by Dover, L. P.
Sebastian snorted. “That’s a whole other story. Hopefully, Faith hasn’t been a pain in the ass like this one,” he said, pointing to me.
Ryker chuckled under his breath and I elbowed him in the side. “Hey, I wasn’t that bad. Try living with a pack you think is your family only to have them turn around and mate you off to a sadistic bastard.”
“Who also happened to be Whitemore’s brother,” Sebastian added. Ryker tensed beside me; it would always be a sore subject for him.
Micah’s eyes went wide. “It looks like I have a lot to catch up on.”
“That you do,” I said, “and you can start tomorrow, when you both leave to get my sister. Right now, we have a party to go to.”
Sebastian stared at me, his gaze concerned. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to leave right now. I want to wait until after the full moon.”
I took his hand and squeezed. “I’ll be fine. You forget I can take care of myself. Not to mention, I have Ryker. You just saw your brother for the first time in over a decade. Maybe you two can figure out how to find the rest of our pack, including our brothers.”
Sebastian wanted to fight me on it, but with Ryker there he backed down. “All right, if you want me to go, I will. I’ll help bring your sister back safely.”
“That’s all I want.” I watched them disappear around the corner, as I stayed with Ryker who backed me into the wall.
“I wonder what the packs are going to think when yet another eligible royal walks into the bar.” He lowered his lips to my neck, kissing his way up to my cheek.
“I think the ladies will love it. You have no idea how many of them want Sebastian.”
He scoffed. “Great. I can see a few fights in our future. I hope your boys are ready for that.”
I waved him off. “They’ll be fine.” We started back toward the bar and stopped about midway there. Low growls could be heard inside. “Uh, maybe you’re right. Let’s get in there before they tear the bar apart.”
Ryker burst out in laughter. “Yes, lets. I’d love to see Lyall get knocked on his ass.”
Bailey
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” Sebastian asked.
Laughing, I pushed him towards Micah’s SUV. “No, I don’t. Judging by that black eye of yours I’d say you need a break. You’re going to start pissing Ryker off if you don’t back away soon anyway.”
“But that’s the fun part.” He fake pouted.
I pursed my lips. “Maybe for you, but not for me. I know you just want to keep me safe, but I’m a big girl. One of these days you’re going to have your own mate to protect. You need to get used to not being by my side. He tolerates you because he knows I love you.”
His jaw tensed. “You’re all I’ve had for the past fifteen years.”
Eyes burning, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I know but now you have your brother. You’ll need his help to find our families.”
He nodded. “I’ll find them.”
I wrapped my arm around his and walked him the rest of the way to Micah’s car. “In the meantime, stay safe out there. I’ll be here when you get back.”
“Try not to miss me too much,” he teased.
“Don’t worry, I will.” I kissed him on the cheek and watched him get into the car. As soon as they drove out of the driveway, Tyla pulled in.
“I see the twins of terror just left,” she called as she got out.
I rolled my eyes. “Twins of terror? They aren’t even twins.”
She shrugged. “They remind me of these twin MMA fighters I watch on TV. They’re some sexy beasts. I wish we had wolves in our pack who looked like that.”
“We do. We have several who are very good looking.”
“You better not let Ryker hear you say that,” she said with a wink.
“I don’t plan on it. Did you ever talk to Sebastian last night?”
She snorted. “Nah, as soon as he walked through the door with his brother, every single woman in the bar salivated over them. Do all royals have some kind of pheromone that makes people pant after them?”
I laughed. “Not that I know of. I think it’s because we’re different. The allure will die down once everyone gets used to us. I guess it doesn’t help that Sebastian and his brother are easy on the eyes.”
She followed me up to the front porch and sat down beside me. “You got that right. Anyway, before you and Ryker walked in on the fight, one of the grays from the Great Plains got mad because the girl he was talking to left him mid-sentence to meet the new royal. He was pissed as hell. The next thing I knew, fists were flying.”
