Turn of the Moon (Royal Shifters #1)(23)

He nodded. “I wanted you to know I was there.”

“Why can’t I sense you?”

Taking a deep breath, he blew it out and stared deep into my eyes. “I’m a royal, Bailey. It’s part of our magic. I can choose if I want to be sensed or not.”

Everything around me stopped, my whole body numb. Sebastian tried to steady me, but I slapped him, raking my claws down the side of his face. “Don’t you dare touch me,” I hissed. Blood oozed from his wound, but he stood firm. “You were there when I was in college, weren’t you? Why didn’t you tell me? Was it to keep Ryker away from me?”

Sighing, he wiped the blood off his face and his wound started to heal. “No, it was to protect you. That’s been my job since the day you were born. If I didn’t keep you away from Ryker, there would’ve been a war. At the time, you weren’t ready for that.”

My claws grew longer. “Fuck you! Where were you the day my parents wanted to sell me off to Kade like a common whore? They aren’t even my real parents!” The shift came closer. My wolf was demanding his blood.

He took a deep breath, his gaze sad. “I wanted to save you, Bailey. The day that f*cker came for you, I was apprehended by his wolves. I’m strong, but not that strong. Besides, I’m worth more to you alive than dead. By the time I killed them and got away, you had already left. I haven’t been back since.”

“Why should I believe you?”

As fast as lightning, he appeared in front of me, gripping my face in his hands. “Because it’s the truth. Look into my eyes and tell me what you see.” I grabbed his hands, digging my claws into his skin.

“I see a dead wolf if you don’t get your f*cking hands off her now,” Ryker snarled.

Sebastian huffed, his stare never wavering from mine as he slid his hands down my face. “I don’t want to hurt her. She needs to know the truth,” he claimed.

“Then I suggest you say it quickly and disappear.”

“It’s not that simple. I need time.” He then grabbed my hands, holding them over his heart. Ryker growled his warning; he was about to attack, his body trembling in rage.

“Stop!” I yelled through our bond.

Breathing hard, he tensed, ready to strike. “He betrayed you. He needs to die.”

“I need to hear him out. If he’s truly betrayed me, I’ll kill him myself.” He reluctantly stepped back, but stayed on guard.

“Do I get to speak, or are you two plotting my demise?” Sebastian asked.

“Yes to both,” I replied.

Squeezing my hands, he lowered his gaze. “I know you think I betrayed you, but I would never do that. I swore to your family, your real family, that I would protect you.”

“And who exactly is that Sebastian? I can’t remember anything about them. The people who I thought were my parents stole me from my family. If I ever see them or anyone from the Yukon pack, I will kill them, just like I’ll kill you, royal or not.”

“That might be kind of hard,” he murmured sadly, his expression grim.

Dread settled into the pit of my stomach. “Why is that?”

“I think you know why, Bailey.”

Closing my eyes, I pulled my hands away from his and stepped back. “All of them or just my parents?”

“They weren’t your parents.”

“Tell me,” I commanded, opening my red, burning eyes.

He glanced quickly over at Ryker and then back to me, his expression torn. “I’m not sure. I didn’t stick around to find out, but the Yukon’s weren’t happy. We all know what they’re like.”

Slapping a hand over my mouth, I held in my scream. Ryker approached, but I held up my other hand. They both looked at me like I was a bomb about to explode. By the ache in my chest, I felt like one. I had to get away.

“Bailey, don’t,” Ryker pleaded.

Tears fell down my cheeks. I couldn’t stay there any longer.





Ryker

“Bailey!” Sebastian shouted.

I wanted to chase after her, but she needed to be alone. It killed me to see her in pain. Sebastian started to take off after her, but I stepped in his way. “Let her go.”

He glared at me. “She needs to know the rest.”

“And she will. Right now, she wants to be alone. She just found out that her pack was most likely slaughtered.”

“Fuck them! They weren’t her pack. She was their goddamned prisoner; a pawn in their plot to be united with your psycho, piece of shit brother,” he thundered.

“But you allowed that to happen, didn’t you? You stood by for fifteen years, watching her—letting her—be used.”

Jaw tense, he huffed and his eyes tracked Bailey’s movement toward the water. “I never wanted her to get hurt. I did what I did to keep her safe. Joining the Northern pack was the only way to be with her. I made an oath to her father before he died. He told me to protect her.”

“What happened to them?”

He tore his gaze away from Bailey and looked at me. “Greed. I’m not sure of your knowledge about the royals, but we’ve always been more powerful than the rest.”

“Are all royals related?” He shook his head, but kept his focus on Bailey. The way he looked at her, I could tell there was something there. “Are you in love with her?”