13. Gray

13

GRAY

As I stood behind the grill, flipping burgers and trying to focus on my work, my mind kept wandering to the evening ahead.

Tonight was the night of my date with Spike, and I couldn't shake off the nervous jitters that had been building up inside me all day.

Lost in my thoughts, I wasn't paying enough attention to what I was doing.

Suddenly, I felt a searing pain shoot through my left hand, and I yelped in surprise.

I had accidentally touched the hot grill, burning my hand in the process.

My manager rushed over, concern etched on his face as he inspected my injury.

"Gray, you need to go see a doctor," he said firmly. "You can't keep working like this."

I nodded, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. How could I be so clumsy on the day of my date?

I temporarily bandaged my hand and left the diner. As I walked towards the town's shifter clinic, my hand throbbing with pain, a strange idea came over me.

Remembering Julian came me his number, I randomly called him.

I soon felt downright foolish. Why had I decided to call Julian instead of just seeing a doctor in town like a normal person?

With each ring of the phone, my uncertainty grew. What if I was imposing by assuming that Julian could help me?

After all, I barely knew him, and I definitely didn't know Micah or the other raven shifters well enough to ask for a favor.

But then, Julian answered, and his voice was warm and welcoming.

"Hey, Gray. I'm glad you called," he said.

I hesitated, unsure of how to explain myself. "Um, I...uh," I stuttered, feeling embarrassed by my sudden vulnerability.

"Did something happen?" Julian's tone shifted to one of concern, and I felt guilty for burdening him with my problems.

Quickly, I explained what had happened to my hand, but before I could dismiss the whole thing, Julian interrupted me.

"Hey, don't you dare put the phone down," he said firmly. "I'm on my lunch break, but I work in town as well. I can pick you up and bring you to Micah's clinic."

I opened my mouth to refuse, but Julian was already asking for my location.

Stammering out a response, I realized that maybe, just maybe, it was okay to lean on someone else other than Spike for help, even if it was just this once.

As I stood on the sidewalk, a white Toyota pulled up beside me, and my heart skipped a beat until I saw Julian behind the wheel.

He greeted me with a warm smile as he lowered the window.

"Hop on in, Gray," he said.

I slid into the passenger seat, feeling grateful for Julian's offer of help. He winced when he caught sight of my hastily bandaged hand.

"What happened?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"It's lame," I replied, feeling a bit embarrassed about the whole situation. But Julian wouldn't let it go that easily.

"It's not," he insisted gently. "Is Spike...pressuring you or anything? Is that why you were nervous about your date?"

I shook my head quickly.

"No, nothing like that," I reassured him. "Spike's been amazing. He fought off those mercenaries that wanted me, he just keeps saving me."

Julian raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. I decided to open up a little more.

"This is my first serious relationship," I admitted. "The last thing I want to do is screw things up."

Julian nodded in understanding.

"It's natural to feel that way," he said. "But from what I've seen, Spike cares about you a lot. Just be yourself, and everything will work out."

His words offered me some comfort. Maybe having a friend to talk to wasn't such a bad thing after all.

As Julian maneuvered onto a smaller road, the scenery around us shifted dramatically.

Towering trees encroached on either side, creating a tunnel of greenery.

I couldn't help but be taken aback by the sudden change in atmosphere.

I voiced my surprise to Julian, curious why he had chosen this route instead of the more direct path through the MC compound that Spike often took.

"There's a few ways to enter the Moon Burrow Woods," Julian explained simply, his eyes focused on the road ahead.

Feeling a knot of apprehension forming in my stomach, I couldn't help but voice my concerns.

"Julian, will Micah be fine with um treating me?” I asked tentatively as we finally approached the Ravens' compound.

Julian brought the car to a stop and turned to look at me, confusion evident in his expression.

"Why wouldn't he?" Julian questioned, furrowing his brows.

Without waiting for an answer, he stepped out of the car, leaving me to follow in his wake.

The clinic was eerily quiet as Julian and I stepped inside, adding to the tension I felt creeping up within me.

Micah glanced up from his laptop at his desk and strode over, his expression a mix of concern and impatience.

