Gregory's Rebellion (2019 Reissue) Read online

  Everything about him felt right.

  Gregory still couldn’t smell Hayden’s cat.

  It was as if the kid had pushed his jaguar so far inside himself when he’d fought the shift, buried it so deep, that only his human side remained. Gregory couldn’t understand how Hayden had managed to do that.

  He suspected that to be the reason Hayden couldn’t sense their mating bond.

  It was the animal half of a shifter that recognized their mate, but Hayden’s jaguar had been kept too far at bay. It saddened him that Hayden didn’t know who he was or what they were to each other.

  For Gregory, Hayden was like a beacon of light in a world of darkness.

  A small smile played on his lips as he watched Hayden’s eyes flicker and his body twitch.

  He was dreaming.

  Gregory would love nothing more than to glimpse into his mate’s mind. As he watched Hayden in slumber, his cell phone began to vibrate. He fished the phone out of his pocket then checked the number.

  It was his superior at the council.

  Riley was the last person Gregory wanted to talk to, but he knew he couldn’t put off the call.

  He got up from the chair and took the cell into the bathroom in the hall. He closed the door quietly and pressed a button to answer the call. “Gregory.”

  Chapter Four

  Hayden woke with a start and his eyes darted around the room while they tried to adjust to the low light conditions.

  Where was he, and how the hell had he got there?

  What had happened to him?

  He felt exhausted—physically and emotionally. His head throbbed and every muscle in his body ached as if he’d run two marathons back to back. Slowly, the fog that clouded his mind began to clear and Hayden remembered running from the man—Gregory—on the street, being cornered and nearly shifting.

  He couldn’t believe it had happened again. More and more frequently Hayden’s body had been trying to shift, and each time it was increasingly difficult to resist. Hayden suspected he had passed out again.

  Had Gregory brought him there while he’d been unconscious?

  Sitting up, Hayden looked around the small, sparsely decorated room. He swung his legs off the bed, fighting a wave of dizziness that threatened to topple him when he heard a raised voice coming from what must have been the bathroom out in the hall.

  As quietly as he could manage, he slid off the bed then tiptoed across the room. He edged out the door, listening to the one-sided conversation.

  “There was nothing I could do, Riley. He ran, got away from me. Yes, yes, I realize that. I don’t know—I went back to his apartment but he didn’t show up and he hasn’t turned up for work, either.”

  At once Hayden thought about his job.

  Shit.

  Would Mac be angry at him for not turning up?

  Would he be worried?

  Hayden had never missed a day since he’d started working at the diner almost two years ago.

  “I think he bailed,” Gregory continued. “No. there’s no need to bring anyone else in on this, I’ve got it covered. Fine, whatever. I’ll call you if I find anything.”

  What the hell had that been about?

  He thought about making a run for it, but he didn’t see the point. Gregory knew where he lived and worked and he had no place else to go. Besides, he wanted answers—needed them. Mostly he wanted to trust Gregory, which was a damn crazy idea considering he’d only just met the man and knew nothing about him. But, for some reason, he didn’t think Gregory meant him any harm.

  When he heard Gregory end the call, Hayden stood back from the door, leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. Gregory pulled open the door and the second he set eyes on Hayden his face broke out into a wide, genuine smile that morphed his face into the most beautiful thing Hayden had ever set eyes on.

  His eyes were the deepest shade of blue Hayden had ever seen. He tried to ignore Gregory’s delicious smell and the things it was doing to his body. He needed answers—now was not the time to think about his dick, even though it felt harder than it had ever been.

  Focus, Hayden.

  He glared at the man, but Gregory’s smile only widened.

  “You’re awake.”

  “Perceptive,” Hayden said sarcastically. “I want to know what’s going on. Who are you and what do you want with me? Who is Riley? You said there were men coming for me—what did you mean by that?”

  Hayden’s questions came out in a rush.

  He was so angry he even forgot to turn his head so Gregory wouldn’t have to look at his scar. He couldn’t blame people for looking but he knew it made them uncomfortable so he tried to save them the embarrassment. As soon as he remembered it, he lowered his head, even though Gregory hadn’t as much as glanced at it.

  He’d looked Hayden directly in the eye.

  “Whoa, slow down a minute. I understand you have questions, lots of them, but please, come and sit down. I’ll make you a coffee and explain everything, okay?”

  Hayden only took a second to decide.

  He gave a sharp nod of his head then followed in Gregory’s wake.

  “How are you feeling?” Gregory asked over his shoulder.

  “Okay.” Hayden felt far from okay but he didn’t want to give anything away until he knew who Gregory was and what he wanted from him.

  Gregory sighed. “I know you’re lying to me. You were seconds away from shifting. The way you fought it…well, that had to have been agonizing. It must have taken a lot out of you, physically and emotionally. I bet you’re exhausted.”

  Hayden shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

  Gregory drew his eyebrows together. “That’s what worries me. Take a seat.”

  Hayden shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “No, thanks, I’d rather stand.”

  Gregory shrugged but didn’t say anything.

