Resisting the Moon: A Royal Shifters Novel Read online

  Laila had decided to stay in the truck and keep her presence hidden until we were able to introduce her. She thought that if everyone could sense her, it’d take away from the family reunion. I think it was because she wanted to stay hidden longer. I knew she was nervous about joining a new pack.

  We turned down my parents’ street and there were cars lined up in their driveway. My mother burst out of the house and waved as we pulled in, followed by my father.

  “Here we go,” I said, giving Sebastian a please-help-me look.

  Amelie parked behind us and burst out of the truck, jumping into their arms. My mother cried and ran her hands all over Amelie’s face. Bailey, Ryker, Micah, and Seraphina joined them on the porch and as soon as Sebastian and I stepped out, it was as if the whole world stopped. They all looked at us and froze.

  Sebastian put his arm around me and leaned down, whispering in my ear. “I think the cat’s out of the bag.”

  I snickered. “I do wish they would say something.”

  Upon hearing this, my mother squealed and Amelie had to jump out of the way before getting trampled as she raced down the steps. My father beamed and nodded in approval.

  Clasping my face in her hands, my mother glanced back and forth, from me to Sebastian. I’d never seen her so happy. “You were right when you said you had a lot to tell me. I can’t believe you actually did it! Your father and I were afraid you’d let your hard head get in the way.”

  Sebastian tried to hide his chuckle and failed. “Thanks, Mom,” I grumbled.

  My father joined us and shook Sebastian’s hand. “Thanks for bringing her home safely, son.”

  Sebastian beamed and slapped him on the shoulder. “Trust me, it wasn’t easy.”

  “Hey,” I snapped, elbowing him in the side.

  Bailey rushed down to us and flung her arms around me, whispering in my ear. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile so much, or you for that matter.”

  “It’s because I haven’t,” I whispered back. I winked at Sebastian over her shoulder and he smiled.

  She then let me go and wrapped her arms around Sebastian, kissing him on the cheek. “The ladies are going to be so upset when they see you’re taken.”

  I snorted. “If they have a problem with that, I’ll be more than happy to deal with each of them on a one to one basis.”

  Amelie giggled. “What are you going to do, waddle after them?”

  Sebastian’s arm tightened around me and I froze at her comment. My mother glanced at Amelie and then to me, clearly thinking she missed something.

  Seraphina was the one who walked up to me and touched my stomach. “Well, what do you know?” She beamed at Sebastian. “This is amazing news. I knew you two would find your way to each other.”

  My mother screamed out in joy and I laughed. Micah and Ryker pulled Sebastian away, congratulating him, while the girls surrounded me. “I’m going to be a grandma,” my mother cried. “I never thought this day would come.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, Mom.”

  She placed her hands on my stomach and squatted low, telling the baby what all they were going to do together. When she stood, her brows furrowed. “Wait a second. How did you find out you were pregnant so fast? If you and Sebastian just mated, there’s no way you’d know without Seraphina’s help.”

  Amelie glanced at the car and then to me and Sebastian. I nodded at her and she went to the car, opening the door. Laila unleashed her power and the whole world stood still for the second time that day.

  Sebastian joined us and motioned for the guys to follow him. When Laila stepped out of the truck, the only sound to be heard was that of the snow’s soft pitter-patter as it landed on the ground. I specifically watched for Micah’s reaction. He stared at Laila as if she was a ghost.

  Micah grabbed Sebastian’s arm. “What’s going on, brother?”

  “I’ll tell you in just a minute. Hang tight,” he whispered. Walking over to Laila, Sebastian stood beside her. “Everyone, this is Laila. She’s going to be joining our pack.”

  Bailey and Ryker smiled and introduced themselves, while my mother flanked me on the right and Micah and Seraphina on the left. “What is she?” my mother asked.

  “It’s a long story,” I told her. “Why don’t you take Amelie and go inside? Sebastian and I need to talk to Micah and Seraphina.”

