Resisting the Moon: A Royal Shifters Novel Read online

  Leaning my head against the couch, I blew out a frustrated breath. Getting Tyla to listen was like trying to move a brick wall. I guess I was just going to have to break it down.

  Tyla

  I could feel the warmth beside me and turned into it. Fingers caressed my arm and I smiled. Breathing deeply, Sebastian’s scent filled my lungs and reality reared its ugly head. Gasping, I opened my eyes and sat up, head pounding. Sebastian stared back at me, the top half of his body bare. I really wanted to look under the covers to see if he was completely naked, but then I remembered why I was there in the first place. The memories from the stone flashed before my eyes.

  “Where are we?” I asked.

  Sebastian looked at me with his mesmerizing crystal blue eyes. “In a cabin just down the road from Amelie’s. After you passed out last night, we needed a place to stay. I figured we could go back there today.”

  I looked at the clock and realized I’d been out for over twelve hours. “Holy shit, my parents. I need to call them.”

  Sebastian reached for my phone on the bedside table and tossed it to me. “It’s already been done. I know you wanted to talk to them, but they kept calling. I had to tell them something.”

  My throat tightened and I nodded. It was probably best he’d done it anyway. “I understand. How did they take it?”

  He shrugged. “Like I thought they would. They just want you home safe.”

  I glanced around the room for the stone. It was the only way I was going to find Amelie. “Where’s the stone?” I asked.

  “It’s in safekeeping. What did you see this last time?”

  Closing my eyes, I could see his face. He was a wolf, tall and very good looking with dark hair and hazel eyes. Amelie envisioned him a lot; they’d been intimate. “A man,” I explained, opening my eyes. “He was Amelie’s lover. She had to have mentioned him in her journal.”

  Nodding, he pulled the covers away and got out of bed. My eyes shot to his bare ass. I couldn’t take my gaze away from his beautifully sculpted body. Sure, I was used to seeing the men in my pack naked, but I’d never get enough of Sebastian. He slid on a pair of pants and walked over to a table in the corner where the journal sat. He picked it up and tossed it to me.

  “I didn’t read any of it. I figured you’d want to be the one to do it,” he murmured.

  “Thanks,” I said, holding it to my chest.

  He nodded again and walked by me to grab his shirt. “I also talked to Seraphina. She said only someone really powerful can do the kind of linking spell found on that stone.”

  I opened the journal to a random page. “Maybe Amelie knows someone like that. I guess we’ll find out.” My stomach growled. “We should probably get something to eat soon.” I hadn’t eaten since we’d left Wyoming.

  Sebastian put on his shirt and headed for the door. “As soon as you’re ready, we’ll go.” He glanced back at me one more time before shutting the door behind him.

  Looking down at my hands to find dirt still caked under my nails, I realized I desperately needed a shower. Once I was showered and dressed, I tucked the journal under my arm and met Sebastian downstairs.

  “I’m ready,” I called out. More snow had started to fall, and it’d do little to help us on our mission, covering up the tracks we’d followed the day before. I looked out the window and groaned. “What are we going to do?”

  Sebastian followed my gaze. “Our best bet is to go through the journal today, front to back. And tomorrow, we can return to Amelie’s.”

  Nodding, I fully agreed with him. It was going to take all day to get through her journal. Hopping in the car to get something to eat, I opened it up and started reading while Sebastian drove us around. I skimmed through the first entries from when we were kids. Thankfully, she didn’t write in it every day or I’d never get through them all. She only wrote when she felt the need to let out her feelings.

  May 22, 1983

  Graduation Day! I’m so glad to be done with high school, but now comes the hard part. I have no clue what I want to do in life. Tyla wants to be a veterinarian and I know she’d be great at it, but what am I good at? I love plants and rare gems. Maybe I should become a teacher and share my knowledge with young minds. All of the colleges I applied to have accepted me, but I haven’t told anyone yet, especially Tyla. She wants to go away to college, and her parents can’t afford to send her. I can’t leave her behind. Maybe once she mates with Finn I’ll go off on my own. Why not, right? Hopefully I’ll meet a rugged wolf to sweep me off of my feet.

