Resisting the Moon

1. Tyla

1

Tyla

“Can you believe the turn out?” Bailey shouted over the din of the bar. She was my friend, a royal, alpha female and the mate of our pack leader, Ryker Whitemore. She practically glowed with her whitish-blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

“Of course everyone would be here. How could they pass up the chance to celebrate the little one?” Once news spread about their pregnancy, the party was set up the very next day. I looked around; the bar was filled with nothing but wolves.

Smiling, Bailey turned her gaze to the crowd. “I can honestly say that everything seems to be right for the first time in my life.” I wished I felt like that.

My focus landed on her younger sister, Faith, who threw her head back and laughed at something Cedric said. She was beautiful, just like Bailey, with the classic whitish-blonde hair of the Arctic wolf. Surely Cedric wasn’t that funny. He was Ryker’s second-in-command and a complete pain in my a*s. I loved him though, even if he did always find ways to get on my nerves.

Then there was Colin, Bailey’s older brother and a Royal Arctic wolf who couldn’t seem to take his crystal blue eyes off of me. I tried ignoring him, but it was hard when I could feel his power across the room. We seriously needed to get rid of all the testosterone. Having five alphas in one pack was insanity.

“Tyla? You still in there?” Bailey laughed.

Clearing my throat, I pulled her into a hug. “Sorry about that. I am truly happy for you, Bailey. You deserve all of this and more.”

She stepped back and smiled at something over my shoulder. “So do you,” she replied with a wink. When she turned to leave, I felt him, the man I didn’t want to want. Who was I kidding? All of the royal males in our pack had an advantage and I didn’t like it. Their power could draw you in like an addict, salivating over your next fix. It sucked donkey a*s.

“Can I help you?” I asked, turning to face Sebastian Lyall.

His whitish-blond hair was perfectly coifed in messy spikes, his light blue, button down shirt matching the color of his eyes. The last thing I needed was to look into them. He’d had me tongue tied several times in the past and it ended up making me look like an i***t.

Smirking, Sebastian stepped closer, holding out a hand. “Would you care to dance?”

Rolling my eyes, I nodded toward the group of women in the corner who watched his every move. “Why don’t you ask one of your groupies? I’m sure they’d be more than willing.”

He and his brothers, Micah and Zayne, along with Colin, were hot commodities in our pack. They were all royal wolves—the elite. No female could resist them, except me that is. I couldn’t complain though; the royals helped make our pack invincible.

Sebastian leaned closer, his gaze serious. “I asked you, Tyla Rand. Besides, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Why do we have to dance in order for you to spill? Just say it now.”

Chuckling, he grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor. “What’s the matter, afraid to be close to me? I promise I won’t bite.”

Right. Huffing, I reluctantly walked onto the dance floor just when the tempo changed to a slower, sensual beat. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I growled. Other couples joined in and held each other, swaying to the music, while I stood there like a fool.

Grabbing my other hand, Sebastian pulled my arms around his shoulders and put his around my waist. “See? Not so bad.”

I glared up at him. “Just keep your hands from wandering. Now what do you want to talk about?” His hands snaked lower and I growled. “Keep it up and see where your hands end up next.”

Chuckling, he lifted them higher. “I like watching your cheeks blush. It’s sexy as hell.”

“Will you stop already?” I snapped.

His smile faded, eyes darkening. “Why is it you can joke around with everyone else, but when I do it you get pissed off?”

“Because they’re my friends.”

“And I’m not?” he countered, the muscles in his jaw ticking.

Sighing, I tried to pull out of his arms, but he held firm. “You are, but it’s not the same.” We used to banter quite easily, until the night it all changed between us. I knew what caused the tension, but he’d ignored it and decided it was best to spend his time with other females; at least, up until recently, when I started being around other men. Now he wanted what he couldn’t have. Besides all of that, my track record with men wasn’t exactly a good one. It was best if I stayed away from falling in love, even if that included my true mate.

“What about my brother? You have no problems joking around with him.” For a split second, I could’ve sworn there was a hint of jealousy in his tone.

My gaze landed on Micah, who paid us no attention, as he was too busy talking to a group of men at the bar. He was Sebastian’s doppelganger, but they were nothing alike. For the past couple months, he’d been my sparring partner. The draw to him wasn’t there though. “Micah and I train together, Sebastian. That’s it.”

He nodded toward the door. “That’s what I want to talk to you about. Can we go outside?” His gaze bore into mine and I gave in, giving him a nod.

“Fine, let’s go.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” a voice teasingly called out. With a wide grin, Colin sauntered up and stood beside Sebastian, who fumed with impatience. I couldn’t help but enjoy the tension. I was seeing a side of Sebastian I’d never seen before. “The only place she’s going is back on the dance floor with me,” Colin said, holding out his hand.

Sebastian glared at him and grabbed my arm. “Maybe another time.”

Colin shook his head. “Now will do. You’re being summoned,” he said, pointing across the room at Bailey and his brother, Micah. “Apparently, they have something important to discuss with you.”

Squeezing my hand, Sebastian caught Bailey and Micah’s gaze from across the room. He swore under his breath, before he focused on me. “We’ll continue this later.” Glaring at Colin one more time, he took off across the room.

Colin watched him leave in a huff, then turned to me, smiling devilishly. “Nothing ever changes, does it? For as long as I’ve known him, he’s always been territorial. Now, how about that dance?” He held out his hand and I reluctantly took it.

I could feel the heat of Sebastian’s gaze on us as Colin twirled me around the dance floor and pulled me into his arms. He knew what he was doing. “Do you like pissing people off?” I asked.

“Only when they stand in the way of something I want. You don’t have feelings for him do you?” I shook my head, hoping like hell he couldn’t tell it was a lie. Smiling, he held me closer. “Good. He’s a little old for you.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “How old do you think I am?”

He studied me, narrowing his gaze in concentration as he looked into my eyes. “Well, I’ll be damned. You’re just as old as him, aren’t you?”

“Maybe not over a hundred, but I’m up there. It’s nice being able to look like I’m in my twenties. I’m not going to complain.”

His smile grew wider. “What can I say? I love older women.”

Sebastian’s eyes flashed at hearing this, but I paid him no mind. “What are you doing tomorrow night?” I asked.

“Hopefully, spending time with you,” he replied smoothly. “Do you have something in mind?”

I did, but it was going to piss a certain wolf off. Maybe then he’d know what it felt like to be in my position.