“Ryker warned me it would happen. I didn’t believe him.”
She stared out at the driveway. “How long do you think they’ll be gone?”
I shrugged. “Don’t know. Hopefully, not long. I’m dying to meet my sister.”
“I bet. Do you think you’ll remember anything once you see her?”
“She might feel familiar, but other than that, I doubt it. Seraphina made it perfectly clear the only way to get my memories back would be to kill the witch who did it, or make her reverse the spell. The only way to do that is to go back up north, and that’s not going to happen.”
“I understand. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t remember my family. I love them way too much.”
“I think that’s what I miss the most. There’s an emptiness inside. When I try to think back, there is just nothing; it’s like a blank spot that makes me feel like I’m forgetting something. It’d be nice to remember my parents and to know they loved me. I want to feel it. I don’t think I’ve ever truly felt love, except from Ryker and Sebastian.”
Sitting back in her chair, she looked down at her hands, her brows furrowed. “I was in love with a human once. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been with other men, but he was special. He was so different from everyone else. But humans age so much faster than we do.”
“What happened?”
She closed her eyes, her lip trembling. “Once he started to age and I didn’t, I had to leave him. It broke my heart to do it, but I didn’t have a choice. Years later, when he was diagnosed with stage four cancer, I knew there was nothing I could do. I visited him in the hospital right before he died. He thought I was an angel.”
Her story brought tears to my eyes. “I’m sorry, Tyla. I can’t imagine being in love with someone and watching them die. Did he ever marry?”
She wiped her eyes and faced me. “No. He died at forty-three. He always said I was the only one for him. On that last day, I told him I wasn’t an angel, I was really me. He told me I was beautiful and that he still loved me. I was there when he took his last breath.”
“Does anyone else know about this?”
She shook her head. “No, not even my parents. It’s frowned upon to fall in love with humans. It’s not supposed to be part of our nature.”
“You can’t help who you fall in love with. I think it’s a beautiful story. Not many people get to experience real love. I can assure you you’ll have it again.”
She sniffled. “You promise?”
I looked into her soft, gray gaze. “I promise. Now let’s go into town and go shopping. I have two interviews I need outfits for.” We got up and I put my arm around her as we walked to Ryker’s Jeep.
“I can deal with that. Anything to get my mind off of love. Speaking of which, are you excited about the full moon next week?” She opened her door and I stood at mine, my heart thundering out of control.
“More like terrified. I don’t know what to expect.”
“I do. And I know just the thing you need.” By the devilish look in her eyes, I was almost scared to ask.
“Do I even want to know?”
She winked. “Don’t worry, Ryker will love it.”
Sitting on the back deck of the cabin, I propped my feet up on the banister and gazed at the stars, drinking my hot chocolate.
“Did you have fun with Tyla today?” Ryker asked.
I turned to him and set my cup down. “I did. We talked a lot. I think she has a thing for Sebastian.”
“Oh hell, who doesn’t? How did it go with him when you said goodbye?”
“Fine. I know he wanted to go with his brother, but he wasn’t happy about leaving. I guess, until we’re mated, I’m still vulnerable.”
“But you have me to protect you.”
“I know that, but there’s a reason female royals have royal-blooded protectors. You have to admit Sebastian has powers that even you don’t.” A low growl escaped his lips and he tensed. “Ryker, I’m not saying he’s physically stronger than you. Besides, you have a couple of powers he doesn’t possess.”
“Oh yeah, and what are those?”
Smiling, I climbed onto his lap and kissed him. “The power over my heart.”
His body relaxed and he kissed me again, his tongue taking claim of my mouth. “And what’s the other?”
I shoved my hand between us and rubbed his growing arousal through his jeans. “The other one is so big—so obvious—I don’t think it bears mentioning.” I smirked as I squeezed his length.
Thrusting into my hand, he growled his approval. Standing up with me in his arms, he carried me up to his bedroom and laid me down on the bed. I moved back and he crawled on top of me, lifting my shirt.