  My parents took my advice and led Amelie inside, followed by Bailey and Ryker. Sebastian whispered something to Laila and her gaze lifted to Micah who couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.

  “I think your brother’s in shock,” I said.

  Sebastian looked at me and then at Micah. “I do believe you’re right. I want to make sure he keeps this secret to himself until I can tell Zayne.” He and Laila stepped up to us and she smiled at them. “Seraphina, Micah, this is Laila,” Sebastian said.

  Laila focused on Micah first, her gaze twinkling as she held out her hand. “I’m happy to finally meet you. Sebastian’s told me all about you.”

  Micah took her hand. “You look . . .”

  “Like my mother, I know. I can only imagine what you must be thinking right now.”

  “Just a little shocked is all.” He let her hand go and turned to Sebastian. “I’d like to know what’s going on.”

  Sebastian nodded. “Give us a second and I’ll tell you everything.” He turned Laila to Seraphina. “Laila, Seraphina is one of our pack elders. I’m hoping she’ll be able to help guide you through some of your powers.”

  Seraphina grabbed her hand and held it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, child. I must say, you have me very intrigued. Your power is something I’ve never felt.”

  “I could say the same for you,” she replied back. “If you don’t mind, I’d love to ask you some questions. There is so much I don’t understand.”

  Seraphina linked her arm with hers. “I’d be happy to help in any way I can. Why don’t we take a walk?” Laila looked to Sebastian for approval and he nodded. Once they walked off, he turned his focus to Micah.

  Micah’s jaw tensed. “She looks just like Alina.”

  Sighing, Sebastian placed a hand on his shoulder. “There’s a reason for that. Laila’s her daughter. I didn’t know she even existed until we found her in North Carolina a few days ago. She has been living with the Sierra Pack, thinking she was one of them. Her fae blood made it hard for others to differentiate what she actually was. I’m assuming that’s what kept her alive all these years. They would’ve killed her if they’d known she wasn’t one of them.”

  Closing his eyes, he ran a hand through his hair. “She’s an Arctic, brother. I can sense our kind from a mile away.” He opened his eyes and it was obvious he knew.

  “She’s more than just your kind,” Sebastian murmured. “She’s your niece.”

  He looked up at the sky and sighed. “When are you going to tell Zayne?”

  Sebastian glanced at me, his gaze sad and full of pain. “As soon as Laila’s ready. I just needed you to keep this to yourself until I got that chance to talk to him. Besides, you’ll need to be there for him once he finds out.”

  Micah placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll be there. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for him. She looks so much like her mother. But for so long, all we’ve had were each other. It’s nice to know our family is growing.” He turned to me. “I guess this means no more sparring?”

  I shook my head. “Not for a while, but I want Amelie and Laila to learn how to fight. You and Sebastian would make great teachers.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be more than happy to. I just hope once Sebastian talks to Zayne, he’ll be alive to help.” He gave a sad smile and walked toward the house, leaving Sebastian and I alone in the yard.

  “Is it really going to be that bad?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”

  “Do you want me to come with you?”

  Pulling me into his arms, he held me ti
ght. I breathed him in and laid my head on his chest. “It’s probably best you don’t. It’s something I need to do on my own. But right now, I want to take you to our home. I’m ready to spend the night alone with my mate.”

  Sebastian

  The next morning, after a tour of my house, Tyla had been going from room to room, trying to figure out which one would be perfect for the baby. Her hair was a tangled mess and she was wearing one of my button down shirts, looking sexier than ever. How the hell had I gotten so lucky?

  “I think this one will be perfect for the baby’s room,” Tyla suggested. The room was empty, except for a desk I’d never used. But it had one of the best views of the mountain range in the house. “What do you think? We could paint the walls and put the crib here,” she said, pointing at a corner in the room. “That way, she can see the mountains when she wakes up.”

  “She?”

