by Dover, L. P.
“And she’s paid the consequences.”
He nodded. “That she has.”
I could feel her in my mind, listening to my thoughts. She knew everything. I just hoped she wouldn’t blame me for fucking up her life.
Bailey
Ryker sat down beside me in the sand, trying his best to smile. “When you were in college, you always braided your hair and played with it while you studied, just like you’re doing now. I thought it was cute.”
I laid my head on his shoulder. “Nervous habit. What else did you discover while stalking me?”
He chuckled and put his arm around me. “Your favorite color is green and I’m only saying that because you wore a lot of it. You’re smart, kind, generous, and you love to laugh. It took all I had not to go after you, especially when you drew the attention of human men.”
I snorted. “They never stuck around long.” When I looked up at him, he bit his lip, looking sheepish. “And now I can see why.”
He shrugged. “What can I say? I didn’t want them touching you. You’re mine.”
Shaking my head, I kissed his chin. “I am, and just so you know, I don’t blame you for anything that happened. I know you feel guilty.” It broke my heart listening to his inner turmoil.
“How can I not?”
“You didn’t know what was going on when you found me in the woods.”
“It still doesn’t change the way I feel.”
Taking his hand, I held it to my cheek and breathed him in. “That’s only one side of the coin. We both lost the ones we loved. If you wouldn’t have found me, maybe your family would still be alive. We can either share the guilt, or let it go.”
He held me tight. “You are wise beyond your years.”
We sat there for a few minutes in silence until Sebastian approached, his energy stronger than before. At least he wasn’t trying to hide his presence.
“Bailey,” he called out.
Ryker sighed and whispered in my ear. “I don’t like the guy, but you might want to listen to what he has to say.”
I glanced back at Sebastian. “What if I don’t like what I hear?”
“Then kill him.” He shrugged and got to his feet. Slapping a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, he spoke low. “Try anything stupid, and I’ll snap your neck.”
“I’m sure she’ll beat you to it,” he answered back. Ryker moved out of the way, but stayed close. Sebastian sat down and grabbed a handful of sand, letting it slide through his fingers. “You know you’re a royal, but do you really know what it means?”
“No.”
“History says that when the first wolves were born, some were touched by the Great Luna and some were not. Over the generations, their bloodlines spread. There are royals everywhere, but a few are more powerful than others. Your family and mine happen to be one of those few.”
I gave his words a moment to sink in. “Let me guess, the Northern pack weren’t royals.”
He scoffed. “Definitely not. That’s why they wanted you. They were jealous of your family and wanted the magic for themselves.”
“And would it have worked?”
“I’m not sure. But I do know if you and Kade had mated and had kids, your magic would’ve passed on to them. Imagine a future with Kade’s cruelty and your power. It wouldn’t have been good.”
Ryker’s anger blasted through my mind. I glanced over at him with his hands fisted in the sand. Sebastian followed my gaze.
“If you hadn’t gotten away from Kade, I was going to kill the fucker myself. I would’ve gladly sacrificed myself to keep you from that shit show.” He turned back to me and I could see the truth in his eyes.
“Then why did you take me back? When you came to get me from school, we could’ve run away.”
“Would you have gone with me?”
“I don’t know. Probably, if you could’ve shown me proof.”
He lowered his head, the regret pouring off of him in waves. “There were many things I wish I would’ve done differently.” Taking a deep breath, he lifted his head and watched the waves crash along the beach.
“Why don’t I remember seeing Ryker that day?”
“Maret had put a spell on your bond, masking its presence from you. The spell could only be broken once you touched—no magic or spell is strong enough to conceal the power of a mate’s bond.”
I shook my head. “Why didn’t you let me go to him then?”
He looked back at Ryker and then to me. “I couldn’t trust him. I hadn’t seen him in years and he was Kade’s brother. I knew little about the alpha he’d become. I wasn’t going to take the chance with your life. You’re too important.”
We all sat in silence, listening to the waves hit the shore. I could feel Ryker’s acceptance of Sebastian’s reasoning. He may even be coming around to the idea of my best friend. Ryker let out a low growl and I smiled.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve seen the ocean,” Sebastian said. “You just don’t remember it.”
Eyes wide, I gasped. “What?”
He nodded, staring at me with his crystal blue eyes. “You were four years old. I remember making sand castles together.” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a wallet and something else. When he held it out to me, my heart stopped. “This is your family, B. Your real family.”
In my hands was a picture of a man and a woman with three kids, two girls and a boy. “Oh my God. How do you have this?”
“Your mother gave it to me the night of the attack. She knew what Maret had done to you, how she took your memories, along with those of your brother and sister.” He pointed to the two other children in the photo.
My eyes burned and my heart ached. I didn’t want to know what happened to them, but I needed to. My sister looked like me and our mother, except her platinum blonde hair was wavy and ours was perfectly straight. My brother, however, was the exact image of my father with darker blond hair and striking blue eyes.
“Are they all dead?”
He swallowed hard. “Your parents are. They stayed and fought so we could get away. Your mother made me promise to keep you safe.”
“What about them?” I cried, pointing to my siblings.
