Chapter Five Grayson
Grayson ( Rewind)
“Gray, could you let Riordan in the gate? He’s here to check up on Nix.”
Grayson enters the code on the security panel to open the gates, not bothering to check the camera for himself. If Gideon says it’s Riordan, then it is because no one takes their security more seriously than Gideon.
It isn’t five minutes later before the doctor in question is standing on their front step with his mate, Ewan Campbell—unannounced, it seems—from the look on Gideon’s face.
“Ewan. What a surprise.” Seems Gideon isn’t happy about it either, if the clipped tone is any indication.
“Gideon, Grayson. You remember my mate?” Of course, he does. They’re social enough to where they attended a birthday celebration at the Kennedy home last month. Grayson has to roll his eyes at the sarcasm. “He’s the orthopedic surgeon who repaired Nix’s arm and leg? He thought he’d come and check on the transition himself. Hope you don’t mind?”
Riordan’s sense of humor has always leaned toward the sarcastic, and it seems now is no exception. It makes Grayson want to growl at their family friend because, despite his suppressants, his instincts are strong regarding his omega.
His soulmate. His other half.
It sounds insane even to his ears, and when he can catch Gideon alone, he’s going to have all kinds of questions. The two astrologers he’d contacted from the soulmate article were renowned in their fields—one specializing in Sidereal astrology and the other in Tropical. Despite their differing approaches, both astrologers had concurred. Intrigued by his vague inquiry, they had completed the work he’d requested quickly and thoroughly.
The discovery had only fueled their excitement. Grayson and Nix’s birth dates and times—June 11 and December thirteenth—are exactly 180 days apart, accounting for differing time zones and other factors Grayson knows little about. He’d been reminded that 180° is precisely one-half of a circle, each of them one-half of a perfect whole. Night and Day. Sun and Moon. Yin and Yang.
Truth be told, no amount of mathematical or spiritual proof would have convinced him if he hadn’t felt it every hour since Nix came back into their lives.
Now Grayson has decided that he wants to feel the full intensity of it.
“Riordan? Could you spare a minute before Nix comes down?”
“Sure, Grayson. Can we talk here? Ewan, would you see if you can entertain Gideon for a moment?”
“You’ll owe me,” Ewan mutters and rolls his eyes as he heads into the kitchen to buy them a bit of time. Grayson thinks he must be brave or stupid, because, by the sounds of things, Gideon is pissed and not being too subtle about it. No one hates surprises more than Gideon Carnell.
“What can I do for you? You’re feeling alright?” The doctor’s eyes narrow with concern.
“I want to go off the suppressants.” He feels how right the decision is the second he says it out loud.
Riordan’s eyebrows go up, but he refrains from commenting on his surprise. “That’s up to you, of course. Have you had today’s dose?” The horse-sized pills are usually taken in the afternoon for peak efficacy, and Grayson has held off for some unknown reason—maybe this is why.
“Not yet. Do I need to wean off slowly, or can I go cold turkey?” The sooner he can be over the side effects, the better, but maybe weaning slowly will help him keep his wolf under control.
“You can do either. There isn’t any requirement to taper them down, but I can’t exactly recommend cold turkey. The side effects are prohibitive. Jay was on some pretty strong ones and just for a day or so, and still, the side effects were quite unpleasant. While yours are not as strong, you’ve been on them almost a week.”
“A week, yeah. Can I take half a tablet?”
“That’ll lessen the impact for sure, but it’s still likely to suck ass.”
Grayson smiles—he’s always liked Riordan, despite today’s feeling of aggression at the unexpected guest and subsequent sarcasm.
Outwardly, Riordan isn’t a typical alpha in that he rarely postures, but his demeanor is certainly one of strength and confidence. He leads his pack much in the same way Jay does, and that’s probably why they must get along so well.
“Is that an official medical term?”
“Fuck, no. But I have to ask: are you sure you feel ready? Nix is still…um.” He taps his nose subtly. Their home must be redolent with Nix’s vanilla scent, and the gesture isn’t meant to be rude—only to illustrate the issue Grayson had faced during his rebound rut.
Grayson tries to remind himself that this is Nix’s doctor, not some random person making lewd comments, but he knows his face betrays his displeasure.
