding her arm.
“Let her go, Micah,” I snarl.
“This has nothing to do with you, Everly, now stand down.”
“Like fuck I will. Now LET HER GO!” I yell. He lets go. He appears shocked, and so am I. My aura rushes out harder, and he pales, taking a step back from me. But it wears off quickly, and he snarls at the fact that I commanded him before lunging at me. I shove Casey toward Zoe just as he knocks me down on the ground.
“Fucking command me, whore? Who do you think you are?” he spits, trying to pin me as my head smashes onto the concrete. I see stars for a second, my vision going black, and I hear Zoe scream before hearing a scuffle. My surroundings blur, but he’s suddenly gone from on top of me. I hear the sound of flesh on flesh and Amber's blood-curdling scream, making my heart thud, thinking it’s Casey or Zoe getting hurt. I turn my head to see Marcus straighten up from pummeling Micah, who is now curled in the fetal position on the ground.
“Zoe? Casey?” I gasp as Amber rushes toward Micah on the ground. Marcus snarls, which makes me look back at him as I get to my feet. My head is pounding, and I can hear sirens in the distance heading our way, but I’m too distracted by the look on Marcus's confused face to notice much else. He turns his head to the side, cautiously looking around me, and I follow his gaze to see Zoe looking white as a sheet of paper, her eyes wide. I rush to her side and grip her arms, shaking her. “Zoe?”
“Zoe?” Marcus repeats behind me. Her eyes are locked on his. I peek over my shoulder at him.
“Casey's mom, right?” Marcus asks her, and Zoe nods. I’m seriously worried she’s about to pass out with how clammy her skin is. Is she in shock? Marcus yanks Micah to his feet by the front of his shirt. Amber squeals and rips at Marcus’s shirt.
“So, you must be the father?”
Micah nods, terror etching his face, just before Marcus headbutts him with a surprising amount of force. The sound of his nose breaking makes me flinch, and blood spurts out when Marcus's fist connects with his jaw, packing an equal force. Marcus lets him go, and he falls to the ground in a heap just as Zoe faints.
Casey shrieks, and I only just catch her as they both fall forward into me. Tires screech to a stop as cop cars pull up everywhere. Officer Richards jumps from the first vehicle. Marcus growls, and Officer Richards backs up with his hand on his gun.
“Pull it, and I will end him, Richards. What will be?” Marcus growls at him. His entire body trembles as he fights the urge to shift. I look back at the terrified Officer Richards, who looks at his bleeding son on the ground at Marcus's feet. Amber sobs over him.
“Whatever he did, I’ll see it’s fixed,” Officer Richards murmurs with his hands up.
“Good. Make sure he stays the fuck away from my mate,” Marcus snarls before stalking toward me. He grabs Zoe, scooping her up in his arms while I stare, dumbfounded. It makes so much sense now. How did I not see that?
“I spent hours in the laundry aisle trying to find that scent. Not proud to say it, but I even tasted a few, and all I had to do was follow your daughter home, hmm?” Marcus murmurs to an unconscious Zoe.
“Wait, Zoe is your mate?” Officer Richards asks, just as shocked, evidently reading between the lines. Marcus growls at him before holding out his hand to Casey, who looks up at him, his shirt drenched in her father's blood.
“Come on, princess, let's take mommy inside,” Marcus says to her consolingly. She looks over at me, and I nod for her to go with him. I’m about to check on Micah when Marcus calls out to me.
“You too, Everly. Leave the bastard. Valen is on his way,” Marcus says as he walks toward the hotel doors. I rush ahead of him and open up the door as he stops and looks back at Officer Richards, who is fussing over his son.
“I suggest you get him out of here, Richards. I left him breathing. Valen won't—not for touching his Luna,” Marcus tells him. Officer Richards motions some of his men over, who are all staring at me oddly.
“Luna? But she’s a rogue!” Amber blurts out.
“Shut it, you over-opinionated mutt,” Officer Richards snaps at his daughter-in-law.
My eyebrows raise at his words, and two of the other officers rush over and peel Micah off the ground, who groans in pain.
“You’ve done it now, boy,” Officer Richards snaps at him.
“Uh, Everly,” Marcus calls as he nods toward the next door leading into the back of the restaurant. I shut the door and rush over to him. Just as I do, Zoe finally regains consciousness and projectile vomits all over the front of him.
“Well, not the reaction I was hoping for, but still, it's a reaction,” Marcus says while Zoe stares wide-eyed at him.
“You're my…”
“Mate,” offers Marcus, and she nods like she thought he was a figment of her imagination. I’m beginning to wonder if this whole scenario is a figment of mine too.
