Turn of the Moon (Royal Shifters #1)(37)

I didn’t even have to look to know it was Sebastian. He winked at the group of females and marched straight to the bar. The little stinker knew exactly what he was doing. The women all separated and flocked around him and the other men at the bar. There was a strong chance their mates were in that very room.

“Sebastian sure can be a conceited jackass sometimes,” Tyla grumbled.

I chuckled. “That he can. He just needs a woman to tame him.”

“I’m sure he has a fair share to choose from. Look at them all lining up to talk to him.”

He sat at the bar with three females, hanging on his every word. Tyla watched on, her jaw tense and eyes blazing. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous,” I told her.

She rolled her eyes and turned her back on him. “Don’t think so, B. He has a smokin’ hot body, but I don’t want a wolf who’s f*cked more women than I can count. I bet he goes home with one of them tonight.”

“I doubt that. He may be a ladies man but he’s not a douche, well, at least not around me. Have you ever tried to talk to him? Like really talk to him?” I inquired.

She huffed. “No. I doubt he’d want anything to do with me.”

Grabbing her arm, I squeezed, hissing my words so only she could hear. “Are you even listening to yourself? You are an amazing woman who deserves to find her mate. You said it yourself, you can’t wait on them to come to you. Grab the reins and take control.”

“Take control of what?” Ryker asked, coming up behind me with his arms around my waist.

Tyla backed away. “And that’s my cue to go. Have fun tonight, guys. You both deserve it.” She sauntered off quickly and I wasn’t surprised to see she didn’t head in Sebastian’s direction.

Ryker turned me around to face him. “What’s up with her?”

“Just girl stuff.”

“Then I don’t want to know.” The music started playing over the speakers and he smiled. “Wanna dance?” Everyone moved away from the floor, giving us our space.

“How can I say no when everyone’s watching?” I laughed.

“Exactly.” Taking my hand, he led me out onto the floor, wrapping his strong arms around my waist. In that moment, nothing else existed but me and him, and the sound of a country love song. We moved in perfect rhythm with each other, almost like clockwork.

“I didn’t think you could dance,” I teased.

He winked. “There’s not much to it. Besides, we move pretty well together in bed. The dance floor shouldn’t be much different.”

My cheeks started to burn. “Thank you for this. I think this will be the beginning to something new. Look at everyone. There’s bound to be someone coming out of this with a potential true mate.” Before the party really got started, there was still some separation amongst the packs, especially between male and female. Territory always played a factor when it came to that. The beta males never approached a female from another pack. I’d wanted those lines to be crossed and now they had.

Ryker glanced around the room, satisfied with the outcome. “I think this is what everyone needed.” We danced to the rest of the song and then the next one started; it was upbeat and fast.

Grabbing my waist, he held me against him while I moved my hips to the beat. Everything was perfect until I felt a blast of magic sweep through the room. It was sudden and meant to be quick, like Sebastian had done at the airport. Only, it wasn’t him. But it was definitely a royal.

Ryker saw the expression on my face. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone’s here.”

Sebastian left the women at the bar and hurried over. “Did you feel it?” he asked, his gaze concerned.

I grabbed Ryker’s hand. “Another royal wants us to know they’re outside. Who could it be?”

Sebastian glanced around the room. “I don’t know, but I say we go find out.”

“Let’s go out the back. That way no one will see us leave,” Ryker suggested.

We smiled at everyone in passing and disappeared to the back hall. My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I got closer to the door. Sebastian and Ryker went out the door first, both looking in the opposite directions. “No one’s here,” Ryker grumbled.

I stepped outside. “I know I felt something.”

Sebastian marched down the sidewalk. “So did I. Someone’s here.”

Across the street, standing in a dark corner was a man with whitish blond hair—an Arctic wolf. I had enough time to see his eyes flash before he disappeared into an alley. “Over there,” I said, pointing toward a taller building.

Sebastian stepped in front of us. “You guys follow on his trail. I’m going to cut him off on the other side. I’ll meet you there.”

He took off and Ryker and I rushed across the street. The guy had just turned around another corner, but I could see his moving shadow. He wasn’t in a hurry, which made me wonder what the hell he was doing. Why would he walk away when he obviously wanted to be found?

“Why would another royal be here?” Ryker asked.

“I don’t know, but we’re about to find out.” We turned the corner and there he was, leaning against the brick wall. Sebastian crept up behind him, but stopped cold when he got closer.