Resisting the Moon: A Royal Shifters Novel (5 page)

Sebastian

W
ho the fuck does he think he is?
I didn’t want Tyla to know I was watching, but dammit to hell, it was getting hard to control myself. I wanted to rip Colin’s throat out every time he touched her. Now they were in the lake and way too fucking close.
That’s it.
I started toward them, my resolve on the edge of breaking.

“Don’t even think about it, Sebastian.”

I stopped and turned around to find Bailey glaring at me, her heart racing from the run. It was easier to control our emotions in human form; hence, the reason I refrained from shifting. “What the hell are you doing here?” She’d shielded herself so I wouldn’t hear or feel her approach.

Arms crossed, she stood there, pursing her lips. “Micah sent me to get you. He thought you’d rip his head off if he came, and we both know you won’t hurt me. Judging by what’s going on, you better not hurt Colin either.”

My eyes flashed. “She doesn’t belong to him. He needs to stop touching her.”

Sighing, she approached cautiously. “He knows that. Colin isn’t going to make a move on Tyla, I promise.”

“Have you
seen
them out there?” I growled, thrusting my finger in their direction.

“You have nothing to worry about. My plan worked. However, I’m starting to think it was a mistake.”

“Plan? What the fuck are you going on about?”

Her gaze landed on Tyla and Colin, who were finally emerging from the lake. “Colin is only pursuing Tyla because I asked him to. He’s not actually trying to steal her away; he’s just making it
appear
as if he’s doing so. I knew you needed a push and he’s the only one crazy enough to take you on.”

“You have got to be kidding me. Why would you do that? I could’ve ripped him apart,” I snapped.

She stepped forward. “That’s why I’m intervening now. I didn’t realize you were having such a hard time controlling yourself.”

“Is Tyla in on this?”

“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “It won’t matter anyway. We both know she’s not interested in Colin. You’re her mate and she knows that, even as pig-headed as she is being.”

I huffed. “And that’s what drives me so crazy. She fights me every second she gets.”

“You deserve it. I can’t help it you’re an idiot. Now’s the time to make it up to her.”

I could hear Tyla’s laugh from where I stood. She used to be carefree like that around me, until I’d started flaunting other women around her, hoping the feelings would stop. In the end, they only grew worse. I focused on her, the way she smiled so animatedly at Colin. Would she ever smile like that at me again?

“She hates me.” I sighed and looked at the ground. “I tricked her today and made her kiss me. You know as well as I that she’s not the forgiving type. The longer she fights me, the worse I’ll get.”

She placed her hand on my shoulder. “That’s why you need to be honest with her. It’s either that, or find someone else to control your urges with for the time being. But that option will only piss her off more, so . . .”

I groaned, angrily running a hand through my hair. “I always knew a woman would be the death of me.”

“And a hell of a one at that.” Bailey laughed. “Now, come on back to my house. Ryker and I need your help.” She squeezed my shoulder.

“Fine, but if I find out your brother makes a move on her, I’ll rip his balls off. Got it?”

She snickered. “Colin may like to fuck with you, but he knows his limits, and so does Tyla. She doesn’t want him.”

“She may not want him, but it doesn’t mean she won’t use him to get back at me. I fucked up, and deserve whatever she decides to throw my way.”

Bailey didn’t say a word, which meant I was absolutely right. Out of the hundred years I’d lived in this godforsaken world, you’d think I’d have learned by now.
Obviously not
.

By the time we got back to her house, I could hear Ryker cursing up a storm inside. “What the hell is he doing?” I asked, holding back a chuckle.

Bailey cleared her throat. “When Micah came over to talk to me, he told me you helped my parents put my crib together. I thought maybe you could help put my little one’s together as well. Ryker seems to need some help.”

More cursing ensued and I chuckled. I’d do anything to get my mind off of Tyla. “I’d be happy to. When your mother was pregnant with you, I knew you were going to be a handful, always moving around like a beast.”

She stopped at the door. “Do you regret choosing to be a protector?”

“No. It’s what my father did, and his before that for several generations. The legacy needs to live on. So far, we haven’t failed in our tasks.” Then I thought about Tyla. “At least, until I picked the most stubborn female on this planet to protect.”

