by L. P. Dover
“Thanks for the heads up.”
“No problem. Want to go for a swim before we head back?” he asked, smirking mischievously.
Instead of replying, I jumped off the ground and raced toward the water. “First one there wins.”
His power flared behind me as he drew near, chuckling the entire time. I was almost to the water’s edge when his arms snaked around my waist and pulled me back as we both dove in. His hold loosened and I swam away.
The moment I surfaced, I broke out in laughter. “I won!”
Colin wiped the water out of his eyes. “Don’t think so, sweetheart. My arm hit before any other part of your body.”
“You’re really going to use that bullshit excuse? I can’t wait to tell everyone what a sore loser you are.”
His eyes flashed and he chuckled. “We’ll see about that.” He stalked toward me, kicking water in the air as he approached. Squealing, I took off further into the lake, treading as fast as I could. His hand brushed my foot, before he grabbed my ankle, pulling me back toward him. “Who’s the faster one now?” he teased, wrapping his arms around my waist.
He was so close, I felt his breath on my face. Even if he kissed me, I knew it wouldn’t feel anything like Sebastian’s kiss from earlier. “Colin,” I whispered regretfully.
“You don’t have to say it, Tyla. I know I’m not the one you want. Although, I have to say, it kills me not to kiss you right now.”
Sighing, I hung my head. “I didn’t want to lead you on, but I was hoping my feelings would change. They haven’t, and I’m sorry. The last thing you need is to get on Sebastian’s bad side.”
He chuckled. “I think I already am. I’m not worried about it.”
He should be though.
Sebastian
Who the fuck does he think he is? I didn’t want Tyla to know I was watching, but dammit to hell, it was getting hard to control myself. I wanted to rip Colin’s throat out every time he touched her. Now they were in the lake and way too fucking close. That’s it. I started toward them, my resolve on the edge of breaking.
“Don’t even think about it, Sebastian.”
I stopped and turned around to find Bailey glaring at me, her heart racing from the run. It was easier to control our emotions in human form; hence, the reason I refrained from shifting. “What the hell are you doing here?” She’d shielded herself so I wouldn’t hear or feel her approach.
Arms crossed, she stood there, pursing her lips. “Micah sent me to get you. He thought you’d rip his head off if he came, and we both know you won’t hurt me. Judging by what’s going on, you better not hurt Colin either.”
My eyes flashed. “She doesn’t belong to him. He needs to stop touching her.”
Sighing, she approached cautiously. “He knows that. Colin isn’t going to make a move on Tyla, I promise.”
“Have you seen them out there?” I growled, thrusting my finger in their direction.
“You have nothing to worry about. My plan worked. However, I’m starting to think it was a mistake.”
“Plan? What the fuck are you going on about?”
Her gaze landed on Tyla and Colin, who were finally emerging from the lake. “Colin is only pursuing Tyla because I asked him to. He’s not actually trying to steal her away; he’s just making it appear as if he’s doing so. I knew you needed a push and he’s the only one crazy enough to take you on.”
“You have got to be kidding me. Why would you do that? I could’ve ripped him apart,” I snapped.
She stepped forward. “That’s why I’m intervening now. I didn’t realize you were having such a hard time controlling yourself.”
“Is Tyla in on this?”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “It won’t matter anyway. We both know she’s not interested in Colin. You’re her mate and she knows that, even as pig-headed as she is being.”
I huffed. “And that’s what drives me so crazy. She fights me every second she gets.”
“You deserve it. I can’t help it you’re an idiot. Now’s the time to make it up to her.”
I could hear Tyla’s laugh from where I stood. She used to be carefree like that around me, until I’d started flaunting other women around her, hoping the feelings would stop. In the end, they only grew worse. I focused on her, the way she smiled so animatedly at Colin. Would she ever smile like that at me again?
“She hates me.” I sighed and looked at the ground. “I tricked her today and made her kiss me. You know as well as I that she’s not the forgiving type. The longer she fights me, the worse I’ll get.”