He wasted no time in assessing the situation.

Taking one look at my injured arm, Micah let out a sigh.

"Over here," he said briskly, nodding towards the nearest bed. "Sit."

Micah had a straightforward manner about him that I found reassuring.

Before I could utter an explanation, he cut in, "How did this happen?"

His hands moved deftly as he began to unwrap the bandages, revealing the burn beneath.

Julian stepped in to explain, but Micah's attention remained fixed on the task at hand.

"Hold your hand steady," he instructed, and I complied, feeling a pang of guilt for intruding on his time.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you," I began, my voice trailing off as I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. "I knew I could've seen the doctor at the shifter clinic in town..."

Micah interrupted my rambling with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Micah placed his hands over my burn and I gasped in surprise as the pain began to ebb and the wound started to close.

"What nonsense is he sprouting?" he asked Julian, clearly unimpressed. Julian shook

his head.

I hesitated before replying, "I'm not sure. It's just... I know healers are precious in any group, and I'm not a member..."

"You're Spike's mate, aren't you?" Micah interjected, cutting through the tension with a blunt question.

"Well, um, we haven't..." I stuttered, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

"It's only a matter of time," Micah said confidently, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Yeah, Gray. Everyone knows you two are like a match made in heaven," Julian chimed in with a supportive smile.

Their words filled me with a warmth I hadn't expected, rendering me momentarily speechless.

"Thank you," I managed to whisper.

As I chatted with Julian, the familiar rumble of a motorcycle engine outside caught my attention.

Moments later, Spike burst into the clinic, looking panicked. Guilt washed over me as I realized I had forgotten to text him about my hand. Wait, how did he know I hurt myself?

Spike spotted me and hurried over. Julian quietly excused himself, leaving us alone.

"There you are," Spike said, enveloping me in a sudden hug. “I stopped by the diner, but your manager said he sent you home after what happened to your hand."

Well, that answered my earlier question.

"Yeah, it's nothing serious," I replied, feeling a rush of warmth at Spike's words. "Just a little burn. I was planning to text you.”

Spike shook his head, his eyes softening. "Don't worry about that now. Are you okay?"

I nodded, reassured by Spike's presence. "Yeah, I'm fine. Micah took care of it.” I showed him my bandaged hand.

“What happened?” Spike asked.

“I had been nervous about our upcoming date and wasn’t focused on what I was doing,” I admitted.

Spike's brows furrowed in concern. “Maybe we should postpone the date?” He asked.

But I shook my head adamantly. “I’m fine and don’t want to cancel our plans,” I said. “I was just clumsy. That’s all.”

"If you're sure..." Spike began, his voice trailing off uncertainly.

Without hesitation, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his, a silent reassurance that I was indeed fine and that our date was still on.

Spike flashed me his usual grin that never failed to make my heart race.

"I hope you like what I've got planned for today," he said with a hint of excitement in his voice.

I couldn't help but return his smile, feeling a surge of anticipation.

"I'm sure I will," I replied.

Before we left the clinic, Micah gave me a stern reminder to be more careful. I thanked him again and promised I would.

Spike's Harley awaited us outside, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as we climbed on, ready for our date.

The engine roared to life as Spike revved it up, and we set off towards town.

The wind whipped around us, tousling my hair as we rode, but I didn't mind. With my arms wrapped around Spike's waist, I felt safe and exhilarated all at once.

We arrived at a quaint little restaurant tucked away in a corner of town, where soft lights illuminated the outdoor seating area.

Spike led me to a cozy table adorned with flickering candles and a bouquet of flowers, creating a romantic ambiance that took my breath away.

As we sat down, Spike flashed me a mischievous grin before reaching across the table to take my hand in his.

"I wanted our dinner to be special," he murmured, his gaze warm and affectionate.

Throughout the meal, we didn’t touch any heavy topics. We kept the conversation light, while savouring the delicious food and enjoying each other's company.

As the evening wore on, and the sky turned dark, I found myself thinking how silly I was earlier, about being nervous about our date.

