Swipe Right: Paranormal Mating Bundle

by DJ Bryce

Still, I’d rather be safe than sorry, so I looked around for a place to hide.

  I saw a door in the back right of the room and shuffled over to it. Luckily, it was also unlocked, and when I opened the door, I saw a long white robe inside. I pulled it out and put it on, sending up a mental thank you for allowing me to cover up, and apology for using something that belonged to the church and getting it all dirty.

  Once I was wrapped in the robe, I squeezed into the closet and closed myself in.

  I backed up until I hit a wall, then slid down until I was on my butt and off of my aching feet.

  I moved the bottom of the robe to cover my feet, and did my best to stop the bleeding, then I closed my eyes and worked on calming my breathing.

  In and out, everything’s going to be okay, find your Zen.

  Once I was sure my loud breathing wasn’t echoing through the halls of the church, I opened my eyes, allowing them adjust to the dark and waited.

  Then waited some more.

  And some more.

  After about an hour passed, I was feeling light headed, exhausted, and like I’d kill for a shower.

  I was still in a lot of pain, but was pretty sure the bleeding had finally stopped and my wounds were clotted. I was dozing in and out of sleep when the sound of the door slamming open against the wall had me jolting into an erect position.

  I moved my hand to cover my mouth, certain that the heavy breathing was back, and Arch would be sure to hear me and find me within seconds.

  “Come out, come out wherever you are,” Arch called out, and I swear to God, it was like one of my nightmares was literally playing out like a horror movie.

  I felt tears prick my eyes and I clenched my hand harder over my mouth to keep myself from inadvertently calling out or moaning in distress.

  I could hear his footsteps on the hard wood floors, and just knew the door of the closet was about to fly open, and he’d be standing there staring down at me.

  I was so ready for it, that when another loud banging happened, followed by a series of enraged, and differing roars, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

  “What the fuck?” I heard Arch yell, then there was a ton of commotion.

  Wondering what had made those sounds, and apparently startled Arch, I stood up shakily and put my hand on the door. I turned the handle slowly, quietly, and eased the door open just enough so I could peer through the crack.

  My breath caught at the site of Grayson, naked and pissed, standing off against Arch with a wolf, and two bears behind him.

  That’s right, I said two freaking bears!

  The large black bear let out a deafening roar and I almost peed my pants.

  Luckily, I was able to control myself, and was watching as another figure entered the church.

  This time, a human.

  It was Nathan.

  “Arch,” Nathan commanded in his Alpha voice. “Get on your knees and explain yourself.”

  Grayson

  Arch dropped to his knees, helpless to do anything when faced with is Alpha.

  Which was why he’d run in the first place.

  I’d put in the call to Bane, who’d contacted Nathan, as well as his friends from work, Kai and Mal.

  They’d all dropped everything and come to help me find Shonda. Luckily, by the time they’d arrived, I’d tracked Shonda and Arch to the little white church and had only had a mild panic attack.

  Once there, I’d shifted and waited. I knew they were all coming in animal form in order to get to us quicker, and I didn’t want to risk anything happening with my wolf, who was understandably agitated.

  The thundering in my head and chest had subsided and I was about to continue searching the area, when I’d seen a wolf approach the church. I’d watched as Arch shifted back and went into the church.

  I’d been about to follow, when I heard the pounding of approaching animals and had turned to see Bane and Nathan’s wolves approaching, along with two big-ass bears I’d never seen.

  Knowing the calvary had arrived, I took off at a sprint toward the church.

  Even running my hardest, I was no match for their speed, so by the time I got to the steps that led to the door of the church, they were there waiting for me.

  Nathan shifted back, but the rest stayed in their animal forms, which would probably make more of a statement anyway.

  “Gray,” Nathan said in greeting.

  I nodded at him, not quite able to form actual words yet, let alone sentences, and shoved open the door.

  At the sound of wood slamming against wood, Arch turned.

  He was standing in the center of the aisle, close to the front of the church, and his expression went from pissed to holy shit in the span of seconds.

  It would have been comical if I hadn’t been ready to tear his limbs off his body.

  Once of the bears let out a window rattling roar, and Nathan stepped forward.

  “Arch,” Nathan commanded. “Get on your knees and explain yourself.”

  I heard a creep and looked toward it to see Shonda peering out of a cracked door, and my body flooded with relief.

  She was safe.

  “Arch, you’ve been accused of assault, multiple counts of rape, and can now add trespassing and harassment to the list. How do you plead?”

  Arch looked panicked for a moment, then his face hardened.

  “Nathan, it’s not what you think… It was Grayson. All of it. Just like before.”

  My mind blanked, then rage filled me.

  “What the fuck?” I growled, finally finding my voice.

  “I’ve got it, Gray,” Nathan muttered, not taking his eyes off Arch.

  Nathan walked closer and let out a low menacing growl. A warning.

  “Did you rape those women?”

  Arch kept his mouth shut.

  “Did you attack Carson Miller? Beat George over the head with a bat?”

  Arch still didn’t respond.

  He couldn’t lie. Not to Nathan, but he was doing his best not to admit any guilt either.