She giggled. “Whether Tyla realizes it or not, you’re her mate, a man who has sworn to protect her. Any female in our pack would kill to have you as their protector.”

“All except her,” I scoffed.

Ryker ripped open the front door and huffed, his eyes flashing. “Somebody better help me soon, before I toss this crib onto the lawn. The instructions are pure garbage.”

Bailey nudged me with her elbow and I cleared my throat to keep from laughing. “Step aside, Whitemore. I’ve got this.” I walked in and shook my head at the mess on the floor. There were pieces of the crib strewn everywhere. Ryker picked up the instructions and handed them to me, but I waved him off. “Don’t need them.”

Minutes later, I had the crib put together, grinning triumphantly.

“Hats off to you, Lyall,” Ryker said, leaning against the couch. “I think this calls for a beer.”

Bailey rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch while I followed Ryker into the kitchen. As soon as he passed me a beer, a knock sounded on the door.

“I’ll get it,” Bailey called.

Colin’s voice filtered into the house and my back stiffened. Biting my tongue, I tried my best to control my temper.

“What’s up?” he asked, strutting into the kitchen. He didn’t look surprised to see me in the least.

Ryker passed him a beer and slapped his shoulder. “Just talking to Lyall here.” Clearing his throat, he turned to me, amused at the tension. “I’ll be in the living room if you need me.”

Colin gulped his beer and leaned over on the counter, his gaze fixed on mine. “I know you were there tonight,” he stated matter-of-factly.

I slammed my bottle on the counter. “
And?
”

He huffed. “I’m sure Bailey told you already. It was all an act. I wasn’t going to make Tyla do anything she didn’t want to do. Lucky for you, she’s not into me.”

My wolf stirred impatiently. All he wanted was to punish the guy for touching his mate. What the hell was I saying? She wasn’t even my fucking mate yet. I drank the rest of my beer and tossed my bottle in the trash.

“For future reference, keep your hands to yourself. I can’t promise you’ll have them if you touch her again.” I walked out of the room and heard his chuckle behind me. But I wasn’t kidding.

It was early the next day, and I wanted to catch Tyla before she left for the ranch. When I arrived, she was already pulling out of her driveway for the day, but headed the opposite way from the ranch. Where was she going?

She drove south, about forty-five minutes away from Jackson Hole, until she stopped at the entrance to Pineview Cemetery. Following her in, I parked down the street and watched as she got out of her car. Weaving her way through the graves, she stopped at one and sat down. I didn’t dare follow her any closer, but I watched her from a distance, listening.

“Happy Birthday, Cliff,” she said in a shaky voice. “You would’ve been forty-eight years old today.” She rubbed her hand over the gravestone. “I miss you so much. Everything was less complicated when you were around. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy. I just . . .” She paused and blew out a sigh. “I’m afraid. And I don’t know what to do.”

Leaning over the gravestone, her shoulders shook as she cried. I wanted to go to her, to put my arm around her and tell her everything would be okay, but I couldn’t let her know I was there.

For the next ten minutes, she sat there, her cries being all I could hear. Then her phone rang and she gasped, wiping her eyes quickly before answering. “Amelie, what’s up?” I could hear the rapid breath of the female on the other end.

“
Tyla, help
!” Amelie shouted. “
I don’t know how long I can last.
” She screamed and the sound of growling wolves echoed in the phone before everything went dead.

“Amelie? What’s going on? Amelie!” Tyla screamed. She hung up and shot to her feet.

She kissed the gravestone and placed her hand on top. “I’ll come back soon, Cliff.”

Whoever this guy was, he had meant something to her. But that was a question for later. Right now, there were bigger problems.

Tyla

I’
d called my mother and she’d notified the pack. By the time I got to my parents’ house, Bailey and Ryker were already there, along with Colin, Micah, and Cedric, Ryker’s second-in-command. The only person missing was Sebastian. I was shocked he wasn’t already there. When my mother watched me slam through the door, the look on her face terrified me. She was scared.

“Anything new?” I asked, rushing toward her.

She shook her head. “Nothing good. I’ve tried calling Sara and Benjamin but they’re not picking up.” My aunt and uncle always picked up the phone. Bile rose in the back of my throat. What if we didn’t get to them in time?