Resisting the Moon (Royal Shifters #2)(37)

Sebastian clenched his fists, his mind going in a thousand different directions. In his craze, I caught one particular emotion he was trying to hide from me. Guilt.

“What are you hiding from me?” Before he could reply, footsteps sounded down the stairs. “Amelie? Josef? Wake up.” They both sat up and we waited. It was like they’d deliberately kept us guessing just to toy with us.

The door to the room unlocked and Jaret strolled in, freshly showered. Amelie turned her head, not even acknowledging him. He went straight to her cell and bent down. “Good morning, dear,” he said to her. “The bed was awfully cold without you this morning.”

It’s a shame you didn’t freeze to death,” she spat.

Chuckling, he glanced over my way. “A few hours with you and your snarkiness rubs off on her. I might have to keep you both around a little longer, and make things interesting.” Another of his men walked through the door and stood guard, while Jaret paced back and forth. Sebastian and I met his stare, not afraid to back down.

“Let’s see, who should I pick first? It can’t be you,” he said to me. “I need you for the grand finale, and for your mate to watch.” Sebastian’s power blasted through the room, bringing Josef, Amelie, and Jaret’s wolves to their knees. Jaret froze, sweat beading on his forehead.

It was only for a split second, but I saw how hard he was fighting the urge to kneel. Sebastian was stronger than him.

Clearing his throat, Jaret stood between Amelie and Josef’s cells, ignoring the fact Sebastian almost put him to his knees. He looked at Amelie and then at Josef, pursing his lips. “I can’t choose my mate because I’m not done with her yet. I guess there’s no other option.”

Amelie jumped to her feet, eyes wild. “Jaret, no!”

“Stefan, if you would please,” Jaret commanded. Stefan brushed off his jeans from where Sebastian dropped him to his knees, and glared at him before doing his alpha’s bidding.

Josef stood and released a heavy sigh. “It was good seeing you again, Tyla. I fear this is goodbye.”

“No,” I shouted. “You hang on, you hear me?”

Stefan grabbed his arm and wrapped him in a wolfsbane soaked rope. I could hear the burning of his skin, but he looked at me and smiled. “It was an honor serving the Redwood Pack. Make sure you pass the message along to Finn.”

Jaret pushed him toward the door and stopped in front of my cage. “Let the fun begin.”



Hours had passed and no one had been down to our dungeon. My stomach growled but I knew there’d be no food. I fought better when I was hangry anyway.

Sebastian looked to me, lifting his brows. “What does that mean?”

Even if we were locked in a basement, the way he said it made me laugh. “It’s when you’re hungry and angry at the same time. For a woman, it’s a lethal combination.”

“Don’t I know that,” he teased.

Amelie looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “What are you talking about?”

He pointed at me. “She said she was hangry. I’ve never heard that before.”

Amelie shook her head. “But she didn’t say anything.” Then it clicked into place. “Never mind, I get it. You’re true mates.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach, averting her gaze.

“You’ll find your true mate one day,” I promised. “We can’t help who we fall in love with. Jaret tricked you.”

“And I fell for it. That never would’ve happened to you. You would’ve seen through his lies.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I’m not Wonder Woman, Amelie. Who knows what I would’ve done if the situation was turned. You’re just as strong and smart as I am. When we get home, the first thing I’m going to do is teach you how to fight. Sebastian and his brother can help too.”

She looked back and forth between us. “That’s just it, I don’t have a home anymore. I thought it was here, but I was wrong. My parents are gone because of me and I’m mated to a psychotic bastard. Unless one of us can miraculously kill Jaret, I’m screwed.”

“How do you feel about that?” I wondered.

Sighing, she ran her hands down her face, her eyes misting with unshed tears. “I loved him, Tyla . . . shit, or at least I thought I did. If I’m given the chance, I’ll kill him myself. I’ll only be free once he’s gone.”

“When do you think his sister will show up?” Sebastian asked her.

Amelie started to speak, but I cut in. “What’s going on? What are you two talking about?”

Amelie sighed. “Laila is Jaret’s sister. We were good friends, until she betrayed me. I haven’t seen her in almost two weeks.”

“The moonstone is hers,” Sebastian added. “She’s the one who linked Amelie’s mind to it.”

“How do you know that?”

They looked at each other. “Because she has magic,” Amelie said. “She’s . . . different. I don’t know why she did it though.”

“How is she different?” I asked her.

Footsteps approached and the door swung wide open. Stefan walked in with two other men and they unlocked my cage, moving to Amelie’s next. Stefan grabbed my arms and pulled them behind me, wrapping my wrists with wolfsbane ropes.