Turn of the Moon (Royal Shifters #1)(38)

The rogue wolf raked his gaze over me and chuckled, his body hidden in the shadows. “Look at you, all grown up. It’s good to see you again, princess.”

Ryker stood protectively beside me. “Who are you?”

The guy stepped out into the light and I gasped. “Holy shit. You look just like—”

“Me,” Sebastian answered, approaching cautiously. When he got a good look at the stranger, he smiled and shook his head. “Well, I’ll be damned.”





Bailey

“I knew you’d come out here and find me,” the guy said.

Sebastian chuckled and pulled him in for a hug. They looked so much alike, it was uncanny. Sebastian let him go and faced me. “Bailey, this is Micah, my eldest brother.” Then he turned to Ryker. “Micah, this is Ryker Whitemore, Bailey’s soon to be mate, and alpha of the Teton pack.”

“You look like twins,” I murmured in awe.

Micah smiled. “We got that all the time. We’re actually seventeen months apart, just like you and your sister, Faith.”

I gasped. “Where is she? Are you her protector?”

He nodded. “For all of her life. She wanted to come but I didn’t think it was safe. We live out by Yosemite.”

“Does she remember anything about me or our family?”

“Not at first, but I told her everything. She’s on pins and needles back home, waiting to hear if you’re who we thought you were.”

“What happened the night of the attack? Where did you go?” Sebastian asked.

Micah looked at us all. “When the Yukon pack came, I took Faith and kept running. Marrock loaded up a duffel bag full of money and told me to get her as far away as I could. We ended up in California and that’s where we stayed. When I heard about a royal female showing up in these parts, I had to know who it was. I knew if it was Bailey, you would be by her side.”

“Why would you leave Faith by herself?” Ryker cut in. That was a good question.

Micah sighed. “It was either that or bring her here. I heard about the attack from the Yukon pack. The last thing any of us need are two female royals to entice them. I wanted to make sure it was safe before bringing her here.”

“I understand,” I said.

He glanced back and forth between me and Ryker. “Congratulations on finding each other. Not everyone’s so lucky.”

Sebastian snorted. “That’s a whole other story. Hopefully, Faith hasn’t been a pain in the ass like this one,” he said, pointing to me.

Ryker chuckled under his breath and I elbowed him in the side. “Hey, I wasn’t that bad. Try living with a pack you think is your family only to have them turn around and mate you off to a sadistic bastard.”

“Who also happened to be Whitemore’s brother,” Sebastian added. Ryker tensed beside me; it would always be a sore subject for him.

Micah’s eyes went wide. “It looks like I have a lot to catch up on.”

“That you do,” I said, “and you can start tomorrow, when you both leave to get my sister. Right now, we have a party to go to.”

Sebastian stared at me, his gaze concerned. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to leave right now. I want to wait until after the full moon.”

I took his hand and squeezed. “I’ll be fine. You forget I can take care of myself. Not to mention, I have Ryker. You just saw your brother for the first time in over a decade. Maybe you two can figure out how to find the rest of our pack, including our brothers.”

Sebastian wanted to fight me on it, but with Ryker there he backed down. “All right, if you want me to go, I will. I’ll help bring your sister back safely.”

“That’s all I want.” I watched them disappear around the corner, as I stayed with Ryker who backed me into the wall.

“I wonder what the packs are going to think when yet another eligible royal walks into the bar.” He lowered his lips to my neck, kissing his way up to my cheek.

“I think the ladies will love it. You have no idea how many of them want Sebastian.”

He scoffed. “Great. I can see a few fights in our future. I hope your boys are ready for that.”

I waved him off. “They’ll be fine.” We started back toward the bar and stopped about midway there. Low growls could be heard inside. “Uh, maybe you’re right. Let’s get in there before they tear the bar apart.”

Ryker burst out in laughter. “Yes, lets. I’d love to see Lyall get knocked on his ass.”





Bailey

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” Sebastian asked.

Laughing, I pushed him towards Micah’s SUV. “No, I don’t. Judging by that black eye of yours I’d say you need a break. You’re going to start pissing Ryker off if you don’t back away soon anyway.”

“But that’s the fun part.” He fake pouted.

I pursed my lips. “Maybe for you, but not for me. I know you just want to keep me safe, but I’m a big girl. One of these days you’re going to have your own mate to protect. You need to get used to not being by my side. He tolerates you because he knows I love you.”

His jaw tensed. “You’re all I’ve had for the past fifteen years.”