Royal Shifters Series

Book 2: Tyla

I wanted to talk to Sebastian about what had happened, but he was struggling to keep it together. He sat on the couch, watching TV like nothing was wrong, but I knew the truth. He thought he was shutting me out, but I could still see his thoughts. He had seen me get slapped across the cheek and that vision was on loop in his mind. He blamed himself for not getting there fast enough.

Sneaking away, I tiptoed upstairs to the bedroom and dialed Bailey’s number. She knew Sebastian better than anyone.

“Tyla, oh my God,” she said, forgoing the usual greeting. “What’s going on? I heard about your family. I’m so sorry.”

“And it gets worse. We were attacked today. It appears there’s more to this whole story that we haven’t figured out yet.”

“Do you need help? We can send others out there to you.”

Sighing, I sat down on the bed. “The more of us around, the more attention it’ll bring. And unfortunately, we have another problem.”

“What?”

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on Sebastian’s mind. He was afraid I was scared of him after seeing him today. My heart broke. “Sebastian’s a lot worse than I thought. I accidentally drank some of his blood today.”

“Did the link open up?” she asked.

“It did. And what I saw terrified me,” I whispered. “There wasn’t a vision either. I just knew there’d be no happy ending for us.”

“You don’t know that. The visions could be tainted because of his rage. Besides, the future always changes with the decisions we make.” She blew out a sigh. “What else happened?”

“He not only killed the wolves who attacked us, he shredded them apart. I’ve never seen him like that before. His mind is in a dark place, Bailey. He’s trying to keep me out, but it’s not working. It’s taking him over.”

“What are you going to do? Please don’t make him suffer. I love him and I know you do too.”

My eyes burned as Sebastian’s words echoed in my mind, “If you don’t finish this, you will surely lose me. The rage will drive me insane and I won’t be able to control it. You need to make the choice, your fear . . . or my life.”

“Tyla, you there?” Bailey said desperately.

I blew out a shaky breath. “I know what to do.”

“You do?”

“Yep. I’ll call you soon.” I hung up and started for the door, heart racing. Sebastian was still on the couch with an arm draped over his eyes. His breathing was heavy, but he wasn’t asleep. He was fighting his demons, visions of red flashing through his mind. I tiptoed over and watched him, wondering if he was going to acknowledge me.

“I know you’re there.” His voice was low and dark.

Biting my lip, I took a step forward. Slipping my pants and underwear down my legs as quietly as I could, I closed the distance. When I ran my hands up his thighs, his body jumped at the contact and then relaxed, mind clearing for a brief second.

“What are you doing?” he murmured.

Climbing up on his lap, I straddled his waist. “A little bit of this,” I said, sliding his hand up my shirt. “And a little bit of that . . .” I ran my hand over the zipper of his jeans and rubbed his arousal. He sucked in a breath and dropped his arm, eyes blazing.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” he warned.

I knew what I was getting myself into. I couldn’t let him suffer any longer, not when I could see what he was going through. His pain was now my pain. I leaned down and kissed him, biting his lip between my teeth. “I guess it’s a good thing I plan on finishing then.”

His grip tightened and he closed his lips over mine. I could barely breathe, but I knew he needed it. His erection pressed into me and he rocked me against it, his fingers digging into my hips.

“I need you so fucking bad,” he growled, sliding his lips down my neck. Fisting his hands in my shirt, he ripped it apart and tossed it on the floor, groaning when he sucked a nipple between his teeth.

I gasped and leaned my head back, my whole body trembling from his touch. I needed him inside of me. Sliding my hands down his smooth, bare chest, I stopped at his pants and freed him. He lifted me up and kicked his pants to the floor before setting me back down. Moaning, I rubbed my wetness all over him, loving the way he growled deep in his chest at my movements. Raising my hips, I slid down onto him inch by inch, until he was all the way in. He filled me completely, stretching me to the point of pain.