She placed her hand on my shoulder. “That’s why you need to be honest with her. It’s either that, or find someone else to control your urges with for the time being. But that option will only piss her off more, so . . .”
I groaned, angrily running a hand through my hair. “I always knew a woman would be the death of me.”
“And a hell of a one at that.” Bailey laughed. “Now, come on back to my house. Ryker and I need your help.” She squeezed my shoulder.
“Fine, but if I find out your brother makes a move on her, I’ll rip his balls off. Got it?”
She snickered. “Colin may like to fuck with you, but he knows his limits, and so does Tyla. She doesn’t want him.”
“She may not want him, but it doesn’t mean she won’t use him to get back at me. I fucked up, and deserve whatever she decides to throw my way.”
Bailey didn’t say a word, which meant I was absolutely right. Out of the hundred years I’d lived in this godforsaken world, you’d think I’d have learned by now. Obviously not.
By the time we got back to her house, I could hear Ryker cursing up a storm inside. “What the hell is he doing?” I asked, holding back a chuckle.
Bailey cleared her throat. “When Micah came over to talk to me, he told me you helped my parents put my crib together. I thought maybe you could help put my little one’s together as well. Ryker seems to need some help.”
More cursing ensued and I chuckled. I’d do anything to get my mind off of Tyla. “I’d be happy to. When your mother was pregnant with you, I knew you were going to be a handful, always moving around like a beast.”
She stopped at the door. “Do you regret choosing to be a protector?”
“No. It’s what my father did, and his before that for several generations. The legacy needs to live on. So far, we haven’t failed in our tasks.” Then I thought about Tyla. “At least, until I picked the most stubborn female on this planet to protect.”
She giggled. “Whether Tyla realizes it or not, you’re her mate, a man who has sworn to protect her. Any female in our pack would kill to have you as their protector.”
“All except her,” I scoffed.
Ryker ripped open the front door and huffed, his eyes flashing. “Somebody better help me soon, before I toss this crib onto the lawn. The instructions are pure garbage.”
Bailey nudged me with her elbow and I cleared my throat to keep from laughing. “Step aside, Whitemore. I’ve got this.” I walked in and shook my head at the mess on the floor. There were pieces of the crib strewn everywhere. Ryker picked up the instructions and handed them to me, but I waved him off. “Don’t need them.”
Minutes later, I had the crib put together, grinning triumphantly.
“Hats off to you, Lyall,” Ryker said, leaning against the couch. “I think this calls for a beer.”
Bailey rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch while I followed Ryker into the kitchen. As soon as he passed me a beer, a knock sounded on the door.
“I’ll get it,” Bailey called.
Colin’s voice filtered into the house and my back stiffened. Biting my tongue, I tried my best to control my temper.
“What’s up?” he asked, strutting into the kitchen. He didn’t look surprised to see me in the least.
Ryker passed him a beer and slapped his shoulder. “Just talking to Lyall here.” Clearing his throat, he turned to me, amused at the te
nsion. “I’ll be in the living room if you need me.”
Colin gulped his beer and leaned over on the counter, his gaze fixed on mine. “I know you were there tonight,” he stated matter-of-factly.
I slammed my bottle on the counter. “And?”
He huffed. “I’m sure Bailey told you already. It was all an act. I wasn’t going to make Tyla do anything she didn’t want to do. Lucky for you, she’s not into me.”
My wolf stirred impatiently. All he wanted was to punish the guy for touching his mate. What the hell was I saying? She wasn’t even my fucking mate yet. I drank the rest of my beer and tossed my bottle in the trash.
“For future reference, keep your hands to yourself. I can’t promise you’ll have them if you touch her again.” I walked out of the room and heard his chuckle behind me. But I wasn’t kidding.
It was early the next day, and I wanted to catch Tyla before she left for the ranch. When I arrived, she was already pulling out of her driveway for the day, but headed the opposite way from the ranch. Where was she going?