His fingers tickled me as he rubbed circles along my stomach. “After we complete our bond during the next full moon, you’ll officially be mine. We’ll both be alphas of this pack, making all of the decisions together. It’s not going to be easy, but you’ll always have me by your side. I want you to be happy.”
“What about you?” I asked, combing my fingers through his hair as he laid small kisses along my stomach. “What will make you happy?”
He looked up and met my stare. “I will be the happiest man alive when you bear our children. We were robbed of our families at such a young age, and to have one of my own is something I’ve dreamt about for years.” Covering me with his body, he wiped away the tear I couldn’t stop from rolling down my cheek.
“And I promise to fulfill those dreams. I won’t let you down,” I whispered softly.
“And neither will I,” he murmured. Lifting my shirt over my head, Ryker unclasped my bra. He freed my breasts and suckled them, his teeth growing slightly. I could feel the razor edges grazing my nipples. “I want to taste you. Will you let me?”
I groaned and bit my lip. “As long as I can taste you as well.” I was nervous to see what the next vision would be like. Before he could unzip my pants, a howl sounded in the distance. “Is it one of your wolves?” I asked.
Jumping off the bed, Ryker rushed to the window and peered out, eyes glowing. “It’s Cedric. Something’s wrong. I need to go.”
Sliding off the bed, I dropped my jeans and underwear to the floor. “I’ll come with you,” I offered. Ryker stepped in my way before I could let the magic of the shift take over my body.
“You’re not coming, Bailey. I need you to stay here, where you’re safe.”
“What if you need my help? I can shield your presence.”
Growling low, he cupped my face firmly in his hands. “I know, but I can’t risk you. Shield yourself and stay here. I’m not going to put you in harm’s way again. Just stay close in my mind so I know you’re there. If I tell you to run, I want you to listen to me, got it?”
“What?” I gasped frantically. “There’s no way in hell I’d ever leave you! Don’t ever ask me to do that.”
“I just did.”
He kissed me long and hard before taking off. I quickly grabbed my shirt and threw it on, racing after him to the door. Before he could shift, I grabbed his arm. All I could do was stare into his bright green eyes.
Sighing, he brushed a finger down my cheek. “Lock the door and shield yourself. If no one can find you, you’ll be safe. I love you, angel.”
“I love you too.”
He kissed me again before the magic shimmered across his body and turned him into a giant, white wolf. His wolf was beautiful and majestic, but also a deadly killing machine. Taking off into the forest, he disappeared from sight.
“Be careful,” I said.
“Always.”
Closing my eyes, I concentrated on my magic and made sure to shield my presence. When I was in college, I had run into other wolves from time to time, but none of them realized what I was. It was nice to know I could stay hidden. I didn’t need them pissing all over my yard, trying to mark their territory.
The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Bailey, what’s going on?” Tyla asked.
“I don’t know. Ryker took off a few minutes ago.”
“Do you want me to head over there? I don’t have a good feeling about this. My father called and said something’s going down and to stay out of the woods.”
“He’s right, stay there,” I commanded.
“What if it’s the Yukon pack again? You don’t need to be alone.”
I looked out the window and there was nothing amiss. “I’ll be fine. The last thing I want is for you to be here if they are around.”
She huffed. “Fine, but if you need me, I’ll be there. Maybe Sebastian should’ve stayed. He’d be there to protect you right now.”
“And I’ll never hear the end of it when he comes back.” I rolled my eyes. “Listen, don’t worry. I’ll call if I need help.”
“Okay, B. I’ll have my phone on me at all times.” We hung up and all I could do was wait. The wind blew unusually strong, the sound of it screeching against the windows. I could feel eyes watching me, yet there was no one out there.
Ten minutes later, the dreaded news came in from Ryker. “There’s a group of wolves about three miles out. Some of them are from my old pack, and some of them are from yours. They’re not moving any closer, which has me concerned. I wish I knew what the fuck they were doing.”
