Resisting the Moon: A Royal Shifters Novel Read online

  “No!” I screamed, holding out my hand. Sebastian lunged in the air, ready to strike. I raced toward him and jumped on his back, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Sebastian, no!”

  Growling, he was pulled off course until my hold slipped. I rolled across the ground and yelped when the edge of a stick punctured a hole in my left shoulder. Pain shot through my body as I tried desperately to pull the stick out, but I couldn’t reach it.

  “Tyla!”

  The stick was pulled out and I was lifted off the ground, only it wasn’t Sebastian holding me . . . it was Finn. He looked in my eyes and I in his. It was really him. “Finn,” I breathed, his face growing blurry from my tears. His brown hair was a little longer on top, but other than that he looked the same. For thirty years I’d thought he was dead, and now, he was standing before me. I touched his face and smiled. “You’re alive.”

  “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

  He turned to leave the clearing and my mind exploded with nothing but red. Sebastian stood in human form, blocking our path—his murderous glare set on Finn. I hissed in pain, his raging emotions blasting my mind. It only got worse when he saw the blood dripping down my shoulders. He blamed himself for the wound. “Get your hands off her now or I’ll rip your head off your fucking body.”

  Finn held me tighter. “I’d like to see you try.”

  “Stop!” I shouted. I glanced up at Finn and sighed. “Put me down. He’s not your enemy.”

  He glared at Sebastian and back at me. “But you’re hurt. We need to take care of that shoulder.”

  “I’ll be fine. Now set me down, please.” He did as I said and I hissed in pain.

  Sebastian hurried over and swiped my hair away from the wound so he could take a look. “Fuck,” he growled. “Why did you jump in my way?”

  Swallowing hard, I looked over at Finn. “I couldn’t let you hurt him. He’s a friend from my past.”

  Finn scoffed. “I was much more than a friend, Tyla.”

  Sebastian tensed and faced him, stepping in front of me. “I don’t care who you are, that was in the past. I’m her true mate.”

  Finn’s gaze narrowed. “And I’m her first mate. Looks like we’re going to have a problem.”

  Tyla

  When we got back to the house, I entered first, with both guys following behind me. There were clean towels in the laundry room, so I grabbed one and tossed it to Finn. “I’ll be right back.” He wrapped the towel around his waist and paced the living room floor while I retreated upstairs. Sebastian joined me and ripped off my shirt so I wouldn’t have to lift my shoulders. “I’m seriously going to have to go shopping. This is the second shirt you’ve ripped.”

  His fingers gently traced over my wound. “I didn’t enjoy ripping this one, love. The last thing I wanted was for you to get hurt.” He moved me over to the bed and I sat down.

  “It’s not your fault. I didn’t know it was going to be Finn.”

  “He’s the alpha you spoke of, isn’t he?” I nodded and hissed when he touched my wound again. “Were you lovers?”

  Sighing, I nodded again. “It was a long time ago, Sebastian.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You loved him. Just the thought of you being with him makes me so goddamned furious I can barely see straight.” The smell of his blood unexpectedly permeated the room and I felt its warmth drip onto my wound.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, before I realized the answer. The pain subsided and I could feel the flesh mending back together. He kissed my shoulder and smoothed a hand over it.

  “My blood can heal you. It’s one of the benefits of being true mates.” I’d known that, but never thought it would work so quickly.

  I turned around and kissed him. He saw Finn as a threat and I could feel it. He needed to know there was nothing to worry about. “I know you’re my mate, Sebastian, and he’s not going to take me away from you. But, I need to know what happened over the last thirty years. In order to do that, I have to talk to him. You need to let me go to him.”

  Jaw tense, he cursed under his breath. “You better hope he doesn’t try to take you away from me. If he does, I won’t hesitate in ripping him apart. That I can promise.”

  I nodded. “I just need answers, nothing more.” He moved out of the way so I could grab another T-shirt from my bag. It didn’t even hurt when I lifted my shoulders to put it on. Before walking out the door, I glanced over my shoulder. “Thank you.”