She drove south, about forty-five minutes away from Jackson Hole, until she stopped at the entrance to Pineview Cemetery. Following her in, I parked down the street and watched as she got out of her car. Weaving her way through the graves, she stopped at one and sat down. I didn’t dare follow her any closer, but I watched her from a distance, listening.
“Happy Birthday, Cliff,” she said in a shaky voice. “You would’ve been forty-eight years old today.” She rubbed her hand over the gravestone. “I miss you so much. Everything was less complicated when you were around. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy. I just . . .” She paused and blew out a sigh. “I’m afraid. And I don’t know what to do.”
Leaning over the gravestone, her shoulders shook as she cried. I wanted to go to her, to put my arm around her and tell her everything would be okay, but I couldn’t let her know I was there.
For the next ten minutes, she sat there, her cries being all I could hear. Then her phone rang and she gasped, wiping her eyes quickly before answering. “Amelie, what’s up?” I could hear the rapid breath of the female on the other end.
“Tyla, help!” Amelie shouted. “I don’t know how long I can last.” She screamed and the sound of growling wolves echoed in the phone before everything went dead.
“Amelie? What’s going on? Amelie!” Tyla screamed. She hung up and shot to her feet.
She kissed the gravestone and placed her hand on top. “I’ll come back soon, Cliff.”
Whoever this guy was, he had meant something to her. But that was a question for later. Right now, there were bigger problems.
Tyla
I’d called my mother and she’d notified the pack. By the time I got to my parents’ house, Bailey and Ryker were already there, along with Colin, Micah, and Cedric, Ryker’s second-in-command. The only person missing was Sebastian. I was shocked he wasn’t already there. When my mother watched me slam through the door, the look on her face terrified me. She was scared.
“Anything new?” I asked, rushing toward her.
She shook her head. “Nothing good. I’ve tried calling Sara and Benjamin but they’re not picking up.” My aunt and uncle always picked up the phone. Bile rose in the back of my throat. What if we didn’t get to them in time?
“What are we going to do?” I asked, glancing around the room. Their grim expressions did little to help ease the situation.
Sebastian came storming through the door, his heated gaze fixed on mine. “I can have a couple of my men leave tonight to investigate,” he offered.
My parents glanced at each other and my father nodded. “I’ll go with them.”
“No,” I shrieked. Everyone jerked their attention to me and the room fell silent. Sighing, I placed a hand on my dad’s shoulder. He was still a strong wolf, but he wasn’t the same warrior he used to be; while I had fought battles for years, and had nothing to lose. I was ready.
With my head held high, I turned my attention to Ryker. “I’ll go. It’s my responsibility.”
“Absolutely not,” my mother growled. She tried to step in front of me, but I blocked her path.
“Ryker, you know I can do this. You can’t send my father out there. I’m stronger and faster than he is.”
Before my parents could argue, Sebastian stepped forward. “I’ll go with her. I can use my magic to shield us. No one will know we’re there. If you send a bunch of wolves, it’ll only draw unwanted attention.”
Heart racing, I sucked in a breath. Being alone with Sebastian and traveling across the United States would be a disaster. We’d spend the entire time fighting each other. I’d end up killing him. How in the hell was that going to help my family?
He kept his eyes on mine as we waited for the final verdict. Not that Ryker could control what Sebastian did, but it was more of a show of respect for Bailey.
Time seemed to stand still as Ryker glanced around the room and then bowed his head in a final nod. “It’s done,” he said. Sebastian stepped up to him and they shook hands. “I have no doubt you’ll know what to do. Keep her safe.”
Sebastian glanced over at me. “With my life.”
Just hearing the words made me shiver. Tearing my gaze away, I faced my parents. My father beamed with pride, but my mother was terrified.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
“Why wouldn’t I? When my family is attacked, it’s my job to help them. You know I can do this. I’m a stronger fighter than most of the men in our pack.” Cedric snorted from across the room and I flipped him off. The others laughed, as Ryker shooed them from the house, except for Bailey and Sebastian.