We finished our dessert, feeling content and utterly happy. Spike paid for our dinner. As we stepped out of the restaurant, I couldn't help but rest my head against his shoulder.

"It's still early," I remarked, glancing at the fading light of the evening sky.

Spike turned to me after I raised my head. "That's right, Gray. The night's not over yet. It's time for part two of our date,” Spike said.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Part two? What do you have in mind?" I asked.

Spike chuckled, his hand reaching for mine as we walked towards his parked Harley. "You'll just have to wait and see," he teased.

The anticipation grew, and I found myself caught up in the thrill of the unknown. Whatever Spike had planned, I knew it would be amazing.

As Spike revved up his motorcycle, the familiar rumble of the engine filled the air, sending a thrill down my spine.

I wrapped my arms snugly around his waist, holding on tight as we left the bustling town behind and ventured into the quiet serenity of the Moon Burrow Woods.

The cool night air rushed against my face, refreshing and invigorating, as we rode deeper into the woods.

I leaned into Spike's back, feeling the comforting warmth of his body against mine.

After a while, Spike slowed the bike to a stop at the foot of a small hill, and I lifted my head to take in our surroundings.

The moon cast its soft glow over the forest, illuminating the path ahead.

"You're taking me on a night hike?" I asked, smiling. "Good thing we're both shifters and can see in the dark."

Spike only reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers together. "Something like that," he replied cryptically.

With Spike leading the way, we began to ascend the hill. I stole glances at him as we walked. This biker bear was a keeper, I thought.

As we reached the top of the hill, Spike finally stopped and turned to face me. "Close your eyes," he said softly, his voice a gentle whisper in the night.

I did as he asked, letting go of his hand and closing my eyes, my heart fluttering.

With my eyes closed, I listened to the rustle of movement as Spike arranged things around us.

"Spike?" I called out, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now," Spike's voice came from somewhere nearby.

I obeyed, blinking my eyes open slowly. And what I saw before me took my breath away.

Blankets and pillows were spread out on the ground, creating a cozy little nest beneath the starlit sky. A telescope stood proudly nearby, its lens gleaming in the moonlight.

I gasped in astonishment, hardly daring to believe my eyes. Spike had remembered.

He had remembered that one off-hand comment I had made about stargazing with my father when I was a child, and he had turned it into something magical.

"Spike, this is..." I trailed off, at a loss for words.

"I remember you mentioning it once," Spike said. "I wanted to make tonight really special for you."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I looked at him, overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness.

As the night sky stretched out above us, I pointed out the constellations my dad had taught me when I was young.

Spike listened intently, his arms wrapped around me, his warmth seeping into my skin.

We took turns peering through the telescope, marveling at the intricate details of the stars and planets.

Spike stood close behind me, his chin resting on my shoulder as I gazed out at the vast expanse of the universe.

Eventually, we settled down on the blankets and pillows, the soft fabric cushioning our bodies against the hard ground.

Spike produced a bottle of wine from a nearby cooler, along with two glasses, and poured us each a generous amount.

As we sipped the wine and lost ourselves in conversation, the night seemed to stretch on endlessly around us. The stars twinkled overhead, casting a gentle glow over our secluded spot in the woods.

Wrapped in Spike's embrace, surrounded by the beauty of the night sky, I felt a sense of peace wash over me.

As the night wore on, I felt a sense of contentment settle over me. The wine had dulled my nerves, and I found myself leaning closer to Spike, drawn to him in a way I couldn't fully explain.

Setting my glass down, I turned to him, meeting his gaze with a soft smile.

Without hesitation, I leaned in and pressed my lips to his, feeling the warmth and sweetness of our kiss envelop us both.

Spike closed his hand on my nape, deepening the kiss. I sucked down on his tongue, aware my jeans felt incredibly tight.

Pulling back slightly, I looked into Spike's eyes, feeling a rush of emotions welling up inside me.

"Thank you for tonight," I murmured. "No one has ever done anything like this for me before."

In that moment, as I looked into Spike's eyes, I realized something profound. No one else could ever compare to him.

He was my mate, the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And right here, right now, under the stars, I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be.