“I’m not trying to poke the wolf, Grayson. I’m concerned for your well-being and his safety.” Riordan holds his hands up in a gesture of peace, making it clear he means no harm. Grayson’s wolf is mollified—enough to dial back the alpha energy just a fraction.
“I’ve got this under control. I could never hurt Nix. I didn’t know that until I saw him awake for the first time, but I promise—I’ve got this.” As he says it, he knows it’s true.
“What about Jay?” Riordan doesn’t need to clarify beyond that. It doesn’t take a genius to extrapolate Grayson’s intense focus on Nix, which would have easily turned into a knockdown drag-out battle pack alpha position.
The reminder of Grayson’s biggest fear makes his wolf think the other alpha has gone too far. Their pack dynamics and Grayson’s honor are of no one’s concern but theirs, and he says so.
“Forgive me, but I don’t see how that’s any of your concern—but to answer your question, I’ve got this under control. I’m tired of feeling disconnected from my mates, of being sick and exhausted all the time. Nothing I do feels right. I just want to experience this new life with him, you know?”
He’s reminded of Finn’s words about living a beautiful life.
“I understand perfectly. More than you know. Alright, I advise one half-tablet for the next two days, and then you can come off. That should be the smoothest process to avoid the worst withdrawal. Your senses will come back intermittently, as well.”
“Everything okay out here?” Gideon stands in the doorway, a tea towel slung over his shoulder, with Ewan just behind him, smirk firmly in place and arms crossed.
He and Riordan share a look that Grayson can’t decipher at all.
“Yup. I’ll talk to you later about it. Thanks, Doc. Are we waiting on Nix?”
“Gray, you should probably clear out. I doubt he’ll be entirely comfortable with our unannounced visitors, and we don’t want to have any more moving pieces than necessary.”
“What!? No. I need to be here.”
“Are you here for him or you?” It’s a cruel question, and Grayson clenches his jaw before he starts an argument in front of outsiders. It pisses him off that Gideon is right. Again. Fuck him. So, he doesn’t answer Gideon’s question.
“Thanks, Doc. Ewan, nice to see you again.” He nods curtly, taking the stairs two at a time. He blows straight past Leo, standing in the hallway, slamming the door to his room.
He wants Nix. Wants him right now in his bed, where together they can make it smell like them. He’s got energy to burn and nowhere to put it. Maybe he should have gone out for a run, but just the thought of it makes him so sick he actually gags and has to spit into his trash can.
Fuck, okay, so no thinking about leaving the house without his soulmate. Check .
Maybe he should read that omega history book from Dr. Spencer: Omegas Throughout History by Dr. Judith Peora, circa 1970. It’s not a modern text, but the content seemed like it might have few grains of fact; Grayson just had to find them.
Climbing into his sadly-not-smelling-like-Nix bed, he’s only just cracked the binding when he smells an inkling of Leo’s strong cinnamon scent on the other side of the door.
“Come in, Leo.” Grayson sets the book aside and pats the side of the bed. “Whatcha doing? Did you get exiled, too?”
“Not as bad as that, Gray. You know…they just need some space for Nix to get his check-up. The better question is: what’s got you so salty?” The beta lies on his side, propping his head up with one hand.
“Gideon.” Grayson matches his posture, and Leo just looks into his eyes.
“Ah, told you to get scarce, and you didn’t take too kindly.” What is with people thinking they can poke at him like this? It’s getting on his fucking nerves.
“Hey, fuck you, too. He’s my omega, Leo. Mine and he has no right to keep me away. What if Nix needs me? If he’s scared or hears something that upsets him. What then, huh?” He’s just about convinced himself to go down there anyway, to hell with Gideon and his pompous attitude.
Leo sits up, too, a look of disbelief and—dreaded—disapproval on his face. “Grayson. Do you hear yourself?”
Of course, he did; he’s fucking angry, and he did not whisper. His mate’s jaw tightens further at Grayson’s argumentative tone.
“Nix is our mate. Not just Grayson Pearce’s. Jay is with him, and Finn. Yes, Gideon can be a bit high-handed, but I think Ewan showing up unannounced threw him for a loop. It freaks him out when he’s not all-knowing. We’re all on high alert—with Hayes, with the police—it’s a fucking lot. Cut him some slack.”