  The small kitchen was attached to the living room, a breakfast bar separating the spaces. Gregory set about making coffee. He remained quiet while he worked and, after a few moments, Hayden couldn’t stand the silence anymore.

  “I want some answers,” he demanded.

  Gregory nodded. “I can understand that. What do you want to know first?”

  “Who are you?”

  “My name is Gregory Hale and I work for the supernatural council.”

  Oh, God.

  Hayden’s blood froze in his veins and he couldn’t catch a breath.

  They knew.

  They knew what’d he’d done and they’d come for him. How the hell had they found out? Hayden’s hands began to tremble and his forehead broke out into a cold sweat. Maybe he could make a run for it. His gaze shifted to the door.

  Could he make it there in time or would Gregory catch him?

  What would he do if he got away? He couldn’t go back to his apartment or to the diner, but where else could he go? There was nowhere to go, and he’d come too far to start hitching rides from truckers again and scavenging in restaurant bins for his next meal.

  His hands shook uncontrollably and his knuckles stung, his claws felt like razors, slicing him from the inside.

  A sharp pain tore down his spine.

  Oh, God, not again.

  His eyes shifted and his incisors lengthened, slowly and painfully tearing through his gums. Soon his entire body shook his cat hissing and snarling within, desperate to be let loose.

  But he pushed it inside himself as deep as he could.

  He would not let it win.

  “Hayden, look at me!” Gregory commanded.

  When Hayden looked up, Gregory was standing in front of him. His beautiful blue eyes were looking so deeply into his, it was as if they could see into his very soul. Slowly, Gregory reached out and placed his hands on Hayden’s trembling shoulders.

  “Calm down—it’s okay. You’re safe here, I promise you. Take some deep breaths. Try to relax.”

  Hayden couldn’t be sure if it was the low, soothing to
ne to Gregory’s voice that helped ease him or the way the man’s fingers caressed his shoulders and the back of his neck, sending pleasant tingles throughout his body.

  It could have been both.

  When Hayden closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths as instructed, he felt his cat settle within and he pushed it further inside himself until he couldn’t feel its restlessness anymore.

  “That’s it, just breathe. Good.”

  When Hayden next opened his eyes, they had shifted back to their human form. His teeth had receded too.

  Jesus, that had been close…again.

  He had to try to relax.

  He couldn’t afford to get upset, could not afford to shift.

  Because if he shifted…

  “You want to tell me what that was all about?” Gregory asked, snatching him from his thoughts.

  “I…”

  “Have you had a bad experience with the supernatural council?” Gregory used the same gentle, comforting tone, lulling him into a warm sense of security.

  Hayden shook his head, but he couldn’t speak.

  Gregory’s hands were still on his shoulders and the man’s touch was driving him insane.

  Please don’t look down.

  Hayden grew upset at the way his body responded to Gregory’s touch, to his proximity.

  He was hard.

  Painfully so.

  The heat of a blush crept up his neck and cheeks. Gregory continued to stare into his eyes and Hayden couldn’t look away. He was drawn to Gregory in a way he’d never experienced.

  How did the man have such a strong effect on him?

  The most surprising thing was that Gregory still wasn’t looking at his scar. It was as if he hadn’t noticed it…or it didn’t matter to him.

  Couldn’t he see how ugly it made him?

  Gregory cleared his throat and removed his hands from Hayden’s shoulders. “I’ll, uh… I’ll get you that coffee.”

  Relief and disappointment battled for dominance inside him when Gregory stepped away and busied himself in the kitchen. For a moment it had felt as if Gregory had touched him for his own selfish reasons, because he needed the closeness as much as Hayden did, not merely because he’d wanted to calm Hayden down.

  It had felt almost as if each had recognized something in the other—a sameness or some sort of bond. But Hayden must have been mistaken because Gregory couldn’t even meet his gaze anymore.

  He shook his head, annoyed with himself for thinking such things.

  What would a man like Gregory ever see in someone like him?

  Hayden felt beyond embarrassed. Had Gregory seen the desire burning in his eyes? Had his lustful thoughts been obvious? Could Gregory smell his arousal? Hayden needed to be careful—he couldn’t let Gregory see his attraction. He had been beaten up several times in the past for looking at a man the wrong way and he had learned his lesson.

  “I won’t hurt you. You’re safe with me, I promise.” Gregory handed Hayden a cup of black coffee. “Here, drink this—there’s lots of sugar. It will help you feel better.”

  Hayden nodded and took the drink.

  He felt stupid suddenly—standing in the middle of the room, nursing his coffee—so he took a seat on the edge of the small sofa. Hayden took a deep breath. He had to know where he stood.

  “Are you here to take me in?”

  Gregory nodded. “That’s what I came here for, yes. Do you understand why?”

  Of course he did, the council knew what he’d done, but he didn’t say that. He wasn’t going to confess to anything until he’d heard what Gregory had to say.

  “Why don’t you tell me?”

  Gregory sat in the chair opposite and took a sip from his steaming mug before he spoke.

  “You’ve been away from your parents for several years now. You don’t have any friends. You haven’t been interacting with other cats. You—”

  “How do you know all that?”