  My heart hurt and I shut the journal, as Sebastian pulled us into the parking lot of a local mom and pop restaurant.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  Shaking my head, I glanced down at the journal. “Amelie lied to me.”

  “About what?”

  I shrugged. “Nothing major. When we graduated high school, she knew my parents couldn’t afford to send me to college, so she lied about not being accepted anywhere and stayed home. I can’t believe she did that.”

  “That was her choice, Tyla.”

  “I know, but I didn’t want her to put her life on hold because of me. Maybe our pack splitting up was good for her. She ended up going to college and getting a teaching degree.”

  “Why exactly did your pack split up?”

  My stomach growled and I clutched it. “Do you mind if we talk about this later? I’m starving.”

  Pursing his lips, I knew he wasn’t finished with me, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it. That time would come soon enough.

  I ate more than I’d ever eaten in my entire life and even brought back extra food. With everything going on, there was no telling when I’d get the chance to eat again. Sebastian stayed close and patrolled around the house sporadically as I read through the journal. His presence was a much needed comfort.

  Skimming through the journal, I went through almost every entry for the past thirty years, looking for names I didn’t recognize. Even during our time of separation, it was nice knowing she’d missed me as much as I’d missed her. At one point, I’d tried to get her to move to Wyoming, but she loved it in North Carolina. Now I could see why.

  June 8, 2015

  It was a good day today. I think I finally met the rugged wolf I’ve been waiting for. Jaret Bleddyn. He’s just like me, a rogue. Don’t get me wrong, the local pack has some pretty decent looking wolves, but this guy takes the cake. I met him out in the woods when I went searching for a plant to use in my next classroom demonstration. I have plans to see Jaret this weekend. I can’t wait.

  June 12, 2015

  Tonight was my first date with Jaret. My parents weren’t exactly thrilled about me going out with a lone wolf, but he’s absolutely perfect. He drove us to Asheville and we went to the Biltmore House. It’s strange, but every time he looks at me, I get this weak feeling in my knees. In fact, I’m so sure he’s my mate, I gave in and slept with him. It was the most amazing night of my life. There was no way I could resist him.

  “Tyla?” Sebastian called.

  I waved my hand in the air. “Over here.” Sitting up, I made room for him on the couch.

  He sat beside me, dressed in only a pair of dress pants with the button undone. I was starting to think he didn’t own a pair of jeans. “Any wolves out there?” I asked.

  “Not that I can tell.” My gaze drifted to the opening in his pants again and my pulse raced. A small smirk splayed across his lips. He knew I wanted him, and with each passing day, it was getting harder and harder to fight against my need. He tapped the journal, grabbing my attention. “Find anything?”

  Sitting up straighter, I cleared my throat. “Actually, I did. She was involved with a wolf named Jaret Bleddyn. Looks like they were intimate.”

  His heart rate flared, along with his desire; serving only to fuel my mine more. Dammit, he was going to kill me. “Is that the last entry?” he asked.

  I shook my head. I hadn’t gotten all the way to the end. Flipping through the page
s, I got to the last entry. It was dated just three weeks prior. I read it out loud.

  “I decided to do it. Tonight is the full moon and I’m going to complete the bond with Jaret. He’s on his way now to get me. My parents are angry. They say he’s not my true mate. How can that be when I feel the way I do? Their constant badgering has left me no choice but to see him in secret. Why couldn’t they just understand? The decision has been made and I’m going to see it through. Once they meet him, they’ll see he’s my mate. I love him.”

  Sebastian’s gaze narrowed. “So your aunt and uncle never met the guy?”

  Closing the journal, I sat it on the table and grabbed my phone. “Doesn’t look like it. And Amelie had been seeing him for months by that point. It makes no sense.” I dialed Blake’s number and waited for him to pick up.

  “What’s up, Tyla?”

  “Hey, Boss. You doing okay this morning?”

