Resisting the Moon (Royal Shifters #2)(24)

I stared up at him, completely at a loss for words. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, eyes searching mine. I wanted to do it, but it was all happening so fast. Before I could answer, his eyes flashed and he growled, his attention snapping to the woods.

“Sebastian, what’s wrong?”

He pulled me behind him, his body tense. Then I realized what was going on; a wolf was in the distance. “Go inside, Tyla,” he commanded. I did as he said and raced upstairs, throwing on a T-shirt and pants before rushing back down. Eyes closed, Sebastian stood by the door. “He’s getting closer.”

All I could sense was one wolf, but it could be a trap. I couldn’t let him go out there alone. He took off his pants and opened the door. I started to follow him, but he held out his arm. “You’re not coming with me, Tyla.”

Jaw clenched, I stood up to him, daring him to try and make me stay. “You may be an alpha, but so am I. If you want me to be your mate, you have to let me be one. That means protecting you as well. Let me go out there and draw this wolf in while you shield your presence. When he gets close you can attack.” I rested my hand against his cheek. “We fight together.”

He huffed and nodded at the door. “Go, before I change my mind.” Instead of shifting, I jumped off the deck and took off for the woods. Sebastian caught up to me after shifting. He was beautiful, and a hell of a lot larger than me in my wolf form. I watched him run off into the woods and disappear.

The other wolf was close, maybe a mile out. A small clearing was up ahead and I stopped in the middle of it. Whatever happened, I’d be ready.

“I’m okay,” I said, hoping Sebastian could hear me in his mind. It was going to take some getting used to knowing I could speak to him without actually talking. The only problem was, I couldn’t hear him back. He had to take my blood in order for the link to be open both ways.

The other wolf picked up his speed and my heart raced; he sensed me. By the sound of his paws on the ground, he was in wolf form. I thought about shifting, but when the massive gray wolf finally came into view and stopped at the edge of the clearing, I froze. Sucking in a breath, I stared into a set of golden, amber eyes.

“This can’t be,” I whispered, closing a hand over my mouth. He charged toward me, and me to him. I had to touch him to make sure he was real. He even had the same patch of white fur between his eyes. We were about to close the distance when a white blur caught my eye.

“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 f*cking 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.