Robin POVThings were so fucked up so naturally this was the time that my grandmother was going to move in.I can’t believe that she was moving in, but I had also kissed Micah. To make matters worse, Victor had seen us and then had an argument with Micah. Eventually, he texted me and apologized, saying that he shouldn’t have said those things if I had been listening.Thankfully, I hadn’t been listening for the most part. I wanted to allow them to have that privacy and not give them that was rude.But god, I wanted to listen in to see what was going on because I was sure things were going to be heated.When I told Victor I hadn’t heard the conversation, he just told me that it didn’t matter and I could forget it. All I could do was stand there and accept that I probably didn’t want to know.He must’ve said something to piss off Micah because why else would be like this right now? Micah was storming around, showing his temper, which I hadn’t seen in a while.But then I caught his eyes.
Micah POVEventually, Victor came back to talk with me. He sat down and grinned sheepishly.“I acted like an idiot.”“Yes.”“And an asshole.”“Yes, no complaints from me. You acted exactly like that.”He rolled his eyes. “Can’t you even be humble about it? I mean I came out here to talk with you yet here you are being an ass.”“Because I’m going through a lot.”He lifted a brow. “Uh, are things not good here?”“Nothing is fine. I’m trying to make sure the family doesn’t hurt our family ever again.”Victor tensed. “We’ll get them back, Uncle. They are going to realize that the worst thing they ever did was fucking with the Volkov family.”“It’s more than a matter of tracking them down, so you have to understand this, Victor. They are in this for the long haul and are going to do whatever it takes to kill us.”He huffed. “Let them try.”I had to remember Victor was still young. But so was Robin.Yet the two of them had different maturity levels. I wondered what ever drew the two of them
Robin’s POVMicah knocked once on the doorframe, like he didn’t want to come in until I invited him.Weird of him to do that, but I wasn’t sure what to think.He was planning something or wanted something. But what? I was wrapping my mind around it, trying to figure out what I was going to do.Except, I decided the best thing to do was just not give in and look over at him. Just play it cool. Things had been strange between us, our feelings still growing, and the two of us constantly dancing around us.At least the triplets were thriving, much to my relief.I didn’t look up from the book in my lap. “You knock now? That’s new.”“Don’t get used to it,” he said, stepping in anyway. “You busy?”“Mentally or emotionally?”“Both,” he said flatly. “But I need you to listen for a second.”I closed the book, sliding a receipt in as a placeholder. “Okay, shoot.”He crossed his arms, like he was building armor before even speaking. “My dad’s been doing better. Stronger. The treatments… they’ve b
Robin’s POVMicah stood in the doorway, watching me hover over the fridge like it might produce something better if I glared hard enough.“You’ve been staring at that container like it owes you money,” he said.“It does owe me something,” I muttered. “Peace. Closure. Satisfaction.”He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “Is that the pasta you yelled at me for trying to eat yesterday?”“Yes. Because I called dibs. You don’t mess with fridge dibs.”“I was hungry,” he said, like that was a viable defense in court.“And I was emotionally attached. You almost started a war.”“I put it back.”“Yeah, after I caught you holding it like you were about to propose.”Micah smirked. “It was a tender moment.”I rolled my eyes and grabbed a fork. “I’ve been thinking about this pasta all day. I mentally committed. I skipped lunch for this.”“Sounds healthy.”“I didn’t say smart committed.”Just as I was about to dig in, my phone buzzed.My phone buzzed just as I was about to dig into the leftov
Micah’s POVThe dinner ended up going great. Father loved Abuela, much to my surprise. Well, not really. I had a feeling the two of them were going to get along based on the simple fact that she was a lot like his mother.He ended laughed during the dinner, to my surprise. I couldn’t believe my father was laughing when lately it didn’t seem like he had much laughter in his body. Or in his soul.Right now, I was visiting my family again. Some of the oldest family guards were there keeping an eye on Robin on the twins. I had to talk to my mother but she was busy. This was why I was currently talking to Victor. We had a strange relationship, but with him here I decided I might as well run the idea by him.He was sharpening a sword. Why did he have a sword? Fuck if I know but I ignored him.What I had to tell him was important.I needed to run the idea by someone in the family. It was the fact that I wanted to challenge the head of the other crime family to a duel.They had tried to kill
Micah’s POVThe next day, while I was working out at my private gym, I decided to tell my private coach what I was doing. He wasn’t impressed.I had to tell him because he was my trainer, the one who helped me stay fit and get ready for fights. If not for him I don’t know how I would be able to keep my head in the game.After I told him, he gave me a strange look. Sighing, I realized there was someone else who disapproved. Well, fine if he wanted to disapprove then so be it. It was fine and I didn’t care. This was happening no matter what.“You realize you’re an idiot, right?” Coach said, tossing me a towel before I even broke a sweat.It wasn’t a wrong thing to say, but this was also something I had to do.I caught it. “I figured that out around the time I opened my mouth and issued the challenge.”He cracked his neck, circling me slowly. “You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that.”“I’d rather have claws sharp enough to rip his throat out.”“You’ll have both.” He stopped in front of me, a
