“I didn’t know you were a royal. I couldn’t tell right away when you came to save me. I already know Ryker, but the other wolf, he’s a royal too, isn’t he?”
“Sebastian? Yes. We can hide our essence from other wolves. It works well if you want to sneak up on someone.”
“It feels like I learn something new every day. I don’t know if I should bow or curtsy.”
“Neither,” I exclaimed, holding my hands up, “I’m a wolf just like you.”
“With a lot more power and royal blood,” she added.
“I didn’t know I was a royal until a couple of weeks ago, when I found out my parents were murdered. I didn’t have a fairytale life.”
She nodded, her expression sad. “I can see that. You must be the one they’re after. I heard them talking about you, how they were going to take you up north.”
I snorted. “They can try, but I’m not going anywhere. Right now, my concern is for you. What did they do to you?”
Sighing, she averted her gaze. “Things I don’t want my brother knowing. He trained me to be a fighter, but I let him down. I couldn’t fight against them.”
“That’s not your fault, Kami. There were four of them and one of you. They were the cowards. They were the ones who had to use wolfsbane against you. You’re a survivor.”
Tears fell down her cheeks. “But they touched me, humiliated me. Their bite marks are all over my skin.”
I put my arm around her. “They will heal. The dipshits who did this to you are dead.” I paused for a moment. “Did they . . . rape you?”
She glanced up at me. “No, they didn’t. With it being so close to the full moon, none of them wanted to chance it. I can’t imagine being mated to one of them.”
“But you’re not of age. The magic of the moon wouldn’t have worked.”
“That’s why I told them I was twenty-three.” She smirked.
“Smart girl. I was almost forced to mate with their pack leader. I don’t know what I would’ve done if that had happened.”
A knock sounded on the door and Ryker’s voice echoed from the other side. “Bailey, can you come out here for a minute?”
“I’ll be right there.” I squeezed Kami’s shoulder and stood. “You sure you’re gonna be okay?”
She nodded her head, determination in her gaze. “Of course I’ll pull through. I’m more amazed than anything. You came out here and risked your life to save me. I’m worth nothing compared to you, and I am grateful.”
“Every life is important and worth just as much as the other. What kind of person would I be if I didn’t clean up after my own mess? Your life was in danger because of me and I sure as hell wasn’t going to leave you to the wolves.”
“What are you going to do to the others tonight when they come?”
“After what they did to you, there’s only one thing we can do. Kill them.”
Night had come and I was ready to face the others. Tate had called the Yukon pack and let them know where we were.
“What if this is only the beginning?” I asked.
Ryker sighed, his focus on the woods beyond. “Then we’ll keep fighting. You’re my mate and I will protect you until my last breath.”
The back door opened and Sebastian sauntered out. “That’s good. It takes the pressure off of my job.”
“No one said you had to keep protecting her,” Ryker challenged.
“No, but I’ll stay by her side until she tells me to leave.” He took the seat beside me and lifted my sleeve. “Wow, you’re already healed. That’s amazing.”
I looked at him and smiled. “The joys of finding your mate.”
He rolled his shoulder and hissed. “Maybe I should find mine. My shoulder would feel a lot better if I did.”
“You don’t have to be my protector anymore, Sebastian. I release you of those duties. You’ve spent your whole life protecting me. It’s time you went out and did something on your own. Maybe even find your mate.”
“You could try a dating site,” Ryker teased.
Smirking, Sebastian leaned forward. “I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten more play than you, my friend. I don’t need any help. Besides, I kind of like giving you a hard time. I think I’ll stick around for a while. That is, if you’ll still have me?” he asked, turning to me and grinning wide.
Rolling my eyes, I sat back in my chair. “Is it always going to be like this with you two?”
“Worse if I didn’t have you,” Ryker replied. “Two unmated, alpha males constantly together isn’t a good thing for anyone.”
I glanced over at Sebastian who smiled, blinking innocently. “Still want me to join your pack?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I’m probably going to have to rethink my decision.” I elbowed him in the arm and smiled. It didn’t last long because coming from the west side of the woods, a group of wolves approached.
Tate came outside, his body tense, eyes focused on the land. “It’s time.”
Everyone started for the woods, but Ryker stood back and took my hand. “When the fighting starts, stay as far back as you can. They’ll be gunning for you.”
“I know. I’ll be okay, I promise.” We caught up with the other wolves just in time to see the Yukon pack filing in. There were twelve of them and only eight of us. “We’re outnumbered.”
Ryker leaned in to me. “Yeah, but we have four alphas. We can beat them.”
We could, but not without casualties.
“Where is she?” a voice demanded. Immediately, I recognized his voice and gasped. Sebastian glanced back at me, his expression torn. It wasn’t just any wolf, it was Darius Whitehill, the father I had known for most of my life. What the hell was he doing leading the Yukon wolves? “Come forward, Bailey. It’s time to go home.”
Ryker tried to hold me back, but I pushed through, my body shaking with rage. “I will not go anywhere with you ever again.”
His gaze found Ryker’s and he snarled. “And now I see why. You chose the wrong brother,” his focus landed on Sebastian, “and also a traitor. This doesn’t look good at all, Bailey. You sure did leave a mess for me to clean up. I almost didn’t get out of it with my life.”
Ryker and Sebastian moved to the front of the group. “The only mess that’ll be left will be your rotten corpses. I’ll make sure to send your head to my uncle,” Ryker growled.
Darius grinned, his fangs growing longer. “We’ll see about that.” Then to his men, he nodded toward us. “Kill the traitor, but leave the young alpha to me. I want my daughter to watch me rip off his head. Maybe then she’ll learn obedience.”
After that, everything moved in slow motion. The men shifted, except for Darius, who watched on in amusement. The Yukon wolves gunned for Ryker and Sebastian. Howls filled the air, along with the smell of death. I couldn’t tell who had fallen or which side everyone was fighting for. There was one howl that rose above the rest. My heart shattered as I watched Sebastian fall to the ground with a fatal wound to his belly. His eyes found mine and I screamed out his name.
There was another wolf about to finish him off, but I grabbed a tree limb off the ground and threw it like a spear, piercing it through his gut. Ryker ran over and ripped out his throat. Darius’ laugh could be heard echoing through the trees. Sebastian growled low, but he couldn’t get up. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tried to lift him, but he was too heavy.
“Dammit, Sebastian, don’t you dare die on me. You hear me?” More howls filled the night, more death. Tears ran down my cheeks, but I wasn’t about to give up on him. I had to get him away from the fight. Grabbing his legs, I pulled him as far as I could until an arm grabbed me around the waist.
“It sure is good to see you again, darling,” Darius whispered into my ear. “I’ve missed you.” He jerked me away from Sebastian, holding me tight around the neck.
“You’re a lying son of a bitch,” I hissed, digging my claws into his arms. “Let me go.” His hold was so tight, I could barely breathe. Then, he injected something into my neck and my claws retracted.