With a smirk on his face, Ryker pushed him away. “Cocksucker. I dance better than you.”

“I never claimed I was good. Now let’s go. I think the ladies want to steal your woman away.” He nodded toward something behind me and when I turned, Tyla and Kami were there.

Tyla grabbed my hand. “He’s right.”

Ryker kissed my cheek and nipped my ear before disappearing with Cedric to the bar. All the alphas were there, lifting their shot glasses. “Don’t get into too much trouble over there,” I sent through our bond.

Lifting his glass, he peered back at me and winked. “Same goes to you, angel.”

“So what are we going to do if we’re not getting drunk with the guys?” I asked the girls.

They giggled and pulled me over to a corner where at least thirty unmated female wolves waited for me, including Seraphina. “They all wanted to ask you questions,” Tyla informed me.

I sat down and smiled at all the women. Some were old, but a lot of them were around my age. “All right, let’s hear it.”

A girl in her mid-twenties from one of the red wolf packs spoke up. Her name was Emma Redding, cousin to the alpha of her pack. She had long, strawberry-blonde hair and green eyes. “How did you know Ryker was your mate?”

The question made me smile. “I didn’t at first, but then again, I’m stubborn. You also need to take into account that the people who raised me never told me about true mates. Were your parents true mates?”

She nodded, her gaze sad. “My father was killed by a rogue a couple years back while hunting. My mother doesn’t like to talk about him because it pains her. We only have one mated couple in my pack and they’re much older. It’s hard to get a fresh take on things.”

“I understand. Is that how it is with the rest of you? I know Tyla’s parents are true mated.” I glanced around and they all nodded. “Tell me about your parents, Tyla. What have they said about it?”

All eyes turned her way. “Not much other than it’s just a feeling they got. They said I would know when it happened.”

“And you will,” I began, catching their attention, “it’s just again . . . I was stubborn. I had to have proof and when I got it, it was still hard to grasp. None of it made sense to me.”

“That’s because she had her memories taken away by the Yukon pack witch,” Kami interrupted.

“She’s right, I did. I met Ryker a long time ago when I was just a girl. We were friends and it was because of that close friendship I think our bond was formed. I’d give anything to remember that time with him. Maybe one day, I will. However, I don’t think the Great Luna just randomly chooses two wolves to be mates. I think it happens over time when a connection is formed.”

“So we don’t need to sit on our asses and wait for them to come to us?” Tyla asked.

Everyone laughed and I shook my head. “No, I think you need to get yourselves out there, talk to them. Ryker and I were not born a part of the same pack. Just because your mate isn’t with your own pack, doesn’t mean he’s not out there. Take a look around,” I said, waving my hand about. “There are wolves here from all over the country. If you have brothers, cousins, friends, introduce them to some of the women here in this group. I fully believe the magic will come back to our people. You just need to believe in it—have faith.”

I could see the determination in their eyes and it brought me joy. The magic of the moon would come back to them; I had no doubt.

“And I think I just found the wolf I’ll introduce myself to. He just walked through the door,” one of the girls said happily.

I didn’t even have to look to know it was Sebastian. He winked at the group of females and marched straight to the bar. The little stinker knew exactly what he was doing. The women all separated and flocked around him and the other men at the bar. There was a strong chance their mates were in that very room.

“Sebastian sure can be a conceited jackass sometimes,” Tyla grumbled.

I chuckled. “That he can. He just needs a woman to tame him.”

“I’m sure he has a fair share to choose from. Look at them all lining up to talk to him.”

He sat at the bar with three females, hanging on his every word. Tyla watched on, her jaw tense and eyes blazing. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous,” I told her.

She rolled her eyes and turned her back on him. “Don’t think so, B. He has a smokin’ hot body, but I don’t want a wolf who’s fucked more women than I can count. I bet he goes home with one of them tonight.”

“I doubt that. He may be a ladies man but he’s not a douche, well, at least not around me. Have you ever tried to talk to him? Like really talk to him?” I inquired.

She huffed. “No. I doubt he’d want anything to do with me.”

Grabbing her arm, I squeezed, hissing my words so only she could hear. “Are you even listening to yourself? You are an amazing woman who deserves to find her mate. You said it yourself, you can’t wait on them to come to you. Grab the reins and take control.”

“Take control of what?” Ryker asked, coming up behind me with his arms around my waist.

Tyla backed away. “And that’s my cue to go. Have fun tonight, guys. You both deserve it.” She sauntered off quickly and I wasn’t surprised to see she didn’t head in Sebastian’s direction.

Ryker turned me around to face him. “What’s up with her?”

“Just girl stuff.”

“Then I don’t want to know.” The music started playing over the speakers and he smiled. “Wanna dance?” Everyone moved away from the floor, giving us our space.

“How can I say no when everyone’s watching?” I laughed.

“Exactly.” Taking my hand, he led me out onto the floor, wrapping his strong arms around my waist. In that moment, nothing else existed but me and him, and the sound of a country love song. We moved in perfect rhythm with each other, almost like clockwork.

“I didn’t think you could dance,” I teased.

He winked. “There’s not much to it. Besides, we move pretty well together in bed. The dance floor shouldn’t be much different.”

My cheeks started to burn. “Thank you for this. I think this will be the beginning to something new. Look at everyone. There’s bound to be someone coming out of this with a potential true mate.” Before the party really got started, there was still some separation amongst the packs, especially between male and female. Territory always played a factor when it came to that. The beta males never approached a female from another pack. I’d wanted those lines to be crossed and now they had.

Ryker glanced around the room, satisfied with the outcome. “I think this is what everyone needed.” We danced to the rest of the song and then the next one started; it was upbeat and fast.

Grabbing my waist, he held me against him while I moved my hips to the beat. Everything was perfect until I felt a blast of magic sweep through the room. It was sudden and meant to be quick, like Sebastian had done at the airport. Only, it wasn’t him. But it was definitely a royal.

Ryker saw the expression on my face. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone’s here.”

Sebastian left the women at the bar and hurried over. “Did you feel it?” he asked, his gaze concerned.

I grabbed Ryker’s hand. “Another royal wants us to know they’re outside. Who could it be?”

Sebastian glanced around the room. “I don’t know, but I say we go find out.”

“Let’s go out the back. That way no one will see us leave,” Ryker suggested.

We smiled at everyone in passing and disappeared to the back hall. My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I got closer to the door. Sebastian and Ryker went out the door first, both looking in the opposite directions. “No one’s here,” Ryker grumbled.

I stepped outside. “I know I felt something.”

Sebastian marched down the sidewalk. “So did I. Someone’s here.”

Across the street, standing in a dark corner was a man with whitish blond hair—an Arctic wolf. I had enough time to see his eyes flash before he disappeared into an alley. “Over there,” I said, pointing toward a taller building.