  Nathan’s muscles bulged and twitched and I could tell he was fighting for control.

  “Did you kill Travis?”

  Wait, what?

  I took a step forward without thinking, then stopped when Nathan shot me a look.

  Arch’s eyes darted to me, then went back to Nathan.

  “Travis?” I asked, unable to keep quiet. “Were you there that night? Did something happen?”

  “Grayson,” Nathan said, his tone telling me to remain silent.

  Arch smirked but didn’t reply.

  God, was it possible? Had we kept a psychopath in our pack this whole time? My mind was reeling with questions and possibilities.

  Could I be innocent in all this?

  “Answer your Alpha,” I shouted, needing to hear his confession.

  Arch just stared straight ahead.

  “You understand your refusal to respond is as good as an admission of guilt,” Nathan was saying, but I could tell by the dullness in his eyes, that Arch had already accepted his fate.

  “Shift,” Nathan commanded.

  Arch flicked a glance at me once more, then shifted.

  “Run,” Nathan said, his voice low but firm.

  Arch’s wolf took off, running past Bane and the bears and out the still open front door.

  At Nathan’s nod, Bane’s wolf and the two bears turned, and with bloodcurdling roars, followed in pursuit of Arch.

  “I’d understand if you wanted to join them,” Nathan said from behind me.

  I shook my head.

  “I have no desire to have anyone’s blood on my hands. I spent enough time racked with guilt over something I apparently didn’t even do.”

  The sound of a door opening had me swinging back around to where Shonda had been hiding.

  “Gray,” she called out, her relief evident.

  I smiled and started toward her, only to watch as Shonda collapsed to the ground.

  Shonda

  I woke
up to the sound of male voices murmuring in the distance. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but enjoyed the cadence of their tones.

  I blinked, then shut my eyes against the bright light.

  Stretching, I could feel the slight pain on the bottoms of my feet, and the cool cotton of the sheets beneath my bare legs.

  I was in Gray’s bed, wearing one of his t-shirts, and my feet were bandaged.

  I opened my eyes again, gingerly, then looked around the now familiar room. There was a glass of water and bottle of pain pills on the nightstand, next to Gray’s book, and the room was neat and clean as usual.

  I sat up feeling surprisingly refreshed, considering the night I’d had, and reached for the pills.

  After taking two and washing them down with water, I swung my legs over the side of the bed.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  I looked up to see Gray standing in the doorway, a plate of food in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

  “Hey,” I replied in greeting. “I was just getting up to come find you.”

  “You should stay off your feet.”

  “I can’t lie in bed anymore, I want to come out and see everyone. Are they all still here? I’d like to thank them.”

  Gray sighed, looked like he wanted to argue, but talked himself out of it.

  “Give me one second,” he said finally.

  A few seconds later Gray was back, his hands empty.

  Dang, maybe I should have at least asked for the coffee first.

  Before I could beg for coffee, Gray was putting his arms around me and lifting me up.

  “What are you doing?”

  “You want to see everyone, and I want you to stay off your feet… I’m compromising,” Gray replied.

  I put my arms around his arms and smiled.

  “I like the way you compromise,” I said, leaning in to kiss his neck before asking, “Can I still have the coffee?”

  Gray chuckled.

  “I’ll take you in the living room and bring your coffee and breakfast to you.”

  “You’re the best.”

  “You’re the only one who thinks so.”

  I slapped him on the back and said, “That’s not true and you know it.”

  He just chuckled again.

  When we entered the living room the four men in it came to their feet and watched as Grayson set me gently on the couch, then grabbed the throw blanket off the chair and laid it over me, before leaving to go get my breakfast.

  “Good morning,” I said as they all took their seats.

  I obviously knew Bane and Nathan, and had seen Kai and Mal at their store before, although I didn’t know them personally.

  “Thanks so much for coming out last night. I was so sure Arch was about to find me, and Lord knows what he would have done if he had, but then you all showed up, and honestly, probably saved my life. So, thank you. All of you.”

  “Of course,” Bane replied.

  “Always,” Nathan added with a grin.

  Kai just nodded, while Mal said, “Happy to help.”

  Grayson came back and put the plate of food on the coffee table, then handed me the cup.

  “Thanks,” I told him.

  I took a sip of coffee, closed my eyes and enjoyed that first taste, then asked, “So, what now?”

  “As far as you and Gray are concerned? Nothing,” Nathan said, sitting forward in his seat. “You just concentrate on healing and putting this behind you.”

  “What about what Arch said… about Travis. Was that true?” I asked, chancing a look at Gray, who was standing by the window.

  He had looked shocked by the whole thing, which I could understand. I mean, he’d exiled himself for something he may not have even done.

  Nathan nodded.

  “With everything we’ve learned about Arch, and his inability to deny the accusation last night, I believe that Arch killed Travis. And, in addition to the other crimes he was accused of, there are a few other unsolved mysteries surrounding the pack over the years that I’m beginning to think he caused.”