Like we’ve been doing for you goes unsaid.
“I don’t fucking care. There are strangers touching and looking at my–” At Leo’s raised eyebrows, he amends his sentence. “Fuck, fine, our omega, and I’m not there to protect him. I hate it.”
“Listen to yourself,” Leo says again. “Strangers? They’re our friends. This isn’t about you. Fuck, it’s about him. What is driving this? This is so unlike you. You’re usually chill—you never let Gideon rile you up—but right now, you smell like someone set the garden on fire, even through your suppressants. You’ve been weird all week.”
And there it is.
Grayson should have known Leo would get to the question he’s no doubt been sitting on all week. It doesn’t matter, though—he’s still not ready to talk about it.
“Let it go, Leo.”
Leo never gets mad. Despite rumors to the contrary, in this house, he always keeps his cool, but now he’s on his feet, heels dug in, hands on his hips.
“I will not. Is this because he’s with Jay? Do you think our omega is more interested in the love of his life than you? Worried that Jay is more of an alpha than you are? That Nix needs him more than he needs you ?”
“If Grayson had been thinking clearly, he would have recognized the questions for what they were—an attempt to goad him into breaking his self-imposed silence. But clarity had eluded him since the moment he scented Nix’s broken body in the hospital.”
Growling, he grabs his beta by the shirtfront. “He is my god damned soulmate, Leo. My fucking other half. It hurts to be this far away from him. What if he is feeling the same? It hurts , fuck.” Gives him a tiny shake at the end to be sure he gets it.
It fucking hurts in his soul, god dammit.
His anger drains away when Leo takes hold of his wrist and pries his hand off the front of his shirt. “Is that like hyperbole? Are you serious? Soulmates?”
Grayson grabs his tablet and pulls up the star charts. They’re professional-looking, as expected—after all, the Were community puts a lot of faith in astrology. How could they not, with The Moon Goddess at the core of their beliefs? Grayson isn’t sure Leo’s going to understand what he’s looking at any more than he had at first.
Before this, Grayson knew next to nothing beyond the usual sun sign; now, he knows far more than he ever thought possible.
However, Leo gets it immediately. “Gray, these are a perfect match.” He sounds genuinely shocked.
They both sit on the edge of the bed as Leo pages through the charts, and Grayson shows him the emails as well.
“Wow. Fuck, they look legit to me. What made you even think to look for someone? I never knew you had any interest in soulmates.”
Grayson flops back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. “I knew it the first day—that he was something different to me than—”
“The rest of us? Not more, though, right?” Leo’s voice carries a hint of hurt. His sweet, sensitive Leo.
“Not more , just different. I’m in love with all of you, even that high-handed jerkface Gideon. I just need Nix. Need him. I didn’t know it until now, but I was only part of myself, running after something when I had no idea what I was looking for. Hiding pieces of myself because they didn’t fit, even from myself. Fuck, who could want more when I have all of you—perfect for me in ways I never knew I needed. But Nix is supposed to be mine .”
Leo looks like he’s going to remind Grayson again that Nix is theirs , but Grayson cuts him off. “No, wait, just listen, not just mine.” It’s frustrating that he can’t figure out what he means exactly, and it’s stressing him out.
“So, he’s your soulmate. Does he complete you? Is he the wind beneath your wings?” Leo sing-songs, and there’s a sneaky little smirk on his mouth.
He should kiss it off, so he does.
“Fuck.” Kiss . “Off.” Kiss . He falls back on the bed again. “But you’re right. He fills all the holes I didn’t know I had. No. Don’t say it. You know what I fucking mean.”
Putting the tablet back on the desk, Leo flops backward onto the white duvet, too. They’re lying on their backs when he reaches for Grayson’s hand, and he breathes deeply. Leo’s scent is so soothing when he’s not pissed off, and Grayson realizes that, finally, he’s told someone. First, Finn, about his fears, and now Leo, about his discovery. Maybe he should tell the others. Even Nix.
Especially Nix.
They jump when the door flies open, and Luca is breathing so hard he must have run all the way up the stairs.
“Leo! Rowan’s rut is early, and he’s freaking the fuck out. Nix triggered it with a run, and they’re in the gym…Oh, and Gideon knocked Jaybird out cold. I hope it was by accident…” He turns right around after delivering his dire message, booking it back to the gym.