Micah POVIt was time to tell my mother that the formal request had been accepted. I just got news it had been and though she knew I was going to do this, I hadn’t told her this to her face.I found her in the kitchen, slicing apples with surgical precision. She didn’t look up when I walked in—just kept slicing like the fruit had personally offended her.Mother wasn’t one for spending time in the kitchen. It was honestly a surprise to see her in the kitchen right now, but I wasn’t going to question that right now. What mattered the most was being able to explain to her that this was happening.I was going to engage in this fight, and you know what? I’d bucking survive it. Again, I had no choice if I wanted to be there for Robin and the triplets.“You’re early,” she said.Robin, the triplets, and I were supposed to come over to day but for now it was just me. I wanted to tell her without Robin around, so I could make sure she didn’t hear what I had to say. It wasn’t going to go well if
Robin’s POVSomething was going on with Micah. He hadn’t told me and denied it whenever I mentioned it to him, but it was obvious it was something.One person I needed to talk to was Kathryn. She was the one who could always help me in situations like this and I needed to desperately talk to her about it.After calling her, I mentioned what was going on. Being the best friend that she was, she listened and didn’t judge me at all.But it still begged the question, what the hell was going on? I wish Micah would just open up to me. I bet he was just trying to keep this from me because he was thinking thatI paced my room, phone pressed to my ear, chewing the corner of a thumbnail like it had answers.“Okay,” I said. “Tell me if I’m imagining things.”“You’re always imagining things,” Kathryn replied, not unkindly. “That’s why you’re fun. What’s Micah done now?”“He’s being weird.”“That’s… specific.”“Weirder than usual.”“Still vague.”Sighing, there was nothing else I could do except a
Micah’s POVThe day before the fight, I just spent a lot of time with the triplets and Robin. We were going to meet in a clearing outside the city. Both families were going to be there, to be able to watch and make sure this was done as the rules stated.As an ancient werewolf, I should’ve figured this was one day going to happen to me. Sometimes these things just happened and you found yourself in the fight of a lifetime.It was going to be the fight of a lifetime. I was going to make sure I kept the triplets and Robin safe.The two of us weren’t discussing it. We were discussing everything but it. One time I did try to bring it up but she was instantly changing the subject, clearly wanting no part of it.But the next day, as I was driving in the car, I realized that I had noThe car was too quiet. Just me, the hum of the engine, and the dread clawing at my ribs. I called her before I could talk myself out of it.She picked up fast. “Micah?”“Hey.”A beat. “You’re on your way, aren’t
Micah’s POVAfter the two of us slept together, things were a little better. We had talked so things were less stressed but I realized that it wasn’t going to get better until this fucking fight was over,.This was why I had to make sure I had a backup plan in case I didn’t make it. The only person I could think to trust with this was Victor.He wouldn’t want to help me. Except he would want to help the woman he was still obviously in love with. Or had feelings to some extent. It was just a matter of trying to convince him to listen to me first.I stared at the screen for a solid minute before finally hitting call. Victor picked up on the third ring.“…What?”“Good afternoon to you, too.”“What do you want, Micah?”“I need you to come to the estate.”Pause.“For what?”“To talk.”A longer pause.“Talk?” he repeated, like I’d suggested we braid each other’s hair.“Yes, Victor. Talk. With words.”I rolled my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. What the hell was wrong with my nephew? S
Micah’s POVThe fight had been bad and completely my fault. I should’ve said something else, something to convince her to stay and talk with me in the study, but instead, she just walked away. I let her walk away.Two days later, and the two of us still weren’t talking. I was back t training. At least I didn’t have to sneak around any further, something I was thankful for. If only I had come out with this in the beginning.Victor had called me, apologizing. I did snap at him for a moment until realizing he had warned me about not saying anything. If I didn’t tell her then he was going to go ahead and her for me.This was what had happened, except she had sought him out, thinking that talking with him would help her get some answers. The thing was, she wasn’t wrong. It had gotten her the answers she needed, whether I liked it or not.I threw a towel at the wall and slumped onto the bench, still breathing hard. “She’s pissed.”Coach raised an eyebrow. “Robin?”“No, the Pope. Yes, Robin.