  Tyla giggled. “It’s better than calling the baby an it. We’ll find out soon enough what we’re having. Maybe Laila will be able to tell us.”

  “Speaking of Laila, I’m going to run by your old house and talk to her. I want to know what Seraphina said. Plus, I want to make sure she’s ready for me to tell my brother. If she gives me the go, I’m heading over to his place this afternoon.” I didn’t look forward to confronting my brother, but it had to be done.

  Tyla nodded and wrapped her arms around my neck. “You can do this. And you’re right, it needs to be done before word gets to him that a mysterious fae/wolf has joined our ranks. It’ll only add to his resentment.”

  “And that’s what I want to avoid.” I squeezed her tight, then let go, making my way to the door. “What are you going to do today?” I asked.

  “I want to go to the ranch and see Blake. I haven’t talked to him since we were in North Carolina. He’s probably wondering if I’m ever coming back.”

  “Are you still planning on working? You know you don’t have to.”

  She shrugged. “I’ll probably take a break while I’m pregnant, but once the baby is born, I’d like to get back to horse training. I enjoy it.”

  Her passion was what drove me to her in the first place. She was a fighter with a strong spirit. “It’s your choice,” I replied. “You’re free to do whatever you want.”

  She bit her lip. “You might regret saying that. Next thing you know, you’ll come home and these walls will be bright pink.”

  “Whatever you want, love.”

  Her mouth gaped. “I think I need to get pregnant more often, if it’s going to be like this.”

  “I’ll be happy to oblige. I’ve always wanted a big family.” I looked down at my phone and sighed. “But right now I have to go. I’ll see you this afternoon.”

  She blew me a kiss and I left. Her old house wasn’t far from mine and when I pulled up into the driveway, Amelie and Laila were on the front porch drinking hot chocolate. “Don’t you have unpacking to do?” I asked.

  They looked at each other and smiled. “We thought we’d take a break,” Amelie said.

  Laila snorted and pointed at her. “She needed to take a break. I’m already done. But then again, I didn’t bring a truck full of boxes.”

  Amelie rolled her eyes. “I’ve been packing up some of Tyla’s things too. I’m sure she’ll want them.”

  I nodded. “I’ll take some of it home with me today. Thank you for doing that. Is there anything either of you need?”

  They shook their heads and Amelie answered. “I think we’re good. The house is amazing. I can see why Tyla wanted to live here.” She finished up her drink and stood. “I know you two want to talk, so I’ll go inside to give you some privacy.”

  “Thanks, Amelie,” I said. She waved and shut the door behind her.

  I took her seat beside Laila and looked out at the mountains. “You okay?” I asked.

  “I’m fine. Actually, I’m better than ever now that I’ve talked to Seraphina.”

  I turned to her. “What all did you discuss?”

  She set her cup down and faced me, folding her legs underneath her in the chair. “Lots of stuff. She said she’s met other fae over the years and even learned some of their language. It’s Elvish, just like you’d said. She’s going to try and help me translate my mother’s journals.”

  “That’s great. Does she know anything else about your people? The only other thing I know is that the fae aren’t from our world. They come from—”

  “The Land of the Fae,” she finished. “Yes, Seraphina told me that. I can’t seem to comprehend that my mother wasn’t a part of this planet. It’s weird even thinking about it.”

  “Zayne might know more about her home than I do, since he was closest to your mother.”

  Sighing, she averted her gaze. “When are you going to see him?”

  “As soon as I leave here, if that’s okay with you. I want to talk to him before introductions are made.”

  She nodded. “I’m ready for it to happen. I’ve been dying to meet him since I found out the truth. Other than you and Micah, he’s my only family left. Will it hurt him to see me? I know I look just like my mother, except for my eyes.”

  “I’m not going to lie, it’ll probably bring back the pain of her loss when he sees you, but it’ll pass. It might take some time, but I know he’ll love you the moment you walk through his door. You’re his daughter, Laila, his blood. There’s nothing more important than that.”

