Turn of the Moon (Royal Shifters #1)(56)

“She did most of it,” she murmured, letting me go.

Micah stepped in front of her and hugged me. “She was a brave woman. Be safe on your way back. As soon as you arrive in Wyoming, I’ll leave to get your sister.”

“Thanks, Micah. I can’t wait to see her again. It’s nice to have my memories back.”

“I bet it is. Now you remember how annoying my brother can be.”

Sebastian smacked him on the head and I burst out laughing. “Nothing’s changed in that respect.”

Tyla and Micah got in the truck, leaving Sebastian with me and Ryker. “Do you remember the times you asked me to have tea with you?” Sebastian asked.

Visions of those days played through my mind. Ryker tried to hold back his laugh, but he failed miserably. “Nice hair bows, Lyall. I never knew pink was your color.”

Sebastian snarled. “Fuck you, Whitemore.”

I put my arm around him. “Hey, you’re the one who brought it up. I can’t help it you fell for my joke. I used to love messing with you.”

“And you wonder why I was annoying. It was payback.”

“Well played,” I laughed.

He winked and headed toward the truck. “It’s good to have you back, B.”

Seraphina came by next. She kissed Ryker on the cheek and then I hugged her. “I’m sorry for losing my temper. You were just doing what Ryker wanted you to do. I know you’re loyal to him.”

“I am, but it was also for your benefit as well. You needed the rest and the stress would’ve worn you down. But I have to say, you snapped out of it a lot earlier than I expected. I’m curious to see what happens when the next full moon rises.”

I glanced up at Ryker. “Me too. We’ve been interrupted the last two times. Hopefully, we’ll find out in a couple of weeks.” Seraphina got in Micah’s car and they headed out. The only people left were Tate’s pack. Tate came over and shook Ryker’s hand while Kami gave me a hug. “Keep in touch with me, okay? Maybe we can get together with Tyla and have a girl’s weekend sometime.”

“I’d like that. I’ll call you soon.” She winked at me and stood by Tate’s side.

“I’m in your debt,” Ryker told him.

Tate shook his head. “No, there are no debts between us. You helped with Kami, and I helped with Bailey. It’s what friends do.”

Ryker slapped him on the shoulder. “If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. We’ll always come to your aid.” Tate and his pack left and now we were truly alone. Ryker had been busy all morning talking to all the pack alphas. It felt good to finally have him all to myself.

“What are we going to do now?” I asked.

He winked. “Go somewhere special. I want to see if you remember it.”

We got in his truck and drove to the city. The moment I saw the giant snowman on top of the building, I gasped. “Oh my God, it’s Frosty’s Creamery.”

Chuckling, he pulled us into the parking lot. “That’s right. What else do you remember?”

We walked up to the counter and I pointed at the rocky road ice cream. “You always got that. And every time I saw one of the almonds, I’d steal it,” I said with a smile.

“Eventually, I just let you have them all.”

“You were a smart boy. I had the biggest crush on you.”

He brushed a finger down my cheek. “I know. That’s why I wanted you to remember. The world didn’t decide our fate, we did.”

He ordered his rocky road and I got mint chocolate chip, my favorite. It’d been so many years ago and the place still looked the same. We sat down outside at one of the picnic tables and I remembered sitting in that exact same spot. “Your mother used to bring us here. There was one week she did it every day. Kade never wanted to come, he thought getting ice cream was childish.”

Ryker growled. “As much as I hate him for what he became, if it wasn’t for my uncle, I don’t think he’d have turned out the way he did. He had part of my mother in him. It’s just the evil side outweighed the good.”

“What did your father say when Kade started spending most of his time with Rollin?”

He shrugged. “Nothing really. As much as I hate to say this, my father put all his energy into me. He taught me how to fight, how to be a leader. It makes me sick to know my uncle raped my mother without her knowing it. To know it’s possible for witches to do that kind of magic terrifies me.”

I grabbed his hand. “Maret tried it on me, but I was able to see through it.”

“Were you scared?”

“A little, but not of Kade or Maret. The whole plan from the beginning was for me to have his children and continue the royal blood line. Rollin wanted Kade to be leader of the next royal pack. The thought of being used for my blood scared me, but most of all, I was terrified of not being with you.”

Jaw clenching, he closed his eyes and blew out an angry breath before opening them back up. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I was too late.”

“But you weren’t,” I murmured.

“What if I was?”

Stomach in knots, I swallowed down the last bite of ice cream. “All I can say is, I would rather be dead than be his whore.” He nodded, but I could see the turmoil in his eyes. “There’s no reason to think about the what ifs. We’re here together, that’s all that matters.”