Panic rose in my chest. “Are you going to attack? Maybe they’re testing the waters to see what we do.”
“I don’t know, angel. We’re all in place, so if they attack we’ll be ready. Keep your shield up and I promise I’ll come back for you as soon as it’s over.”
“Please, let me join you, Ryker. They don’t want me dead. I can fight them.” My instincts told me to get out of the house and fight. I always listened to my instincts.
“If you come out here, they’ll have what they want. Stay there!”
Groaning, I sat down on the couch and gazed out the window at the dark, midnight sky. The moon glowed ominously behind the clouds and it made me shiver. Chill bumps fanned out across my skin and the shivers grew worse. Something wasn’t right; I never got cold.
Fear settled in the pit of my stomach and it grew so strong, my lungs constricted. I couldn’t breathe and fell to the floor, gasping for air. “Ryker, I can’t breathe.”
“What the fuck? Are you okay?”
“No. There’s magic, lots of it. It’s suffocating me.” My instincts had told me to join Ryker and I didn’t listen. I needed to get out to him and fast, but I couldn’t breathe. Clawing at my throat didn’t help and if I screamed, no one was going to hear me.
“What do you mean? Bailey, tell me what’s going on! Is someone there?”
The chills grew worse and I doubled over on the floor and clutched my stomach; it felt as if my insides were trying to rip out of my body. “I can barely move. All I feel is pain.” Tears fell down my cheeks and I screamed as loud as I could.
“Goddammit, I’m coming to you. Bailey, hold on!”
Fading in and out of consciousness, I heard footsteps on the front porch leading up to the door. I tried to crawl toward it, but I was frozen in pain. “Thank God you’re here. I can’t take the pain anymore.”
“I’m not there yet!” Ryker growled in my mind. “Fuck me. Bailey, hide!”
The door to the cabin slammed open and all I could see from the floor was a set of boots thundering toward me. I wanted to fight, but I was frozen in rict
us. The only sound I could hear was the erratic beating of my heart. Panic exploded in my veins, and when I tried to scream, all that came out was a ragged whimper. It was dark magic constricting me, the same kind that took my memories away. Whoever was in the room bent down and brushed a hand over my cheek.
“Holy fuck. He’s here! I’m covered in magic and he’s here. Ryker, where are you? I need you!”
Ryker’s panic became my own and I whimpered again. I wanted to shift, but couldn’t. “Who’s he? So help me God if anyone touches you, I’ll fucking kill them.”
“That’s just it . . . I thought I’d already killed him.”
For a split second, everything went silent, and then every single emotion in Ryker’s body exploded into mine. “How the fuck is that possible?”
Lifting me in his arms, Kade held me tight to his body, glaring down at me with an evil smirk. “Are you glad to see me?”
My body convulsed in pain. “How?” I choked.
“Now that, little wolf, is a story for another time. I wish we could say goodbye to my brother, but I’m sure I’ll be seeing him again soon. It’s gonna take forever to get his stench off your body.” He leaned down and licked my lips. “But I’m going to have fun doing it.”
I was completely helpless and there was nothing I could do about it. His evil laugh was all I heard as he carried me off into the woods and away from my pack . . . away from Ryker.
“Fuck! Bailey, where are you? I can’t scent you out.”
The darkness slowly crept in, and I could barely hold on as magic seeped into my veins. “Kade has me. I can’t see anything.”
“Stay with me, Bailey! Whatever happens, I’ll find you! Stay strong and fight. I promise you’ll never be alone. I love you, angel.”
When I was unable to respond and felt our connection disappear, Ryker’s agonizing howl could be heard in the distance. I focused on it until I could no longer feel my body. I had a week until the full moon, which meant I had a week to escape.
I’m not weak and I’m not a prisoner . . . I am an alpha. I won’t go down without a fight.