  He lifted his gaze and nodded.

  Hurrying downstairs, I found Finn standing just outside. As I stepped out of the door, he scooped me into his arms.

  “When I caught your scent in the woods, I thought I was in a fucking dream. I never thought I’d see you again.”

  Tears spilled down my cheeks. “I thought you were dead. Why didn’t you come for me?”

  He pulled back, eyes wide. “I had been, until Sarah and Benjamin told me you never made it out alive.”

  Gasping, I clutched a hand to my chest. “Why would they tell you that? They knew I was alive. Did Amelie tell you that as well?”

  He shook his head. “I haven’t seen her since the attack. I passed through this way many years ago on my search for you and found Sarah and Benjamin. That’s when they told me.”

  I felt sick, betrayed. Why the hell would they do that? “What about the rest of our pack? What happened to them?”

  Sighing, he grabbed my hands and squeezed. “There are some who still follow me, but over the years, most have turned up dead or missing. So when I was passing through and smelled the dead wolves at Amelie’s, I knew something was wrong. That’s when I went searching through the woods and found you.”

  “Why are our people showing up dead?”

  He huffed. “I don’t know. That’s why I wanted to check on your family, to make sure they were okay.”

  “Amelie’s gone, we believe she’s been kidnapped. That’s why we’re here. She called and said she needed help. When we showed up, she was missing and we found my aunt and uncle dead in the woods. I don’t know who took her.” Then I thought of Jaret. “Do you know of a wolf named Jaret Bleddyn?”

  He shook his head. “Doesn’t sound familiar, why?”

  I shrugged. “I think Amelie’s mated to him. I had a cop friend search for him, but the name doesn’t show up anywhere.”

  “Have you found anything else that could help?” he asked.

  I glanced back into the house, where I knew the stone was hidden. “There is one way, but it doesn’t come without a price.” I faced him again. “We found a moonstone on Amelie’s journal. When I touch it, it thrusts me into her memories. But when I use it for a long period of time, it zaps my energy. If we were attacked, I’d be too vulnerable.”

  “Fuck,” he grumbled. “I don’t like the sound of this. You’re not safe here.”

  “I know. We’ve already been attacked once. Those are the wolves you found at Amelie’s. They’d said they were instructed to kill anyone who showed up over there. I don’t know what that means.”

  Letting my hands go, he ran them angrily through his hair. “I don’t either, but I’m going to help. We’ll find Amelie and bring our pack together.”

  My heart hurt at hearing his words. I wasn’t a part of his pack anymore. He pulled me into his arms and I pulled out of his embrace.

  “Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “You didn’t hurt me. It’s just . . . he’s my mate now,” I murmured.

  “You were supposed to be mine.”

  “I know, and it would’ve been a mistake.” It hurt to say it, but it was the truth.

  “But you’re not mated yet. Why?”

  The thought made me smile. For the longest time, I’d thought I was cursed. Everyone I’d loved died on me, or at least I thought they had. Finn was alive and well. “I didn’t want to lose him like I’d lost you. I never got over it, Finn. I loved you then, and I always will. But I’m not a part of your pack anymore. I haven’t been for a l
ong time. If you don’t want to help me find Amelie, that’s fine. I’ll understand.”

  He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “You may not be mine anymore, but you will always be a part of my pack. I’ll be back in a couple of days with the others. They’ll be happy to know you’re alive.” Tearing the towel away, he handed it to me and smiled. “You sure he’s your mate?”

  “Oh, get out of here with that.” I rolled my eyes and smacked his shoulder. “Sebastian’s already on edge as it is, we don’t need him coming down here to kill you. I’ve seen in his mind and it’s not good. You being here only makes it worse.”

  He nodded. “I understand. But he needs to know I’m here to help. You and Amelie were a part of my pack. That’s not something I’ll just forget.”

  “He’ll understand,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing.