Grayson’s halfway to the door when Leo puts his hand up. “You can’t come, Gray. He gets one whiff of you, and he’s going to throw hands. I can’t see either of you hurt. We are not going to fight over our omega. We are a family. Please, I can’t make you, but please stay. I’ll bring Nix to you. Just stay here.”
“Leo, we gotta go!” Luca yells from the top of the stairs.
Leo is right—Grayson will not divide this family, but it’s nearly impossible not to follow them out. The only thing keeping him here is Leo’s promise to bring Nix to him.
He can’t make himself leave his room, either, since all roads will lead him directly to the gym despite his original intentions. So, he throws himself into a hot shower and tries not to think about Rowan’s rut or why Nix would run.
Fuck.
If there’s one thing alphas love, it’s a chase. The scent of their mate, adrenaline pumping, and the test of wills. The oldest instincts of predator and prey, where the captured is devoured by pleasure, not pain.
Shortly after they’d bonded with Gideon, he and Luca had taken a weekend trip to the mountains. They’d invited everyone along, but none had accepted, knowing that they’d spend the entire time third-wheeling for whatever kinky plans Gideon had made.
Upon their return two days later, Luca had shared quite enthusiastically–and with detail–the absolute thrill of being chased through the woods by Gideon and subsequently edged for twelve hours straight, only to come until he blacked out. Twice.
Grayson had asked Gideon afterward whether it had been Luca’s idea, as most crazy ideas in their home were. Gideon had debated whether it had been anyone’s business but his and Luca’s, but in the end, he had shaken his head, letting his blush surpass the capacity of his ears.
He hadn’t gone into detail except to say it was a core memory and that if Luca ever wanted to, they would do it again.
Grayson supposed that if the desire to chase is instinctual for alphas, maybe the need to run is the same for omegas.
There’s a noise in his room, and he nearly breaks his neck, throwing open the glass door of the shower to slide into his bedroom on wet feet.
Leo is carrying his beautiful but unconscious mate in a bridal hold. Nix smells like heaven, and Grayson’s cock gets so hard, so fast he’s lightheaded. In that minute, he’s grateful he’s still had a half-dose of his suppressants because, holy shit, does he smell good.
“Gray! Hey, you there?”
Grayson hears his mate over the persistent but thankfully still-subdued noise of his wolf. “Yes. Fuck, sorry. Put him on the bed.” Yes, get that scent in the bed.
“I’m going to leave him here, Gray. I’m going to check on the others and get some water. He’s safe with you.” He’s worded it as a statement, but there’s a slight uptick at the end like it might be a question, too.
He is completely at a loss for words, so he just nods.
Nix is alluring, lying on his white sheets, cheeks flushed, and two pinpricks of blood on the outside corners of his bright red mouth. He smells satisfied, and Grayson’s stupid wolf thinks they are responsible. It’s surprising how calm that lets him be when his dick is as hard as it’s ever been.
There’s a ripped black skirt-thing tangled around his omega’s legs, and the long t-shirt is wet in the front. That has to feel cold and clammy—and maybe he should try to make him more comfortable.
No, he doesn’t have permission, so instead, he pulls up his fleece blanket just in case he’s cold. A shiver runs down his spine in sympathy, and Grayson realizes he’s completely naked.
“Fuck.” He wouldn’t want Nix to wake up and be alarmed. Nothing like a big dick in your face—unannounced and unwanted. “Pants, pants, where are my fucking pants.”
“Hmmm. Don’t cover up on my account.” Eyes at half-mast and pushing himself up on his elbow, Nix licks the blood from the corners of his mouth.
“Hi.” Grayson is the soul of wit, though, to be fair, there is zero blood in his actual head right now.
“Come.” Nix’s voice is deep and gravelly, and it shoots straight into his dick. Grayson can only do as his omega asks, and he approaches the bed slowly. When he’s within reach, Nix reaches for him with a questioning eyebrow as if to ask, is this okay?
“Wait. Nix.”
His omega looks forlorn. “No?” he asks, the two little lines between his (very sexy) eyebrows furrowing.
“I want to be sure you’re okay. That this is okay.” Grayson doesn’t want to fuck up whatever this is.
