16. Gray

16

GRAY

I read Micah's urgent text, my heart leaped into my throat. Spike and Nitro were at the clinic with second-degree burns.

Without a second thought, I told my manager I had an emergency, not bothering to explain further.

He waved me off, accustomed to my sudden departures by now. I raced to my truck, feeling anxious.

The fear coursing through our mating bond earlier had nearly sent me into full panic mode. I struggled to calm myself as I sped towards the clinic.

Something had gone horribly wrong in Blue Vale Valley, but what? My mind had raced with terrifying possibilities.

Spike and Nitro had been in a dangerous situation, and I felt completely powerless.

My hands started shaking, and I realized I couldn't drive like this; I would only get into an accident.

Spike and Nitro were alive; Micah confirmed that. I took deep, steadying breaths until my fingers were steady on the steering wheel.

Then, I drove to Micah's clinic in a hurry. I didn't realize there was a crowd gathered there.

Venom was there, speaking with a couple Spike had introduced to me once: Bash and Colin.

Colin was a rare dragon shifter... And Micah mentioned Spike and Nitro had suffered burns.

Was that somehow related? My questions could wait, I decided. I wanted to see Spike for myself first.

"Where's my mate?" I demanded, pitching my voice louder so I could be heard.

"Gray, he's over here," Micah answered from somewhere in the clinic.

I pushed my way past Venom, Colin, and Bash, relieved to see Spike in bed, arguing with Nitro over a cup of pudding.

"That was supposed to be mine," Spike said.

"I thought you didn't want it," Nitro replied.

If the two of them were capable of bantering like they usually did, then they would be just fine, I thought, relaxing a little.

Spike broke into a huge grin when he spotted me.

I was about to run up to him and pull him into a hug, then I realized his chest and left arm were covered in bandages.

I settled for sitting on the edge of his bed instead.

"Hey," I greeted, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rush of emotions flooding through me. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now that you're here," Spike replied, his voice still laced with pain but also relief.

I reached out to gently touch his uninjured hand, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine.

"I was so worried," I admitted, unable to hide the concern in my voice.

Spike squeezed my hand reassuringly.

"I'm okay, Gray. It's gonna take more than a little fire to keep me down," he said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

I managed a small chuckle, grateful for his attempt at humor.

"Stubborn as always," I teased back, feeling genuinely relieved now that I knew he was safe.

Nitro, who had been observing our interaction silently, finally spoke up.

"You guys done with the mushy stuff? I'm starving," he joked. “Hand over that plate, Gray.”

I handed him a plate containing a ham and cheese sandwich. “I’m glad you’re alright too, Nitro,” I said.

I noticed that his mate, Tommy, was asleep on the armchair next to his bed and decided to lower my voice.

“What happened?” I whispered to Spike, and he told me everything that went down in Blue Vale Valley.

At first, I was too shocked to say anything after Spike finished speaking. Then it struck me.

I had really been this close to losing Spike. Tears spilled down my cheeks, and I couldn't seem to stop them.

"Hey, we're okay," Spike reminded me, reaching out with his good hand to wipe them away.

I wiped the rest of my tears away, feeling a bit embarrassed for letting my emotions get the best of me.

"Sorry for getting so emotional," I muttered, feeling a bit foolish.

Spike shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"I like that you care, Gray," he said.

"Of course, silly," I replied, managing a weak smile. But my heart was still racing with worry.

Just then, I noticed Venom approaching us. Bash and Colin had just exited the clinic.

Anger surged within me. I couldn't help it—I jumped up from Spike's bed and turned to face Venom.

"Why would you send Spike and Nitro into such a dangerous situation?" I demanded.

Spike got out of bed, limped towards me and put a comforting hand on my shoulder as I fumed with frustration.

"Hey, Gray, calm down," he said gently. "Nitro and I volunteered for this."

His words brought a sense of reassurance, but my worry didn't dissipate entirely.

"But it was so dangerous," I protested.

"I know, I know," Spike replied, his voice soft. "But in the end, it was worth it. We not only found out what was going on in Olaf's pack, but we also uncovered Jack's secret weapon."

I turned to Spike, still awestruck by the fact that they managed to escape a dragon.

"I still can't believe we made it out alive," I admitted, shaking my head in disbelief.

Spike nodded, his expression serious.

"We were lucky Venom sent Colin there," Spike said. “Actually, we were doubly lucky that dragon shifter was behaving oddly. Colin said he would’ve had trouble dealing with him.”

I recalled Spike's description of the strange symbol on the dragon's chest.

"It's because that dragon shifter was being controlled," Venom said.

"By who? Jack?" Spike questioned, his brows furrowing.

"No, not by Jack at least,” Venom replied, shaking his head. "That rune you described to me sounds like black magic."

I felt a chill run down my spine at Venom's words.

Even though I wasn't particularly knowledgeable about the supernatural, I had heard enough stories on the road to know that black witches were bad news and were to be avoided at all costs.

"I had Whizz do more digging after Nitro and you left for Blue Vale Valley," Venom continued, his voice grave. "He hacked into Jack's personal email and found out Jack had employed the services of the Paynes, an old witch family.”

Spike's frown deepened. "I've never heard of this witch coven before," he remarked, his expression troubled.