  Finn glanced inside the house, then back to me. “Somehow, I’m not sure I believe that. I’ll see you later.” He gave me his phone number, then shifted into his wolf, taking off into the woods.

  When I got inside, I called for Sebastian, but he was shielding himself from me. “Sebastian?”

  I headed upstairs and went straight to the bathroom when I heard the shower running. The door was partially open and steam billowed out. I took off my clothes quickly and snuck inside. The shower doors were steamy and when I opened them, I expected to see Sebastian in there, but it was empty.

  A chuckle came from behind just as I was pushed under the running water. “Hey! That’s not funny.” I pouted, turning in Sebastian’s arm to playfully pinch his nipple.

  He closed his lips over mine, pressing his body tightly against me. Trailing his mouth down my neck to my breasts, he bit my nipple and looked up at me. “I had to get his scent off of you.”

  “You have nothing to worry about.”

  “I know. I heard you talking to him. But that doesn’t mean he won’t still be a problem.”

  “He won’t. He knows you’re my mate. You have to trust me.”

  Grabbing my legs, he lifted me up, wrapping them around his waist. “I do trust you.”

  “Even without taking my blood?”

  He backed me into the wall and circled his hips, sliding his cock against my center. “Yes, love. As much as I want to feel you completely, I can trust you without it.”

  With Finn back from the dead, my fears were squashed. I didn’t really have a reason to hide from him. Leaning my head to the side, I brushed my hair away from my neck. “You don’t have to go without it anymore,” I replied.

  Sebastian froze. “What are you saying?”

  I clutched his face in my grasp. “I’m ready, Sebastian. Don’t get me wrong, I’m afraid of the visions, or lack thereof, but I know we need to do this. I’m ready. I want you completely.”

  His eyes shifted and I watched as his fangs lengthened. He leaned down and ran his tongue along my neck before sinking his teeth into my skin. The bite felt orgasmic, and that was when the vision started. Flashes of light, and glimmers of Sebastian laughing, played through my mind. It happened all too quickly and then it was gone. Once we were sucked back into the here and now, Sebastian pulled back, his eyes and teeth shifting to normal.

  “Did you see that?” he asked.

  I didn’t know if what I saw had been good or bad. From what I gathered, our future was still undecided. “At least it wasn’t visions of red,” I said.

  He chuckled. “I know it wasn’t what you were hoping for, but it’s a start. We’ll make our own fate, together.”

  “Together,” I agreed silently.

  Pulling my lip in between his teeth, he kept his heated gaze on mine and sucked it. “I hope you’re ready for this.”

  I dug my nails in his back and smiled. “You have no idea.”

  Tyla

  “Hungry much?” Sebastian teased.

  “Famished,” I answered, chewing the last bite of my chicken. After our tryst in the shower, we’d gotten dressed and driven to the closest store to pick up some groceries. We’d also wanted to go into town to see if we could spot other wolves. No such luck there.

  It felt wrong to be enjoying this time with him while my cousin was being held against her will, but Sebastian wanted me to eat before I used the stone. We both knew I needed as much energy as possible, in order to hold onto Amelie’s memories as long as I could.

  Grabbing my plate, he put it in the sink and sighed. “You ready to use the stone?”

  He wasn’t happy with me using it, but we didn’t have a choice. Walking back over, he set the smooth, blue stone on the table and took the seat beside me. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from it. It was as if it called to me somehow.

  “I’m ready, but there’s something that’s been bothering me.” He already knew because he could see it in my mind.

  “Why don’t you call your parents and ask them? You haven’t talked to them since we left anyway. I bet they’ve called over a hundred times now.”

  He had a point. Dialing my parents’ number, I waited for them to pick up. My mother was the one to answer, her voice a high-pitched shriek.

  “You sure do know how to scare your mother to death!”

  “Hello to you too, Mother,” I said.

  “What’s going on? Have you found Amelie?”