Gripping the back of my neck, Sebastian pulled me to him, ravishing me with his lips. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.”

I slid up and down his length, the delicious ache sending tremors throughout my body. The connection between us opened, and instead of seeing red, I saw visions of me, laughing and smiling—Sebastian’s memories of me. I could feel his need to protect me and how hard it was for him not to force his claim on me.

Holding him tight, I rode him as hard as I could, loving the sound of his groans. I was so close to the edge. His teeth grazed along my neck, but I grasped his face, drawing him to my lips. “I’m not ready for that,” I whispered breathlessly.

Eyes flashing, he drew his fangs back. “I need to feel all of you, love.”

I kissed him again. “You will. Just give me a little more time.”

Gripping a handful of my hair, he held me to his lips and pushed his body up into me hard. My whole body tightened around him and I let go, screaming out my release. He grunted and gripped the side of my hip, holding me down as he came inside me. I leaned forward, resting my forehead to his and smiled. He was happy; I could feel it and see it in his mind.

Wrapping his arms around my waist, he lifted me up and stood.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

His eyes bored into mine and I shivered. “Taking you to bed. I’m not done with you yet.”

***

I could barely move the next morning, as the entire night before was spent in an orgasmic haze. Sebastian hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he wasn’t done with me. His scent was all over the sheets, but when I reached for him, he wasn’t there. Opening my eyes, I sat up and listened. His mind was shut off from me, but I could hear him outside on the porch, tapping a finger on the wooden railing.

Sliding out of bed, I grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around my body. When I got downstairs, I saw him outside on the deck, bare-chested, wearing only a pair of pants. The snow fell all around him, his whitish-blond hair covered in flakes. Something was wrong; I could feel it. It was almost like the awkwardness after a one night stand, only I’d never had one of those to compare. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped out. He didn’t move.

“Sebastian?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Good morning, love.”

“What’s wrong?” I walked up and stood beside him, my shoulder brushing his skin.

He leaned over the railing on his elbows and looked at me. “Why didn’t you want me to taste your blood last night? Are you afraid of me getting in your head?”

Averting my gaze, I focused on the woods, ashamed of my fears. “The last thing you need to worry about are my insecurities, especially while you’re battling your own issues. It’s not fair.”

“That’s not it, Tyla. There’s something else. What is it?”

Blowing out a sigh, I turned to face him, his piercing blue eyes seeing right through me. “When I took your blood yesterday, there wasn’t a vision. From what I’ve heard, you’re supposed to see visions of a glorious future together after the first exchange. I didn’t get that.”

His jaw tensed. “What did you see?”

“Blood, darkness, pain. Bailey says it could’ve been your thoughts overpowering the moment, but I don’t know. Having you, then losing you, would kill me. I’m afraid of what I’ll see when you take my blood.”

My eyes burned, and I tried and failed at blinking back the tears. Sebastian pulled me into his arms, my face resting against his chest. His strong heartbeat was music to my ears. “Don’t you think I’m scared too?”

“Of what?” I asked.

He pulled back and cupped my face in his hands. “We don’t know if it’s me hindering our visions, or if it’s our true future. Whatever happens, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s you losing me. What if I’m the one who loses you? As your mate and protector, I don’t want to fail.”

“You won’t. It’s not in your blood.”

A sad smile spread across his lips. “But I would rather die knowing I had a few happy moments with you, than nothing at all. You have no idea how much last night helped me.”

I placed my hands over his and smiled as the blanket slid down my body. “It helped me too.” Leaning up on my toes, I pressed my lips to his. Our future was unknown, but he had a point. I’d rather have a few happy moments with him than nothing at all.

“The full moon is coming soon.” His hands cupped my backside, holding me against the bulge in his pants. “I want to complete the bond.”

I stared up at him, completely at a loss for words. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, eyes searching mine. I wanted to do it, but it was all happening so fast. Before I could answer, his eyes flashed and he growled, his attention snapping to the woods.