  “The council keeps a close eye on all shifters. As I’m sure you know, we are all registered with the council at birth. I would imagine you’ve been on their radar since you applied for your social security card when you started working in the diner.

  “I’m certain I’m not the only agent the council has sent here. They don’t send in someone like me to make an extraction unless they have all the facts about a shifter. They need to know exactly what they’re dealing with.

  “You’ve probably been watched for some time to see if you made any relationships with other cats.”

  Hayden frowned.

  He didn’t like the idea that people had been spying on him, but the reason for Gregory’s presence calmed him significantly.

  The council didn’t know what he’d done.

  Thank God.

  “What’s going to happen to me?”

  Gregory lowered his gaze.

  He scrubbed a hand over his eyes and let out a long sigh.

  “I don’t usually get involved after I’ve handed someone over to my superiors. Some shifters, those with…problems, are able to be rehabilitated. Wolves, for example, are encouraged to join packs.

  “Younger shifters are placed with families. It depends on the individual and their circumstances. But others…”

  Gregory didn’t finish the sentence—he didn’t have to.

  Hayden had a fair idea of what happened to others.

  “Why can’t I stay here? I have my apartment and a job. It’s not like I’m a danger to anyone.”

  Even as the words came out of his mouth, Hayden knew they were untrue.

  He was a danger, wasn’t he?

  “That’s not going to be possible, Hayden, I’m sorry.”

  “But I don’t want to leave,” Hayden said quietly. “I’ve got Mac here—he’s been like a father to me, more of a father than my own ever was.”

  “But he’s human,” Gregory argued. “You need to be with other shifters, with your own kind. And your cat needs to be able to run and to hunt. The more you fight the shift, the more difficult it will become to resist and then there’s no telling what will happen.

  “You could shift at any time and hurt someone. Cats that shut themselves away from others of their kind can become feral. You wouldn’t want that to happen, would you?”

  “No,” Hayden whispered.

  He never wanted to hurt anyone again.

  “When was the last time you shifted?”

  “About three years ago.”

  Hayden made the statement sound casual as if he could barely remember, but he knew the exact date of when he’d last shifted.

  He could hardly forget.

  That day had changed him irrevocably. It had hardened him, stripped him of his trust and faith and hope. He couldn’t forget that night even if he wanted to. The large angry scar that ran down the left side of his face from his eye to his lip had become a constant reminder.

  Gregory pulled in a sharp breath. “Jesus Christ. Three years? But how? Why?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Hayden gripped his coffee cup tighter and pressed his lips together.

  He couldn’t tell Gregory the reason he didn’t shift without revealing what he’d done that day three years ago, so he kept quiet.

  “When are you going to take me in?” Hayden asked in a small voice. “I need to collect my things from my apartment first and go into the diner to say goodbye to Mac.”

  Gregory placed his mug on the coffee table beside him and got up from his chair. He crossed the space and sat next to Hayden.

  “We’ll go right away to collect your belongings, but I’m afraid you won’t be able to go back to the diner to say goodbye to Mac.”

  “What do you mean? Why not? I can’t leave without saying goodbye to him.” Panic rose in Hayden’s chest.

  Just what the hell was going on?

  Why did he have to leave without saying goodbye to the man that had become like a father to him?

  Gregory reached out slowly and took hold
of Hayden’s hand.

  It was an incredibly intimate gesture for two men that didn’t know each other. Hayden was tempted to snatch his hand back but he didn’t. He liked Gregory touching him…

  He liked that Gregory wanted to touch him.

  It stirred feelings and desires that he hadn’t realized he was capable of anymore. When Gregory threaded their fingers together, goosebumps rose on Hayden’s arms and his breath came faster. He couldn’t take his eyes off their clasped hands or stop the fast thud, thud, thud of his heart. Hayden had never been this turned on.

  His stomach was tight with anticipation.

  “I need you to trust me,” Gregory said. “Do you think you can do that?”

  “I don’t know, but I want to,” Hayden replied honestly. “I’ll try.”

  Gregory nodded. “There are some things going on in the council at the moment…bad things. I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to take you back there. It wouldn’t be safe for you.

  “But if I was to leave you here, the council would only send in other men and they’d find you. I’m afraid they might already be suspicious. I was supposed to bring you in three days ago, but I couldn’t. I…”

  “You what?”

  Hayden leaned in closer, every nerve ending on edge, waiting for the rest of Gregory’s sentence as if it held answers to questions he hadn’t even dared to ask.

  Gregory lowered his gaze. “Wow, this is difficult to explain.”

  Hayden gripped Gregory’s hand tighter like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

  “You can tell me.”

  He was surprised at how husky he sounded when he spoke. He’d never heard that tone to his voice before, never even knew it was a sound he had been capable of making.

  “Hayden, when you look at me, when you touch me…do you feel anything?”

  Oh crap.

  Hayden could feel a whole lot of things, especially in the lower half of his body, but he’d be damned if he told Gregory what effect the man was having on his dick. Or how his proximity made Hayden’s head spin, made his heart beat faster and made every nerve ending in his body thrum with anticipation.