Turn of the Moon (Royal Shifters #1)(7)

I’d been outside for two hours, sitting on the front porch with only a blanket wrapped around my body. The ranch had a picturesque view of the Grand Teton Mountains, surrounded by nothing but land and trees. It was the perfect place for a wolf. I had heard about the area and read stories about its beauty, but I never thought I’d actually see it. There was snow all over the peaks and I longed to feel it under my paws.

Unfortunately, there was no way I could do that with glowing eyes staring back at me from every corner. I was beginning to think I was back in the confinements of my own pack. They watched over me the exact same way, afraid I’d run away if I ever got the chance. I left one prison for another.

As if my wishes were heard, the wolves scattered. But then the sound of a car traveling over a gravel driveway could be heard. I started to get up and Ryker appeared in the doorway, dressed in a park ranger uniform. He regarded me warily before nodding toward the car.

“Tyla’s here to keep you company.”

“You mean ‘make sure I don’t run away.’”

Sighing, he strapped the gun into his belt and faced me. By the look in his eyes, I felt terrible for snapping at him. “You’re not a prisoner here, Bailey. I want you to feel free to go and do as you please. Tyla’s here to show you around and be your friend. If running away is what you want, then go. I’m not going to force anything on you.”

I studied him, narrowing my gaze. “Do you mean that?”

He gently took my hand, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles. My skin tingled like it always did when he touched me. I didn’t want him to let go, but he did. “I do.”

“What’s up, guys?” Tyla shouted with a wide grin on her face. She had shoulder length, curly blonde hair and gray eyes, not an Arctic wolf but a gray. She seemed friendly enough.

“That’s why I thought she’d be a good match for you,” Ryker murmured.

“Okay, listening in on my thoughts is getting kind of weird.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t listen to everything you say. But I do know you’re hungry. Anyone from a mile away could hear your stomach growling. Tyla’s going to take you to get something to eat.”

I looked down at the blanket. “In what? I don’t have any clothes.”

Tyla reached into the backseat of her silver sports car and held it up. “Now you do, sunshine. Let’s get you cleaned up. I’m starved.” She ran up the steps and patted Ryker on the shoulder. “She’ll be fine, boss. We girls are going to have some fun.”

He shook his head, a small smile splaying across his lips. “Not too much.” She winked and sauntered through the door, bag in hand. Chuckling, he turned back to me, smile disappearing. I liked his smile. “I’ll be back tonight. I’m hoping you’ll be here when I return. There’s a lot you still don’t know.”

I watched him walk to his truck and drive away, glancing back at me once before disappearing down the road. “You aren’t seriously thinking of leaving are you?” Tyla asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Turning to her, I glared straight into her eyes. “What if I was? You gonna stop me?” I challenged.

She lowered her eyes and her head. “No. I’m no match for your power. But I do think you need to give Ryker and our pack a chance.”

I stepped past her into the house and sighed. “You wouldn’t feel that way if you knew what I’d done.”

After shutting the door, she stood in front of me, handing me the bag of clothes. “The past doesn’t matter. You’re Ryker’s mate and a true born alpha. I’ve never met another wolf like you before. It’s nice to have a female around who could kick some serious ass.”

She made me laugh and it felt good. “I’m sure you could too. You don’t take me as the type to put up with much bullshit.”

“I don’t, especially when I’m starving. Now, run upstairs and get dressed. I’m taking you to one of my favorite restaurants.” I stood there, staring at her like she’d lost her mind. “Why do you look like that?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. The way you all do things is so much different than what I’m accustomed to. My parents let me go away to college and I loved the freedom, but when I was back with the pack, I was never able to leave the compound. I guess I just figured it’d be like that here.”

“Hell no,” she exclaimed, bursting out in laughter. “We have our own homes, jobs, everything. Don’t get me wrong, we hunt and do a lot of stuff together, but we live like normal human beings. Ryker would never keep you on a leash.”

It was nice to hear that, but I knew I couldn’t stay long. The Yukon Pack would kill them all to get to me. Plastering on a fake smile, I started for the stairs. “Thank you for the clothes. I’ll be right down.” I took a quick shower and put on some jeans and a pink blouse from the bag, along with the pair of boots. It felt good to take a shower. It’d been over a week since my last.

Tyla waited by the door when I got downstairs. “Ready to experience true freedom?”

“You have no idea.” We hopped in her car and she sped us out of the driveway. I was mesmerized by the mountains, by the snow; it was breathtaking. “It’s so beautiful here,” I said.

“Yes, it is. I’m assuming you didn’t see much of this where you came from?”