  He chuckled. “Believe it or not, I can run my ranch on my own. You just happen to make it easier.”

  “Trust me, I wish I was there.”

  “Is everything all right?” he asked.

  Blake didn’t know I was a shifter and he probably never would. “Everything’s great,” I lied, “just visiting some of my family. Is there any way you can look up someone for me?” He was one of the best undercover cops in the country and his resources were vast.

  “Sure, what’s the name?”

  “Jaret Bleddyn,” I said, before spelling it out.

  “All right, I’ll see what I can do. I’ll give you a call as soon as I find something.”

  “Thanks, Blake.” We hung up and I blew out a frustrated breath. “If she’s mated, Jaret has to be somewhere.”

  “Not unless the wolves killed him,” Sebastian replied. The thought made my chest tighten.

  “Let’s hope not. I don’t want Amelie going through that kind of heartache.” My voice cracked and I wanted to kick myself in the ass for letting my emotions slip.

  “You sound like you’ve been through it before.”

  Eyes burning, I couldn’t stop the tears even if I wanted to. “I need some fresh air.” I jumped to my feet and rushed outside. Snow fell from the sky and I lifted my face to it, the cold flakes melting on my warm cheeks. Gripping the wooden rail of the porch, I squeezed it, waiting for Sebastian to join me. When he did, I could feel his warmth beside me.

  “I think it’s time you told me the truth. You’re pushing me away and I want to know why. I know you’re scared; I can feel it. You don’t have to be afraid of me.” His hand closed over mine and my heart ripped wide open.

  “I’m not afraid of you, Sebastian. I’m afraid of being with you.”

  “Why?” He grabbed my wrist and turned me to face him. “Tell me.”

  My tears burned like hot lava down my cheeks. I couldn’t keep him in the dark forever. “Have you ever lost someone you loved?” I asked.

  He nodded. “A lot of them. My parents, family, some of my closest friends. I’ve been around a while.”

  Which was true, he was about fifty years older than me. “What about a person you were in love with?”

  His jaw tensed. He knew where I was going with this. “No, but I take it you have. Was his name Cliff?”

  My mouth gaped and I gasped. “How did you know that?”

  He lowered his gaze to our clasped hands. “I followed you the other day and heard you talk to him.”

  “Looks like you have a habit of following me.”

  His head lifted, eyes flashing. “I’m an unmated male trying to keep my mate safe. Given our situation, it’s the only thing that has helped. And also this,” he said, squeezing my hands. “Your touch keeps me sane.” He wasn’t lying. I could feel his tension seeping away. “Was he human?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Basically, our relationship was doomed from the start. No one knew I was dating a human. My parents, especially my mother, would’ve given me a hard time. But I loved Cliff. He was a good man.”

  “What happened?”

  Closing my eyes, I remembered seeing his face for the last time in the hospital. I could still hear the last beats of his heart. “When I wasn’t aging, I had to cut ties with him before he noticed. A few years later, I went to check on him and found out he was in the hospital, dying from cancer. Before he took his last breath, I was able to see him again.”

  Sebastian nodded in understanding. “So you’re afraid of losing me? Is that it?” He moved closer and cupped my face in his hands. “I can promise you I’m not going anywhere.”

  I shook my head. “I’m cursed, Sebastian. Everyone I’ve ever loved has been taken from me.” Taking a deep breath, I blew it out slowly. “You don’t know this, but I was set to be mated to another man thirty years ago.”

  “Go on.”

  I didn’t want to tell him about my intimacies with other men, but it was the only way to get him to understand. “He was our pack leader and one of my closest friends. We knew that to make our pack strong, our union was the best bet. He needed a strong female and I was the strongest. However, he wasn’t the only one who wanted me.”

  Recollection sparked in his gaze. “Is that why your pack split up?”

  “More like demolished. As far as I know, everyone was killed, except for a few of us.”

  “And your intended, what happened to him?”

