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18. Spike/ Gray

18

SPIKE/ GRAY

SPIKE

My heart lurched in my chest, the steady rhythm of my patrol shattered by a sudden surge of panic that wasn't my own. It was Gray’s. He was in danger.

Without hesitation, I sprinted in the direction of his fear, every instinct screaming at me to reach him. As I ran, anger bubbled up inside me, fierce and unrelenting.

Jack and his wolves wouldn’t dare enter Moon Burrow to snatch Gray, would they?

Jack has a dragon on his side, my grizzly reminded me. I faltered in my steps, panting.

Gray's fear started to fade, not because he was out of danger, but because he was slipping away from me.

The connection we shared, that bond between us, it was weakening, stretching thin like a thread about to snap.

And with every passing moment, Gray was getting further and further away from me, and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it.

A wave of helplessness washed over me, drowning me in a sea of frustration and fear.

It felt like I was stuck in quicksand, unable to move, unable to do anything to help Gray.

Then, out of nowhere, a panicked raven’s shriek pierced the silence of the woods, snapping me out of my reverie.

I looked around and saw Julian hurtling towards me, his wings flapping frantically.

He landed with a thud, his breathing ragged as he quickly shifted back to his human form.

“Spike,” he gasped, his voice urgent, “a dragon came out of nowhere, right out of the clouds and snatched Gray while he was in his car.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me reeling. My mind raced, trying to process the enormity of what Julian had just said.

Gray, taken, ripped away from me in an instant.

The helplessness I had felt before surged back with a vengeance, threatening to overwhelm me. But I couldn't afford to fall apart now. Not when Gray needed me the most.

“Spike, what are we going to do?" Julian's voice trembled with worry, his eyes pleading for answers.

I could see the anguish etched on his face, the weight of guilt bearing down on him.

It would have been easy to succumb to anger, to blame Julian for not preventing the dragon shifter from snatching Gray.

After all, I had entrusted him with Gray's safety, and he had failed. But as I looked into his eyes, I saw the same fear and desperation mirrored in them. He was suffering too.

But this wasn't solely his fault. I had underestimated Jack's ruthlessness, his willingness to go to any lengths to get what he wanted.

Taking a deep breath, I fought to calm the storm raging inside me. Running around aimlessly wouldn't solve anything.

"I need to inform Venom and the others," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. "We need to regroup and come up with a strategy."

Julian's shoulders sagged with relief at my words, but I could still see the lingering doubt in his eyes.

"It's not your fault, Julian," I reassured him, though the words felt hollow even to my own ears.

Deep down, I couldn't shake the crushing weight of guilt gnawing at my insides.

I should have been there, watching over Gray, protecting him from harm. But now, all I could do was focus on finding him and bringing him back home where he belonged.

Half an hour later, we gathered in the MC clubhouse. I had a feeling the meeting would be brief.

What had started as a simple act of protecting Gray from Jack's advances had now snowballed into something far more complex.

"It's safe to assume that Jack has disposed of Olaf and taken control of the Blue Vale Valley wolf pack," Venom said, his tone grave.

Nitro's brows furrowed with concern. "Does that mean the wolves are no longer on our side?" he asked.

Venom nodded solemnly, his expression unreadable. The news clearly affected him more than he let on; Olaf had been more than just an ally, he had been a friend.

"So, what's the plan?" I interjected. "Because with or without backup, I will rescue my mate, no matter what."

Nitro shot me a wary glance, but I could see the unwavering loyalty in his eyes. Whatever the outcome of this meeting, I knew he'd stand by my side through it all.

"Spike, you know I'll stand by your side, no matter what," Nitro began. “But how are we going to deal with the dragon?”

His words struck a chord within me, momentarily halting my single-minded determination to rescue Gray at any cost.

I opened my mouth to dismiss his worries, to declare that nothing mattered more to me than getting Gray back safely.

But then, a wave of guilt washed over me as I considered Nitro's own circumstances.

What about Tommy, his mate? While I was fixated on retrieving Gray, I hadn't even stopped to think about Nitro's obligations and responsibilities to his own partner.

What kind of friend was I, to expect Nitro to join me on what could very well be a suicide mission, without considering the impact on his own life?

The realization hit me hard, stirring a sense of self-reproach within me. If our positions were reversed, Nitro wouldn't even think to include me in such a mission.

My thoughts wandered, drifting to memories of Austin, who I had lost thanks to my own recklessness.

The pain of that loss resurfaced, a bitter reminder of the consequences of my impulsive actions.

Was I doomed to repeat the same mistakes, endangering those I cared about in pursuit of my own objectives?

"Spike, you'll lead a small team into Blue Vale Valley," Venom declared, his voice steady despite the tension in the room.

Venom's unexpected decision to assign me a leadership role caught me off guard.

"Nitro, did losing Olaf affect your sensibility?" Nitro's boldness surprised me, but I held back a smile.

He wasn't afraid to question authority, even in dire circumstances. Venom's response was sharp, a warning growl underlining his words.