  She squeezed my hand and let it go. “I hope you’re right. Make sure to call me when you’re done. I’ll be sitting on the edge of my seat.”

  We said our goodbyes and I went to my car, heading on my way. Zayne’s house was tucked back farther into the woods. He liked it that way, so he could have his solitude. He was older than me and Micah, but not by much. We all looked the same with our whitish-blond hair and blue eyes. We’d always been mistaken for triplets, even though there were considerable differences to our appearances, and our personalities were as diverse as they could be.

  When I pulled into Zayne’s driveway, I could sense Colin was there with him. The door was cracked open, so I made my way inside. They were in Zayne’s drawing room, where he worked on his building sketches. Both he and Colin designed houses for a living.

  They were deep in thought, both on each side of the massive sketch when I knocked on the door. “Knock, knock,” I said.

  “Sebastian,” Zayne announced, not even lifting his head to acknowledge me. “I see you’re back in town.”

  Colin stood and extended his hand. “Bailey called me last night and told me everything. Looks like you got mixed up in a pack war. Glad to see you and Tyla made it back safely.”

  “Thanks, man,” I said, taking his hand.

  “And congrats on the baby. You must’ve been afraid she’d choose me when you got back home,” he teased, letting my hand go. Zayne lifted his head, eyes wide. Colin must not have told him.

  Chuckling, I slapped Colin on the shoulder. “Not a chance in hell, Storm.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” Zayne said, getting to his feet. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d be mated.” A small smile spread across his face. He was genuinely happy for me. Too bad he wouldn’t be for long. He held out his hand and I took it. “I’m happy for you, brother. But what’s this I’ve heard about a pack war? I thought you were just going to find Tyla’s family?”

  I shook his hand and let go. “That was the plan, but it ended up being more in depth than that. I’d like to tell you a little more about it, if you have time.”

  “Sure. But first, I want you to see what I’ve been working on. Take a look at this,” he said, waving me toward his drawing table.

  “What am I looking at here?” I asked, viewing the sketches. There were three different designs, all completely different.

  “We’ve been working on these designs for a client and we’re showing them to him next week. Which one do you like? I don’t know which one to push.”

  “Where is it going to be built?”
/>   “Out in Wilson. This guy’s from upstate New York, trying to turn himself into a cowboy. He wants something rustic, yet upscale. He has a really good view of the mountains on this side of the house,” he said, pointing to the west side of the drawings.

  I studied the diagrams and chose the one with the best layout. “This one has more open space in the main room. If this guy is as pretentious as he sounds, he’ll be focused more on the large kitchen and living room to impress his visitors. That’s what everyone will see first.”

  “See?” Colin said. “That’s exactly what I said.” He nudged me in the arm. “But what do we know?”

  We both chuckled and Zayne shook his head. “Keep it up, you two. I’m not afraid to kick both of your asses.”

  “Like you could, old man,” Colin countered. He looked over at the clock. “Ah shit, I have to go. Got a meeting with a potential client.” He rushed out of the room.

  “Let me know how it goes,” Zayne shouted after him. He sat back down and focused on his sketches. “So, tell me what happened. Were you in danger?”

  Chuckling, I sat down in the seat across from him. “You have no idea.” I got into the details, starting with Tyla’s aunt and uncle, and ending with the enemy pack who’d lured us into their trap.

  Brows furrowed, he stared at me. “But why would they want to lure you in? How were you connected to all of this?”

  “Because in one hell of a coincidence, I’d killed their alpha. They’ve been hunting me for thirty years.”

  Eyes flashing, Zayne stiffened, his hands clenching into tight fists. “Who?”

  “I think you know who.” He pushed his chair away from the desk and stood, the chair falling to the ground, his anger permeating the room. “His son was who took Amelie. He planned on mating with Tyla to repeat exactly what his father had done.”

  “Did you kill him?” he growled.

  “He’s dead, along with the rest of the Sierra Pack. There were no survivors.”