Turn of the Moon (Royal Shifters #1)(25)

“I’m sure she’ll beat you to it,” he answered back. Ryker moved out of the way, but stayed close. Sebastian sat down and grabbed a handful of sand, letting it slide through his fingers. “You know you’re a royal, but do you really know what it means?”

“No.”

“History says that when the first wolves were born, some were touched by the Great Luna and some were not. Over the generations, their bloodlines spread. There are royals everywhere, but a few are more powerful than others. Your family and mine happen to be one of those few.”

I gave his words a moment to sink in. “Let me guess, the Northern pack weren’t royals.”

He scoffed. “Definitely not. That’s why they wanted you. They were jealous of your family and wanted the magic for themselves.”

“And would it have worked?”

“I’m not sure. But I do know if you and Kade had mated and had kids, your magic would’ve passed on to them. Imagine a future with Kade’s cruelty and your power. It wouldn’t have been good.”

Ryker’s anger blasted through my mind. I glanced over at him with his hands fisted in the sand. Sebastian followed my gaze.

“If you hadn’t gotten away from Kade, I was going to kill the f*cker myself. I would’ve gladly sacrificed myself to keep you from that shit show.” He turned back to me and I could see the truth in his eyes.

“Then why did you take me back? When you came to get me from school, we could’ve run away.”

“Would you have gone with me?”

“I don’t know. Probably, if you could’ve shown me proof.”

He lowered his head, the regret pouring off of him in waves. “There were many things I wish I would’ve done differently.” Taking a deep breath, he lifted his head and watched the waves crash along the beach.

“Why don’t I remember seeing Ryker that day?”

“Maret had put a spell on your bond, masking its presence from you. The spell could only be broken once you touched—no magic or spell is strong enough to conceal the power of a mate’s bond.”

I shook my head. “Why didn’t you let me go to him then?”

He looked back at Ryker and then to me. “I couldn’t trust him. I hadn’t seen him in years and he was Kade’s brother. I knew little about the alpha he’d become. I wasn’t going to take the chance with your life. You’re too important.”

We all sat in silence, listening to the waves hit the shore. I could feel Ryker’s acceptance of Sebastian’s reasoning. He may even be coming around to the idea of my best friend. Ryker let out a low growl and I smiled.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve seen the ocean,” Sebastian said. “You just don’t remember it.”

Eyes wide, I gasped. “What?”

He nodded, staring at me with his crystal blue eyes. “You were four years old. I remember making sand castles together.” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a wallet and something else. When he held it out to me, my heart stopped. “This is your family, B. Your real family.”

In my hands was a picture of a man and a woman with three kids, two girls and a boy. “Oh my God. How do you have this?”

“Your mother gave it to me the night of the attack. She knew what Maret had done to you, how she took your memories, along with those of your brother and sister.” He pointed to the two other children in the photo.

My eyes burned and my heart ached. I didn’t want to know what happened to them, but I needed to. My sister looked like me and our mother, except her platinum blonde hair was wavy and ours was perfectly straight. My brother, however, was the exact image of my father with darker blond hair and striking blue eyes.

“Are they all dead?”

He swallowed hard. “Your parents are. They stayed and fought so we could get away. Your mother made me promise to keep you safe.”

“What about them?” I cried, pointing to my siblings.

“They had other protectors, Bailey. I was assigned to you. But if there’s one thing I know for certain, I have no doubt they’re still alive. I just don’t know where they are.”

“How do you know that?”

He looked down at the picture. “Because, they were protected by my brothers. They would do anything to keep them safe.”

Closing my eyes, I tried to remember them but I couldn’t. “I don’t even know their names.”

“You will,” he promised, taking my hand. “We’ll get your memories back. Until then, I’ll tell you anything you want. Your father,” he said, pointing to him in the picture, “was a doctor. His name was Marrock Storm. That’s who you truly are . . . a Storm.” He gave my hand a little squeeze and continued. “Your mother’s name was Tala. She was a Biology professor before you and your siblings came along. After that, she stayed home. You and your brother used to fight all the time.”

The thought made me laugh. “What is his name?”

“Colin. Your sister is Faith.”

“How can we find them? If your brothers are their protectors, surely you know of a way.”

He sighed. “There are ways, but now isn’t the time. The Yukon pack is searching for both of us. They are all in at this point; they aren’t going to stop.”