“Grayson. Let me decide if I’m good. I want you in my mouth—have since I smelled you. Now, does that work for you?” Despite his bravado, Nix looks unsure, like Grayson might not want him.
Does that work for you? It sure the fuck does. Like there is some universe where Grayson ever says no. He nods enthusiastically.
Nix gets to his knees, kicking aside the skirt, which Grayson now realizes are the remnants of Finn’s shorts. He throws off the damp t-shirt, adding it to the pile, and Grayson gets his first look at his mate’s beautiful body.
Perfectly proportioned, with lean muscles and tight abs. His thighs are narrow but perfectly shaped and covered with a smattering of freckles. His hard cock is small and leaking steadily, rivulets of delicious precome sliding down its length. Grayson wants to worship it on his knees so he can follow those droplets down, down, down.
The slide of Nix’s hot palms up over his pecs, pulling gently on his piercing and then down over his belly to distract him. The slow glide makes his cock twitch, and it’s electric—a sizzle of desire straight to his gut.
Nix looks up the length of his torso to meet eyes and then back to his cock, bottom lip caught between his teeth. “Can I? Please, Gray. Please.” His omega squirms—his deep voice raspy as he pleads.
He’s immobilized for an instant—the scent of vanilla and musk is thick between them—warm, wet, and utterly intoxicating. Grayson aches to taste it. But he will give Nix anything he desires. Everything.
Right now, his omega wants Grayson’s cock. “Anything.”
The first lick is so gentle, and it’s followed by Nix’s eyes popping wide open. “It’s so good. Gray, you taste–”
The sentence cuts off as Nix takes the head into his mouth, his hand wrapping firmly around the rest of the shaft to control its length. He sets a hard, determined rhythm, his tongue pressing insistently into the slit, sending sharp jolts through Grayson’s groin. Drool slicks his chin, and the corners of his mouth crack slightly from the strain of taking too much, too fast.
“Nix. Angel. Slow down. I’m—I want…oh, fuck.” He wants to put his hands in Nix’s hair and pull, to push his cock farther past those puffy, red lips. “You’re going to make me come too soon.”
“Come?” His eyes are on Grayson’s face. “Please. Want it.” He dives back in, this time deeper until he gags, and the tears that form at the corner of his eyes are so pretty. His cockhead hits the back of Nix’s throat, and his mate pushes past it—and he’s in his omega’s throat.
“Angel, please let me make you feel good, too. Goddess, look at you.” Grayson presses his thumb to the corner of his mate’s mouth to wipe away the blood there and runs his fingers along his cheek and down over the bulge in his throat.
His omega’s eyes flash blue, and he pulls off and growls, “Want it, Gray. Come, now.”
And Grayson does . The unexpected orgasm has his belly cramping, and he shouts as it’s pulled from him. He’s never come so fast and never on command like this. Nix sucks every drop from the source, and it’s too much–of course, it is–because it’s running down Nix’s chin and onto his chest. He’s squeezing the knot at the base of Gray’s cock, tiny pulses that milk the come from his cock one more time. “So good, Gray. Thank you. So good.”
“Fuck, Angel. Let me…” He needs to make his mate feel good. “Let me make you come. Do you want that?”
There’s a deep hum resonating from his mate—he smells aroused and yet satisfied. He’s milking his knot and growls, “More.”
If Grayson had it, he would gladly give it.
When he finally releases Grayson’s cock, he drags his hand over the still-sensitive knot, down beneath his balls, and back up. Both hands slide around to cup Grayson’s ass, pulling him closer. His omega nuzzles into his belly, rubbing his face back and forth, breathing deeply, and licking everything he can reach.
Grayson threads his fingers through Nix’s soft hair. There’s that gravelly hum again—a sound of contentment and hunger combined. Nix follows his nose to the scent gland where his hip meets his thigh, where Jay, Gideon, and Leo’s mating bites mark their claim. His eyes flick up, lashes low, catching Grayson’s gaze—and then he bites. Hard.
Grayson comes again with a cry as their mating bond slams into place, while Nix cries out his orgasm—fangs in deep.
A gasp cuts through the silence.
Snapping his head around, Grayson sees Leo standing in the doorway, water bottles clutched in both hands, hard dick tenting the front of his sweats and mouth open in shock.