Robin’s POVWhen I was on my way back, I decided I was willing to call Kathryn because I needed some moral support—and fast.I didn’t even say hello when she picked up. “You’re not going to believe this.”“Try me.”“Micah is going to challenge a rival crime family to an old-fashioned werewolf duel.”There was a pause.Then—“What the actual fuck?”“Right?”“Like… a duel-duel?”“Yup. Teeth. Claws. Full moon. Probably blood everywhere.”“Robin.”“I know.”“Robin.”“I know!”“You were supposed to get answers, not trauma.”“Victor didn’t even deny it! He just gave me that grumpy sigh like, ‘ugh fine, yes, your emotionally repressed maybe-boyfriend is planning wolf murder.’”“Holy shit.”“My thoughts exactly.”“This is insane. This is okay, hold on, walk me through this. Slowly. Like I’m a child.”I took a deep breath. “Micah challenged someone. Officially. As in, old-school werewolf law. It’s still a thing.”“Of course it is.”“He didn’t tell me. I had to pull it out of Victor like an impa
Robin’s POVSomething was going on with Micah. He hadn’t told me and denied it whenever I mentioned it to him, but it was obvious it was something.One person I needed to talk to was Kathryn. She was the one who could always help me in situations like this and I needed to desperately talk to her about it.After calling her, I mentioned what was going on. Being the best friend that she was, she listened and didn’t judge me at all.But it still begged the question, what the hell was going on? I wish Micah would just open up to me. I bet he was just trying to keep this from me because he was thinking thatI paced my room, phone pressed to my ear, chewing the corner of a thumbnail like it had answers.“Okay,” I said. “Tell me if I’m imagining things.”“You’re always imagining things,” Kathryn replied, not unkindly. “That’s why you’re fun. What’s Micah done now?”“He’s being weird.”“That’s… specific.”“Weirder than usual.”“Still vague.”Sighing, there was nothing else I could do except a
Micah POVIt was time to tell my mother that the formal request had been accepted. I just got news it had been and though she knew I was going to do this, I hadn’t told her this to her face.I found her in the kitchen, slicing apples with surgical precision. She didn’t look up when I walked in—just kept slicing like the fruit had personally offended her.Mother wasn’t one for spending time in the kitchen. It was honestly a surprise to see her in the kitchen right now, but I wasn’t going to question that right now. What mattered the most was being able to explain to her that this was happening.I was going to engage in this fight, and you know what? I’d bucking survive it. Again, I had no choice if I wanted to be there for Robin and the triplets.“You’re early,” she said.Robin, the triplets, and I were supposed to come over to day but for now it was just me. I wanted to tell her without Robin around, so I could make sure she didn’t hear what I had to say. It wasn’t going to go well if
Micah’s POVThe next day, while I was working out at my private gym, I decided to tell my private coach what I was doing. He wasn’t impressed.I had to tell him because he was my trainer, the one who helped me stay fit and get ready for fights. If not for him I don’t know how I would be able to keep my head in the game.After I told him, he gave me a strange look. Sighing, I realized there was someone else who disapproved. Well, fine if he wanted to disapprove then so be it. It was fine and I didn’t care. This was happening no matter what.“You realize you’re an idiot, right?” Coach said, tossing me a towel before I even broke a sweat.It wasn’t a wrong thing to say, but this was also something I had to do.I caught it. “I figured that out around the time I opened my mouth and issued the challenge.”He cracked his neck, circling me slowly. “You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that.”“I’d rather have claws sharp enough to rip his throat out.”“You’ll have both.” He stopped in front of me, a
Micah’s POVThe dinner ended up going great. Father loved Abuela, much to my surprise. Well, not really. I had a feeling the two of them were going to get along based on the simple fact that she was a lot like his mother.He ended laughed during the dinner, to my surprise. I couldn’t believe my father was laughing when lately it didn’t seem like he had much laughter in his body. Or in his soul.Right now, I was visiting my family again. Some of the oldest family guards were there keeping an eye on Robin on the twins. I had to talk to my mother but she was busy. This was why I was currently talking to Victor. We had a strange relationship, but with him here I decided I might as well run the idea by him.He was sharpening a sword. Why did he have a sword? Fuck if I know but I ignored him.What I had to tell him was important.I needed to run the idea by someone in the family. It was the fact that I wanted to challenge the head of the other crime family to a duel.They had tried to kill
Robin’s POVMicah stood in the doorway, watching me hover over the fridge like it might produce something better if I glared hard enough.“You’ve been staring at that container like it owes you money,” he said.“It does owe me something,” I muttered. “Peace. Closure. Satisfaction.”He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “Is that the pasta you yelled at me for trying to eat yesterday?”“Yes. Because I called dibs. You don’t mess with fridge dibs.”“I was hungry,” he said, like that was a viable defense in court.“And I was emotionally attached. You almost started a war.”“I put it back.”“Yeah, after I caught you holding it like you were about to propose.”Micah smirked. “It was a tender moment.”I rolled my eyes and grabbed a fork. “I’ve been thinking about this pasta all day. I mentally committed. I skipped lunch for this.”“Sounds healthy.”“I didn’t say smart committed.”Just as I was about to dig in, my phone buzzed.My phone buzzed just as I was about to dig into the leftov