“They had other protectors, Bailey. I was assigned to you. But if there’s one thing I know for certain, I have no doubt they’re still alive. I just don’t know where they are.”
“How do you know that?”
He looked down at the picture. “Because, they were protected by my brothers. They would do anything to keep them safe.”
Closing my eyes, I tried to remember them but I couldn’t. “I don’t even know their names.”
“You will,” he promised, taking my hand. “We’ll get your memories back. Until then, I’ll tell you anything you want. Your father,” he said, pointing to him in the picture, “was a doctor. His name was Marrock Storm. That’s who you truly are . . . a Storm.” He gave my hand a little squeeze and continued. “Your mother’s name was Tala. She was a Biology professor before you and your siblings came along. After that, she stayed home. You and your brother used to fight all the time.”
The thought made me laugh. “What is his name?”
“Colin. Your sister is Faith.”
“How can we find them? If your brothers are their protectors, surely you know of a way.”
He sighed. “There are ways, but now isn’t the time. The Yukon pack is searching for both of us. They are all in at this point; they aren’t going to stop.”
“What should we do?”
He got to his feet and helped me up. Ryker joined us, his face a mask of uncertainty. Sebastian glanced at him and then back to me. “Whatever we do, we need to stay together. That is, if you’ll let me. You’re all I have left of our pack.”
Our pack. I would give anything to see my family again.
“The choice is yours, angel. If you believe in him, so will I . . . to some extent.”
With a small smile, I glanced up at him. “You sure?” He
nodded and that was all the assurance I needed. “All right,” I said to Sebastian, “you’re coming with us.”
Bailey (Six Days Later)
It felt good to roam free in the woods. My wolf was happy. We’d just gotten back from our daily run and Sebastian was up ahead at the cabin, waiting on Ryker and me to get back. Side by side, we approached in wolf form and watched as Sebastian turned. He was huge and white, just like Ryker. Over the past week, I’d enjoyed hearing Sebastian’s stories of my family. I thought for sure we’d have heard something from the other alphas, but there was nothing yet.
Sebastian stalked toward us and then took off into the woods. Ryker had already made it clear he didn’t want him encroaching on our time together. And, as long as he respected our space, he was willing to let him stay with us.
Following him up the steps, we shifted back. “The full moon is tomorrow,” Ryker claimed. His eyes flashed when I looked at him.
“Your point being . . . what?” I asked with a laugh.
He pulled me into his arms and nipped my neck with his teeth, his erection pushing into my side. “I think you can feel my point.”
“I can, but I want to hear it come from your mouth. What do you want to happen on the full moon?”
He cupped my breast and rolled my nipple between his fingers. “I want you to be mine. I don’t want to wait any longer.” Brushing his lips over my breast, he flicked my nipple with his tongue and I moaned, pushing my breasts out further. A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Is that a yes?”
I didn’t have to think twice. “Yes,” I breathed.
Picking me up in his arms, he carried me inside and upstairs to our room. Setting me down, he locked the door and stalked toward me. I wasn’t about to let him have all the fun. Pushing him against the wall, I kissed him hard and made my way down to his chest. He sucked in a breath when I got on my knees and licked from his abs to the tip of his cock. Grabbing his length, I pumped him while I sucked the tip, smiling as his body jerked in response.
Breathing hard, he groaned and leaned against the wall as I slowly fucked him with my mouth. “Holy shit, angel. I’m going to come if you don’t stop.”
Wanting a different end result, I sat back on my heels and stared at him. It was his move. Picking me up in his arms, he slammed me down on the bed. He lifted my legs and wrapped them around his head, breathing me in. “Now it’s my turn to get a taste of you.”
Not wasting any time, he dove in and fucked me with his tongue. I screamed when he sucked on my clit. He chuckled at my response and the vibration of it almost set me off, but he licked me one more time and then slammed into me. I cried out and wrapped my legs around his waist as he made love to me. I didn’t want him to stop.
“I’m so close, Ryker.”
“Keep going, baby. I want you to scream my name when I come inside you.”
Those words were all it took to drive me insane. Screaming out his name, I dug my nails in his back as my orgasm exploded throughout my entire body. Breathing hard, Ryker collapsed on my chest and grunted as he filled me with his release. I loved the feel of him inside me.
“I have to say, that was the best orgasm I’ve ever had,” I admitted breathlessly.
Ryker bit his lip and smirked. “There’ll be plenty more where that came from.”
About that time, we could hear Sebastian approaching. “Perfect timing.”
He laughed and threw on a pair of jeans. “I’ll meet you downstairs. Want me to pour you a glass of wine?”
“Sure. I’m just going to take a quick shower first.”
Smiling, he opened the door and shut it behind him. It didn’t take me long before I was showered and dressed. Sebastian was already sitting at the kitchen bar with a beer when I came down. My glass of wine was right beside him.
“Have a good run?” I asked, taking the seat beside him. Ryker winked at me but then hurried away when his phone started to ring from our room above.
Sebastian took a long gulp of his beer. “It was okay, but would have been better if I couldn’t still hear you two from over a mile away.”