“Sebastian, what’s wrong?”

He pulled me behind him, his body tense. Then I realized what was going on; a wolf was in the distance. “Go inside, Tyla,” he commanded. I did as he said and raced upstairs, throwing on a T-shirt and pants before rushing back down. Eyes closed, Sebastian stood by the door. “He’s getting closer.”

All I could sense was one wolf, but it could be a trap. I couldn’t let him go out there alone. He took off his pants and opened the door. I started to follow him, but he held out his arm. “You’re not coming with me, Tyla.”

Jaw clenched, I stood up to him, daring him to try and make me stay. “You may be an alpha, but so am I. If you want me to be your mate, you have to let me be one. That means protecting you as well. Let me go out there and draw this wolf in while you shield your presence. When he gets close you can attack.” I rested my hand against his cheek. “We fight together.”

He huffed and nodded at the door. “Go, before I change my mind.” Instead of shifting, I jumped off the deck and took off for the woods. Sebastian caught up to me after shifting. He was beautiful, and a hell of a lot larger than me in my wolf form. I watched him run off into the woods and disappear.

The other wolf was close, maybe a mile out. A small clearing was up ahead and I stopped in the middle of it. Whatever happened, I’d be ready.

“I’m okay,” I said, hoping Sebastian could hear me in his mind. It was going to take some getting used to knowing I could speak to him without actually talking. The only problem was, I couldn’t hear him back. He had to take my blood in order for the link to be open both ways.

The other wolf picked up his speed and my heart raced; he sensed me. By the sound of his paws on the ground, he was in wolf form. I thought about shifting, but when the massive gray wolf finally came into view and stopped at the edge of the clearing, I froze. Sucking in a breath, I stared into a set of golden, amber eyes.

“This can’t be,” I whispered, closing a hand over my mouth. He charged toward me, and me to him. I had to touch him to make sure he was real. He even had the same patch of white fur between his eyes. We were about to close the distance when a white blur caught my eye.

“No!” I screamed, holding out my hand. Sebastian lunged in the air, ready to strike. I raced toward him and jumped on his back, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Sebastian, no!”

Growling, he was pulled off course until my hold slipped. I rolled across the ground and yelped when the edge of a stick punctured a hole in my left shoulder. Pain shot through my body as I tried desperately to pull the stick out, but I couldn’t reach it.

“Tyla!”

The stick was pulled out and I was lifted off the ground, only it wasn’t Sebastian holding me . . . it was Finn. He looked in my eyes and I in his. It was really him. “Finn,” I breathed, his face growing blurry from my tears. His brown hair was a little longer on top, but other than that he looked the same. For thirty years I’d thought he was dead, and now, he was standing before me. I touched his face and smiled. “You’re alive.”

“Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

He turned to leave the clearing and my mind exploded with nothing but red. Sebastian stood in human form, blocking our path—his murderous glare set on Finn. I hissed in pain, his raging emotions blasting my mind. It only got worse when he saw the blood dripping down my shoulders. He blamed himself for the wound. “Get your hands off her now or I’ll rip your head off your fucking body.”

Finn held me tighter. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Stop!” I shouted. I glanced up at Finn and sighed. “Put me down. He’s not your enemy.”

He glared at Sebastian and back at me. “But you’re hurt. We need to take care of that shoulder.”

“I’ll be fine. Now set me down, please.” He did as I said and I hissed in pain.

Sebastian hurried over and swiped my hair away from the wound so he could take a look. “Fuck,” he growled. “Why did you jump in my way?”

Swallowing hard, I looked over at Finn. “I couldn’t let you hurt him. He’s a friend from my past.”

Finn scoffed. “I was much more than a friend, Tyla.”

Sebastian tensed and faced him, stepping in front of me. “I don’t care who you are, that was in the past. I’m her true mate.”

Finn’s gaze narrowed. “And I’m her first mate. Looks like we’re going to have a problem.”