  I shrugged. “Killed. He said he would come for me and he never did. My pack was slaughtered because of me and I’ve never been able to forgive myself for it. Finn told me to run when I should’ve followed him and fought. I will never make that same mistake again.”

  He tilted my face up. “But you lived to see another day. Things happen for a reason, love. Your choices brought you to me. This is where you belong.”

  My lip quivered and I bit it. “What if I lose you too? I can’t bear the thought.”

  Before I could take a breath, he closed his lips over mine, wrapping his arms around my waist. I was too tired to fight, and gave in, opening myself up to him. His lips were warm, his hands rough as they reached underneath the hem of my shirt. I didn’t want to let him go, but he broke away first.

  Leaning his forehead to mine, he closed his eyes. “If you don’t finish this, you will surely lose me. The rage will drive me insane and I won’t be able to control it. You need to make the choice soon, your fear . . . or my life.” He stepped away and disappeared inside, only to emerge again and take off into the woods.

  I stood there frozen, with the weight of this words sinking in. He’d given me his terms and now it was my turn. Only, I didn’t know what to do.

  Tyla

  For the rest of the night, Sebastian stayed in his wolf form and kept guard outside. I tried to search for the stone but couldn’t find it. He had it hidden well. It wasn’t until the early morning hours when I awoke to sounds of him coming inside and hopping in the shower. He was avoiding me. I guess I deserved it.

  “Knock, knock,” I said, tapping on the bathroom door. It opened slightly and steam billowed out.

  “Yeah?” Sebastian replied.

  I could see his form through the cloudy, glass shower door. I fought back the urge to say ‘fuck my fears’ and jump in the shower with him. When I didn’t answer, he opened the door and looked at me.

  “Can I help you?”

  Clearing my throat, I turned my head. “Where’s the stone?”

  He shut the shower door. “Safe, why?”

  “I want to use it. We need to know more.”

  Opening the door again, he turned the water off and got out. I met his gaze and it took all I had to keep it there. “Let’s go to Amelie’s again and search around. If by the end of the day we don’t find anything new, I’ll let you use it. You don’t want to be like the walking dead right now, it’ll waste the rest of the day.”

  As much as I wanted to fight it, he had a point. Nodding, I stepped back. “Deal. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  While I waited for him, I heated up my leftover steak from t
he day before and saved half for him, putting it on a separate plate along with half of my baked potato.

  He stopped at the door and lifted a brow. “What are you doing?”

  My stomach growled. “If I’m hungry, I know you are too. You didn’t eat anything last night, so I’m giving you half of my steak.” When he sat down, I could tell a smile was just beneath the surface. I passed him a fork and he stuck it in the meat. “When we get back to Wyoming, I’ll cook you a meal. I’m actually pretty good at it. So don’t judge me by this chunk of reheated beef.”

  He ate a bite and smiled. “So I’ve heard. Everyone talks about your cooking. I’ll admit, I was jealous when my brother told me you made him an apple pie.”

  I burst out laughing. “It was an apology for giving him a black eye. Don’t let him make you think it’s because he was special.”

  “I’ll have to tell him that.”

  We ate the rest of our food and I was glad to finally see a smile on his face. “Are you going to help me look through the house, or patrol the perimeter?”

  He got up and put his plate in the sink. “Both. I want to see if there are any new tracks. Maybe even a sign from Jaret. We still don’t know if they completed the bond.”

  “True. I didn’t smell anyone other than my family in her house.”

  “Then they must’ve been meeting at his place,” he said, opening the front door. “If only we could find it.”

  My phone rang and I quickly pulled it out of my pocket. “Blake, hey. Did you find anything on Jaret?”

  He sighed and I knew it was going to be bad news. “Are you sure his name is Jaret Bleddyn?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tyla, I can’t find anything on this guy. There is no Jaret Bleddyn in any part of the world.”

  Sebastian heard and looked dumbfounded. “I don’t know what to do,” I whispered, more to myself than to anyone else.

  “You’re not in any trouble are you?” Blake asked.

  “No, it’s not like that. I’ll be fine. I guess I just got his name wrong.”