  Sebastian held my hand and squeezed. “No, we haven’t, but I did find someone else.”

  “Who?”

  “Finn.” I waited for a gasp of excitement, or any kind of reaction for that matter, but it didn’t come. Her silence confirmed my suspicion. “You knew he was alive . . .”

  “Honey, I know what you’re thinking—”

  “Save it,” I snapped.

  She sighed, her voice sounding defeated. “What did he say?”

  “You’re not even going to deny it?”

  “There’s no point. I’m sorry for not telling you, but it was for the best. He would’ve found you and you’d be stuck mated to him. Where would that have left Sebastian?”

  I didn’t want to think about that. Sebastian nodded in agreement, but it still didn’t change the fact she’d lied to me. And it hadn’t been just my life she’d messed with. “It wasn’t fair, Momma. Finn’s been carrying around the guilt of my death for thirty years. When did you find out he was alive?”

  “About ten years after the attack. That’s when he found Sarah and Benjamin.”

  “Apparently, several people from our pack have been found as well. Finn says they’ve been showing up dead over the years.”

  She gasped. “Oh no. Does he know who’s killing them?”

  “No. Make sure to tell Ryker what’s going on so the pack can be on alert. He doesn’t need to let any strange wolves close to you.”

  The line went quiet, but I could hear her breathing. Her past actions might have been for the best, but it didn’t hurt any less. “Tyla, dear?”

  Sebastian rubbed a hand down my back, soothing me. “I’m here,” I said.

  “I’m sorry for lying to you. You have to know it broke my heart to see you suffer, but I was only trying to protect you. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. This path led you to Sebastian. It’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

  “I know.”

  “Why don’t you just come home? If you can’t find Amelie, there’s nothing more you can do out there. I don’t want you risking your life over this.”

  My gaze caught the stone. “I think I have a way to find her. If it doesn’t work, we’ll come home.”

  “Just be safe. I love you, honey.”

  “Love you too.” I hung up and laid my head on the table.

  “Were you serious about going home if we can’t find her?” Sebastian asked.

  “I’m hoping that’s not the case,” I said, turning to face him. “We have to find her. I can’t imagine what’s being done to her right now. And when I look through the stone, it’s like I’m actually inside her body. I’m afraid of what I’m going to see this time around. If someone’s hurting h
er, there’s not a goddamned thing I can do.”

  He grabbed the stone and helped me to my feet. “At least now you don’t have to see it alone. With our connection, I should be able to see it with you. Maybe I’ll be able to help.”

  I hadn’t even thought of that. “Let’s get to it.” I walked over to the couch and sat down. Taking a deep breath, I made sure my mind was completely open. Sebastian held out the stone and I took it, the memories flooding in.

  Sebastian

  Tyla was still passed out, sleeping soundly in the bed. Her blonde curls fanned out over her pillow and on her face was a half-smile. She was so beautiful. It was late morning, and I could already feel the pull of the full moon drawing me to her. If she decided not to complete the bond tonight, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I’d never wanted anything more in my life.

  Waiting for her to awake, I sat and thought about all of the details we’d seen while she’d held the stone. Judging by the memories, Amelie was being kept in a dark basement with cement walls. In the vision, we were able to see a clock in the corner of the room with the same time as when we touched the stone. It was too convenient to be a coincidence. It wasn’t long after that when it grew dark, interspersed with flashes of memories here and there. We realized then she had to be sleeping; there was a hazy shimmer around the visions.

  Luckily, Amelie dreamt of Jaret. He looked familiar somehow, but I couldn’t recall where I’d known him from. I’d met thousands of wolves in my time, some in friendship and even more in battle. I couldn’t place him. In Amelie’s memory, they were sitting in a white gazebo by a small pond. There was a building in the background—apartments from what I could tell—with white siding and a green tin roof. That was what I was researching now. There had to be a place like that close by.

  Tyla stirred and opened her eyes. She stretched, poking her breasts up in the air, making something stir down below. She was going to kill me.