  “That’s crazy,” I said with a shake of my head. “To think he was raised with us, ran with us, and the whole time, he was doing these awful things. And no one suspected.”

  Nathan sighed and said, “I let the pack down.”

  “No, Nathan, this isn’t your fault,” I assured him. “You’re the Alpha, but you couldn’t know what he was capable of… he’s a monster.”

  Nathan looked like he wanted to argue but kept his thoughts to himself. I just hoped he didn’t think that Arch’s actions were a reflection of his leadership. He was a great Alpha. The best. And, the pack needed him.

  “Well, now that the problem is taken care of, and your mate is safe at home, we’re going to get back to our mate and cubs,” Mal said as both he and Kai stood.

  They came to me and each bent down to kiss the top of my head, before going to Gray and shaking his hand.

  “I can’t thank you both enough for coming to our aid last night,” Grayson told them. “I owe you a debt.”

  As Gray saw them out, Nathan walked over to me.

  “I’m relieved that you were untouched by Arch. You’re a valued member of our pack, and I’d hate for anything bad to happen to you,” he said, then tilted his head toward where Gray was standing. “You’re good for him.”

  “We’re good for each other,” I corrected with a smile.

  He dipped his head in affirmation.

  “Be happy, and bring him home soon,” Nathan said, then kissed my cheek and stood.

  He went to the door to see Gray on his way out, leaving me and Bane alone in the living room.

  “He was wrong this whole time,” Bane said, his eyes unfocused on the window. “Kept himself secluded from me, from the pack, and for what? Nothing. When I think of everything he missed…”

  “Don’t,” I said softly. “Don’t think about it, or you’ll go crazy… he’ll go crazy. Think about the positive aspects of this. Of what he could gain… not just physically, but mentally. Emotionally. He’s lived over half of his life with guilt, and now, he can be free.”

  Bane nodded and turned his head toward me.

  “He’ll need time to adjust.”

  “I know,” I replied. “He’ll have it.”

  Grayson

  I was a mess of conflicting emotions.

  Yes, in theory I could now return to the pack… but did I want to?

  No, my wolf wasn’t the killer I’d thought him to be, and treated him as, for all these years. How did I even begin to make amends for that?’

  I was free now. Physically free to leave my land and join the masses. To no longer live in exile and interact only with family and Derek. But, if I was honest, the thought of being in a large group of people made me panic.

  The idea of shifting with others and allowing my wolf to run, no longer being a solitary creature, made me break out into a sweat.

  “Gray, honey, it’s not like anyone expects you to sell your land, move back to town and join the pack,” Shonda assured me, her hands rubbing circles on my back. “Take your time… you don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked, turning onto my side to face her. “Because I feel this pressure to automatically be normal again.”

  “Hey, you’re normal,” she chided, her finger tracing the lines of my face.

  I grabbed her hand and kissed the palm.

  “I don’t think anyone would mistake me for normal,” I said, trying to keep my tone light.

  “Gray,” Shonda said patiently. “There’s no pressure. Not from me, Bane, or Nathan. Take your time and do whatever you’re comfortable with. Okay?”

  I nodded and ran my hand down her arm.

  “How do your feet feel?” I asked.

  “Better after that second shift. The wounds are almost all fully healed.”

  “Good,” I murmured.

  Shifting often helped us he
al more quickly than a human healed. It was one of the perks of being a paranormal being. I hated seeing her in pain and felt relieved that at least the physical damage Arch had inflicted was almost gone.

  Who knew how long it would take either of us to get over the emotional pain he’d inflicted. At least we had each other to cope, which I found to be much better than when I’d had to deal with the aftermath on my own.

  Shonda scooted in closer, until her breasts were settled against my chest, and threw her leg over my hip.

  “What are you doing?” I asked with a chuckle.

  “If you have to ask, I’m not doing it right.”

  I laughed.

  “Shonda, you’ve been through a traumatic experience, and you’re injured,” I said, even though my body was already responding to her touch.

  “My injuries are fine, and the only trauma I’m experiencing is from lack of sex.”

  I snorted.

  Shonda grew more persistent, pressing her lips against my neck as her hand began to roam.

  “I don’t want to push… it’s too soon,” I tried again, even though my heart wasn’t really in it.

  Neither was my cock.

  Nope. He was already standing at attention, begging for her touch.

  “You’re not pushing,” she countered, her voice low and sexy. “I am.”

  And, with that said, Shonda placed her hands on my chest and pushed me onto my back.

  “You sure?” I asked, giving one last ditch effort.

  Cause, I mean, if she wanted my body, who was I to deny her?

  Instead of replying with words, she used her mouth in other ways, licking my nipple as she ground her pussy on my dick.

  “You’re the boss,” I said finally, then stopped arguing and got with the program.

  We quickly got rid of our clothing and began to get each other worked up.

  The need to have my mouth on her, to feel her come apart as I licked and sucked on her had my head spinning and my hands reaching down to grasp her hips and bring her up over my face.

  “Gray?” Shonda asked, trying to fight my grip so she could keep licking her way across my chest.

  “Ride my face,” I ordered and I saw her eyes flash with excitement.