But there was something in Venom's eyes that told me Nitro was mistaken. Venom hadn't lost his grip on reality; he was still the strategic leader we needed.

"I don't intend to send any of my bears to meaningless deaths," Venom retorted, his tone firm.

Venom continued, “Colin is on his way to Sky Stead this instant. He and his uncle will also be heading to Blue Vale Valley. They'll handle the dragon. Spike, you focus on Jack."

A surge of anticipation coursed through me, and I cracked my knuckles in readiness.

"Now we're talking," I responded eagerly.

While I had initially hesitated about involving Colin in our plans, because this wasn’t his fight, the inclusion of Colin's powerful uncle changed the game.

With the two of them on our side, Jack’s trump card could be neutralized. Did we have an unfair advantage? Maybe, but Jack never played fair even in the beginning.

However, I wasn't naive. Jack was a formidable adversary, cunning and resourceful. Underestimating him would be a grave mistake.

GRAY

The sound of jingling keys and approaching footsteps jolted me awake. After my conversation with Draven, I hadn't expected to sleep through the night.

However, exhaustion had hit me like a ton of bricks, and somehow, I'd managed to doze off.

Seeing Clive's sneering face as he entered the cell, my wolf immediately snapped to attention.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, but Clive's haughty expression told me my time was up.

"Time for you to meet your maker, Gray," he declared, his voice dripping with malice.

With a swift motion, he grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet. I tried to resist, but his grip felt like steel, unyielding and strong.

He chuckled softly at my feeble attempt to break free, relishing in my helplessness.

"A pity Jack intends to get rid of you right away," Clive continued, his tone mocking. "You would've been fun to break and play with."

His words sent a chill down my spine, and a sour bile rose in the back of my throat.

Spike had suspected that I wasn't the first stray shifter Jack had offered refuge.

"How many omegas have you and Jack preyed on?" I couldn't help but ask, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger.

Clive chuckled darkly, confirming my worst suspicions.

"Too many to count," he replied nonchalantly. "Olaf knew, or at least suspected, but the old wolf couldn't really do a damn thing about it."

“Enough talking. It's time for your execution," Clive declared, his grip on my arm tightening as he dragged me out of the cell.

Determined to maintain some semblance of dignity, I gave him a forceful shove, causing him to release me.

"I can walk on my own, thank you," I said, trying to inject a note of defiance into my voice. But deep down, I was terrified.

Terrified of dying and leaving Spike and the new friends I'd made behind.

Since Spike and I were bonded as mates, it would only be a matter of time before he followed me to the grave.

As Clive and I stepped out of the dungeon, the familiar rumble of motorcycle engines reached my ears.

I froze in my steps, a mix of dread and hope swirling inside me. Spike had come for me, just as I'd hoped.

However, the thought of him walking into this danger gnawed at my heart.

Perhaps, I thought miserably, Spike would have been much better off never meeting me.

Then, I grew angry with myself for entertaining such a depressing thought. Despite the imminent danger, the short time we'd been together had been the happiest of my life.

I wouldn't trade those wonderful memories we created for anything in the world.

Then I thought of the late-night conversations Spike and I had about our future, and a wave of sadness washed over me.

Spike and I often discussed our dreams of getting a larger apartment in town, perhaps even a small house with a backyard big enough for us... and our future kids.

We would spend hours imagining what our life together would be like, painting vivid pictures of lazy Sunday mornings, family dinners, and bedtime stories.

But now, faced with the grim reality of my impending demise, it seemed like those dreams would forever remain out of reach.

The thought of never seeing that future we had envisioned become a reality was like a dagger to my heart, filling me with an overwhelming sense of loss and despair.

Clive noticed my reaction, his triumphant grin widening.

"That's right," he taunted, relishing in my distress. "Your biker bear is a fool. Draven will burn him and his buddies to a crisp... but he'll start with you first."

The implication of Clive's words hit me like a punch to the gut.

Jack would order Draven to kill me first, just to see the anguish on Spike's face.

He truly was evil incarnate.

"Let's get this show on the road," Clive said with a sneer, leading me to the back of the pack house.

We entered a large empty field, devoid of trees and plant life. It dawned on me that this must be the pack's challenge circle—every shifter group had one.

I couldn't help but notice the scorch marks left on the dead grass, evidence of past executions.

How many others had met their end in this grim arena under Jack's command?

As we approached the center, I saw Jack standing there, a cruel smirk playing on his lips.

His gaze locked onto me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Beside him stood Draven, looking worn and weary, his haunted eyes betraying the torment he must have endured under Jack’s control.

It was clear that Jack had summoned the entire pack to witness my execution.

"Gray, so glad you could join us. The show's about to begin," Jack taunted, his voice dripping with malice.

He gestured towards Clive, who roughly pulled me along to join their group. The fear and dread building inside me reached a fever pitch as I realized the gravity of the situation.

This was it—there was no turning back now.

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