The blood rushed to my face and I focused on my wine. “Sorry about that.”
“Eh, don’t worry about it. I know firsthand what it’s like to be an unmated male. The need can get a little overwhelming at times.”
“Do you think you’ll ever find a mate?”
He finished his beer. “I’m sure I will one day. Especially once you and Ryker complete the bond. You won’t need my protection after that.”
“Will you be staying with our pack?”
“Do you want me to?”
Nodding, I placed my hand over his. “I do. You’re a part of my family. And soon, we’re going to find our siblings. We need to reunite the royal pack.”
He squeezed my hand. “We will.”
Out of nowhere, a blast of anger spiked through my bond. I grabbed my chest and gasped, hoping I could see into Ryker’s mind. When I tried, all I could see was red.
Sebastian grabbed me by the shoulders. “Bailey, what’s wrong?”
I looked up at the ceiling where Ryker stood just above. “I don’t know, but it’s not good.”
Ryker
“What do you mean ‘they took Kami’?” I shouted.
“They came in the middle of the fucking night and took her out of her apartment. They’re not giving her back until they find Bailey. They’re getting desperate, Ryker.” Tate Grayson was one of the toughest alphas I knew, and if he feared for his sister’s life it was bad.
“How long have they had her?”
“About eight hours now. They left a note.”
“What does it say?”
I could hear the crunch of paper as he gripped it in his hand. “They’re going to send pieces of her body back for each day they don’t have Bailey, but not until after they’ve had their fun with her.”
“Goddammit!” I yelled. Kami was only eighteen years old and a sweet girl. The thought of them raping and torturing her enraged the fuck out of me.
Bailey and Sebastian appeared at the door, concern etched on their faces. Once my mind cleared, she was able to hear what was going on. “They want you, Bailey. If we don’t go, they’ll kill an innocent girl. But if we do . . . I put your life in danger.”
She walked up to me, placing her hands on my face. “Then we go. We have to save her.”
With desperation in his voice, Tate replied, “These wolves are out for blood. I need you here, brother. I can’t do this alone.”
“You won’t be. We’ll be out there first thing.” I hung up the phone and threw it on the bed.
“What’s going on?” Sebastian demanded.
“The Yukon pack is desperate to find Bailey. They took a girl hostage, threatening to dismember her if they don’t get what they want. We’re heading back to Wyoming.”
He stalked into the room. “And what, hand Bailey over? Do you have any idea what they’ll do to her?”
“Not a goddamned thing. I’ll kill them all if I have to.”
“So will I,” Bailey added, glancing at me before settling her focus on him. “I can’t let them hurt an innocent girl because of me. You know I’m a good fighter.”
“Yeah, because I’m the one who taught you,” he grumbled.
“Then it’s all the more reason for me to go.”
Sighing, he headed for the door. “Fine, let’s go. I can’t have you fighting without me.”
As soon as he was down the stairs, I grabbed Bailey’s hand, pulling her to me. “This isn’t how I wanted the full moon to go down.”
She nodded. “I know, but we have to do this. There will be plenty of full moons.”
I kissed her long and hard. “And I’m sure as hell going to make sure of that.”
We were almost to Tate’s ranch, which was about three hours north of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where I lived. Everyone was on edge, including Cedric, who was still back in Jackson. “Are you sure you don’t want me there?” he asked.<
br />
“No, I need you with the pack.”
“What if they outnumber you?”
“Then I guess we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
“Stubborn son of a bitch. Don’t get yourself killed,” he snapped.
“Don’t plan on it. If everything goes the way we want, we’ll be fine.” I hung up and tossed my phone into the center console. “Okay, we’re almost there. We need to come up with a plan.”
“If your main objective is to save the girl, we need her scent,” Sebastian explained. “I can track her location and then someone can go after her.”
“Why can’t you track her and find her yourself?” I asked, glaring at him in the mirror.
“Because I’m not leaving Bailey’s side.”
“Are you always going to be up her ass?” I snapped.
Bailey slapped me on the shoulder. “That’s enough. Stop with the pissing contest.”
“She’s right. You’ll be thanking me once the night’s done,” he grumbled low.
When we got to Tate’s ranch, he was outside with five of his wolves. They tensed when Sebastian got out of the car. Tate walked up to me, but stopped cold, focusing on Bailey and Sebastian.
“Where are they?” I asked, referring to the Yukon wolves.
“Some of them are in town, but I still don’t know where they have Kami.” He nodded toward Bailey. “Is that your mate?”
I glanced back at Bailey and nodded. “That’s Bailey Storm and her protector, Sebastian Lyall. They’re part of the royal pack.”
Eyes wide, he stepped past me and bowed his head while the other wolves watched on with curiosity. “My name’s Tate Grayson. It’s nice to finally meet you. I didn’t know there were any living royals.”
Sebastian snorted. “That’s because we don’t pronounce it to the world. I’ve seen what happens when we do.”
Tate turned around, eyes wild. “You need to get the fuck out of here. If I’d known she was a royal, I never would’ve asked you to come. We can’t risk her. If they find out what she is, they’ll come after your pack next.”