"You wouldn't. They were hunted close to extinction a century ago because they specialized in mind control," Venom explained grimly. "They'd been torturing shifters and using them as familiars."

The fear that gripped me tightened its hold at Venom's words. Jack was manipulative and cunning, but these Payne witches sounded like pure evil incarnate.

The sudden influx of information overwhelmed me, causing dizziness and a feeling of the room spinning. Thankfully, Spike caught me and held me steady.

"It'll be okay, Gray," Spike said.

"I didn't wish for any of this to happen," I whispered, my voice shaky with emotion. "First it was just Jack, and now these black witches are involved?"

"We only have to worry about Jack's pack. Those witches only provided Jack a service, but they weren't his allies. Right, Venom?" Spike asked.

Venom nodded. "That's correct. The Payne family operates independently. Their relationship with Jack was probably transactional. For now, focus on taking getting better and care of Gray."

Venom had directed that last sentence to Spike.

Spike squeezed my hand reassuringly, and I managed a small nod.

It only occurred to me that Spike had gotten out of bed just to comfort me. "Back to bed," I ordered him, concern evident in my voice.

"Aw, but I rather prefer this," Spike protested, hugging me tightly.

His wince didn't escape my notice, and I knew his wounds must be acting up.

"Come on," I said gently, guiding him back to bed. "You need to rest."

"I'm not going anywhere," Spike assured me with a smile, finally conceding and settling back onto the mattress.

Venom left the clinic, probably to attend to some other MC business.

I stayed with Spike until he fell asleep, not wanting to leave his side but feeling restless nonetheless.

Micah noticed my unease and suggested we go upstairs to make dinner together. I agreed, grateful for the distraction.

As we climbed the stairs, Micah showed me around his apartment. It had a comfortable, lived-in feel, with touches of both his neat personality and his mate's more relaxed style.

In the kitchen, Micah took the lead, giving me tasks to help with. I was glad for something to occupy my mind, even if it was just chopping vegetables or stirring a pot.

Anything to keep my thoughts from dwelling on the dangers Spike had faced earlier.

"I know you're worried," Micah began, "but they'll figure something out. They always do."

His words were meant to comfort me, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease gnawing at my insides.

Sitting here, unable to do anything else while Spike was downstairs resting, was torture.

"I sometimes wonder if it would have been better if I hadn't met Spike in that bar," I admitted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Micah's expression softened, his eyes filled with empathy. "Do you really mean that?" he asked, searching my face for an answer.

I hesitated, grappling with my conflicting emotions. Finally, I shook my head.

"No," I confessed, "but it's hard, Micah. Seeing Spike get hurt because of me, over and over again."

Micah reached out, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"He's not just doing this for you," he reminded me gently. "This goes beyond us. That pack, under Jack's leadership, poses a threat to everyone. Spike and Nitro are trying to prevent more harm."

His words struck a chord within me, reminding me of the larger stakes at play.

Despite my fears and doubts, I knew Micah was right. This wasn't just about me anymore; it had evolved to something much larger.

With dinner ready, Micah and I brought the plates downstairs.

Tommy and Nitro were both now awake and chatting together. Spike, too, had woken up from his short nap.

Spike's eyes met mine, I felt a rush of warmth flood through me. It was a relief to see him awake and I thought he looked a little bit better.

I handed him the bowl of stew, offering a small smile.

"I was worried where you'd gone," Spike said.

"Just upstairs. I helped Micah make dinner," I replied, shrugging slightly. "Needed something to do."

Spike's expression softened, and he reached out to gently squeeze my hand.

"Thanks for looking out for me," he murmured.

I squeezed his hand back, feeling a surge of affection for him.

“Y0u’re welcome,” I said.

"Once all this is over, I'd like to cook dinner for you. The works - appetizers, main course, and dessert," I said, looking at Spike.

“Looking forward to that,” Spike said. “Maybe I could be your little helper.”

"Or you guys could come over to our place for a potluck," Tommy suggested from Nitro's bedside.

"That would be fun," I replied, smiling at the thought.

"Let's make it a date then," Nitro said.

"After this business with Jack is over," Spike agreed.

"That dragon needs to go first," Nitro added. "Ideally, Venom would find a way to deal with him.”

"Jack's head is mine, though," Spike reminded his friend, and then he glanced at me. "Too much?"

"No, I don't mind your bloodthirstiness. Besides, the world would be a much better place without Jack in it," I said.

Up until that moment, I didn’t think I was capable of being vengeful, but Jack Roth had done too much damage to those I had grown to love and care about.

I wasn’t about to let him ruin my future with my mate and newfound family.

"See? Match made in heaven," Nitro remarked to Tommy, who only laughed.

As dinner came to a close, Spike asked for seconds, a good sign I thought. After we finished eating, I cuddled next to him in bed, seeking the warmth of his embrace.

Spike pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me, and I nestled into his chest.

I breathed in his familiar scent, felt the reassuring rhythm of his steady heartbeat against my ear.

In that moment, all the worries and fears melted away, replaced by a sense of peace and contentment.

With Spike beside me, holding me close, I felt safe and loved.

I closed my eyes, letting myself relax in his arms, knowing that as long as he was with me, everything would be okay.

Eventually, the steady rise and fall of Spike's chest lulled me to sleep.

In that blissful state between waking and dreaming, I found solace in the knowledge that when I woke up, he would still be there, by my side.