“I know you’re a good fighter, sweetheart,” my mother said, “but you’re putting yourself in danger. You don’t know what you’ll be up against.”
I ruffled her curls and smiled. “The only thing you have to worry about is me killing Sebastian. Other than that, I’ll be fine.”
A sad smile spread across her lips. “We both know that’s not going to happen,” she whispered softly, placing a gentle kiss on my cheek. I stiffened and could feel his penetrating gaze on my back. “Now, behave. He needs you more than you know.” She’d said it like there was something I didn’t know. What was she keeping from me?
She pulled away and my father wrapped his arms around me while my mother disappeared into the kitchen. “Be careful, Tyla.” He kissed the top of my head and let go.
My mother came back and handed me a piece of paper. “I don’t know if Amelie told you where they lived, but here are the addresses to her place and her parents’.”
I nodded and hugged her tight. “I’ll find them.”
She sniffled and squeezed. “I know you will.”
“Tyla, we should probably go,” Sebastian suggested, his voice achingly close.
Nodding, I took a deep breath and followed him outside. Ryker and the others were there, waiting on us.
“Seb,” Micah shouted, waving Sebastian over to where he was standing with Ryker.
“I’ll only be a minute,” he murmured. As soon as he walked off, Bailey joined me.
We watched on as Sebastian walked over to Micah and Ryker, their voices so low I couldn’t hear them. I leaned over toward Bailey. “What do you think they’re saying?”
She put her arm around me and walked me to my car. “Ryker’s telling him he needs to calm down. He’s too volatile.”
“I can tell. Why is he like that? It’s not normal for Sebastian.”
She lowered her gaze and sighed. “You know what happens when a male goes too long without his mate, right?”
Mouth gaping, I felt like I’d been sucker punched in the gut. “You’re serious? How long has he been fighting it?” I knew what men did to curve the cravings for their mate. There was no telling how many women he’d slept with to ease his rage. That was probably why I had no clue he was struggling.
“A few months now. It gets worse when he sees you with another male.” My gaze drifted bac
k to Sebastian and I could see it in his stance; he was tense. Bailey snapped her fingers in front of my face. “This is serious, Tyla. He could snap and go completely off the deep end. You can’t keep provoking him. You are his mate. Whatever issues you have between the two of you, you need to work them out, and soon.”
Sebastian shook Ryker’s hand and started toward me. “I wish I could,” I murmured, swallowing down the regret. “But there’s nothing I can do. I’m cursed.”
She started to speak, but Sebastian jumped in. “How long will it take you to pack?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Fifteen minutes.”
He nodded. “All right. I’ll reserve our plane tickets and meet you at your house.”
Bailey hugged him and gave him a look I couldn’t decipher, before he turned around and got in his car. Why did it feel like everyone was keeping secrets from me?
I knew he was close by the thrumming in my veins. It was one of the first mating signs I’d experienced. Since my parents were true mates, I knew what to expect. For the longest time, I had tried to convince myself I’d felt them when I was with Finn, but it had just been wishful thinking. Now, I know why I never felt them. My wolf had been waiting for Sebastian.
He knocked on the door and I wanted to kick myself in the ass for being filled with excitement. He’d be able to hear my heart pounding through the door. When I opened it, he stepped inside. “You ready? Our flight to Nashville leaves in an hour.”
“Nashville? Why are we going there?”
“It was either that, or stop in Denver for a five hour layover. Nashville made more sense. From there we can drive to Cherokee, North Carolina. I knew you’d want to get there as fast as we could.” For once, he wasn’t being a smart ass, but genuine.
“Thanks,” I replied.
My bags were on the floor and I was about to pick them up when he grabbed my wrist. “I got them.” He let me go and picked up my bags.
I loved the way his muscles flexed and tightened when he threw them over his shoulder. Blowing out a sigh, I reluctantly averted my gaze. I seriously needed to get a better handle on the situation. “Let me grab my keys and I’ll be ready,” I called out to him.