Bear Mountain Bride: Shifter Romance

by Sky Winters

  After a long, steaming shower, Greg plopped facedown onto the bed and fell immediately into a deep sleep. Sometime during the night, he felt the warm weight of Jorge fall beside him. Normally he would have wanted to put his arm around him, but neither of them had been in a cuddling mood lately.

  The next morning rolled around like clockwork. When Greg woke up, Jorge rolled over and smiled at him. Greg’s heart fluttered. Sometimes it was hard to remember why they were together, but that smile always did it.

  “Good morning, love,” Jorge said.

  “Morning,” Greg replied, snuggling into his shoulder.

  “I forgot to ask, how was your day yesterday?” Jorge shifted so their eyes could meet. “You showered in such a rush there was no time for us.”

  “Oh, it was good. We got some business from the wolf shifters downtown. I met with one of the alphas and they loved Brad’s plan.”

  “Wolf shifters?” Jorge said, crinkling his nose. “They’re such beasts. What do you need to do business with them for?”

  Greg prickled. He had actually very much enjoyed the interaction he had with the wolf shifters the day before. They were a wild bunch, sure, but they were loyal and fierce. People you could respect. Jorge just thought they were dirty and ate out of trash bins.

  “Money is money,” Greg said with a frown.

  “Too true,” Jorge said. “As soon as I finish with this canvas, we’ll be rolling in it!”

  Greg smiled indulgently at Jorge, wondering when exactly that would be.

  “Of course,” Greg said, climbing out of bed. It was time to get ready for work.

  As he walked through the apartment on his way out, he was irritated to see Jorge’s old tissues still stacked on top of Greg’s business magazines, and the trash still overflowing in its bin. The easel in the loft was still blank, and Jorge was snoring loudly.

  He arrived at the office as usual and spent the next six hours working like a mule. When 2:00 rolled around, Greg’s cell phone buzzed in his pocket.

  “Yo! Cousin! I’m on the way to the office. Thanks for holding down the fort. Why don’t you give yourself the rest of the day off!”

  Brad clicked off the phone and Greg’s heart pounded with elation. He would be able to get home. Maybe spend some time with Jorge. Definitely take out the trash.

  He hopped into his convertible and sped home as quickly as he could. It had been a long time since he had been able to relax, and after two weeks of twelve hour days, he felt he deserved it.

  The condo was eerily quiet when he entered. Jorge was neither snoring nor in the loft painting. Greg tucked his keys into his pocket and poked his head into the bedroom, hoping to ask Jorge what he wanted for dinner.

  “Jesus Christ!” Greg exclaimed in disgust.

  Jorge was in their bed with another man. Someone he had claimed was just a friend from the gallery. He had been hanging around quite a bit lately, and now Greg knew why.

  “This isn’t what it looks like!” Jorge exclaimed.

  “Save it you bastard!” Greg cried. “You can keep the condo. I’m moving the hell out of here.”

  Greg packed his bags and kicked the trash can over as he left. He should have seen this coming. Jorge was a loser from the start. Now he would just have to start over.

  Chapter 2

  “I quit,” Greg told Brad in the same matter-of-fact way that Brad had told him he would have to pull twelve hour shifts for the next few weeks while he drank martinis and went surfing. Before Brad could protest, he hung up the phone and turned to his friend Marty.

  He had known Marty since they were sophomores in college, and he was his closest friend in the area.

  “Nice,” Marty croaked between hits on his cigarette. “Stick it to the man!”

  Greg smiled and ran his hand through his thick brown hair. It had been cut close not long ago, a look that suited Brad and his stupid company, but Greg had never liked it much.

  “I think I’m going to grow this out,” he said.

  “Cool man,” Marty said.

  They drank for the rest of the night, bitching together about the ridiculous situations Jorge put him in and problems Marty was having with his ex-wife. By the end of the night, both of them had decided to revert back to the slogan they had lived by in college. Don’t get mad. Get even.

  In Greg’s case, this meant thinking outside the box. The city was full of all sorts of people. Everyone from strippers to shifters populated the area. Jorge had always been a close-minded and judgmental type, wrinkling his nose in disgust even when a shifter had just asked to buy them drinks. Greg on the other hand had always been strangely drawn to these mysterious creatures.

  When he retired for the night in the bedroom Marty had given him to use, he logged onto Facebook before falling asleep. His feed was littered with advertisements for a dating app for men to meet other male shifters. The app was called “ShiftMe”, and it had been wildly successful. He was shocked to find that his friend Alex had already joined months ago, and was posting pictures with his shifter husband and their new baby!

  It was shocking to see how engrained this new lifestyle was. Greg had never known that male shifters could impregnate other men. Knowing it sent a thrill through him. Maybe what he really wanted was a family that didn’t abide by the rules and regulations set by the majority. Judgmental people like Jorge didn’t have to be the ones who called the shots about what was acceptable. Everybody wanted different things, and in that moment, nothing could have been clearer than the fact that Greg wanted a wolf shifter.

  With shaking hands, he clicked on the link that he saw on his Facebook page, and was taken to the ShiftMe website, where he tentatively created an account. He had the option of finding friends on his Facebook who had already joined the site, but chose not to. This was going to be his own secret. If he liked it, great, he could advertise it to the world. And if he didn’t, well, nobody would have to know the difference. Still, it would feel good to give in to his temptations. Who cared if they were too dangerous for a lying coward like Jorge? Every single shifter he had ever met was gorgeous. And as he browsed through the site, he realized that the shifters seeking men like himself were no different.

  Greg’s heart pounded as he looked through the pictures of shifter men. He was looking for something specific about them. Something that he knew would make Jorge jealous and upset. Finally, the most bad-ass man he had ever seen was smirking at him, his long dark hair framing his face. He had a well-groomed goatee and a leather vest. Not only that, but he was ripped. He had the kind of body that Greg could only dream about. It was the opposite of Jorge’s lean muscles. Instead, he looked like he could break a man in half without even meaning to.

  Greg realized that he had been staring at the picture for a long time, and that he had grown hard just looking at the man. This would be the shifter he tried to hook up with. He went to work finding his most rebellious looking picture for his profile, settling with himself flipping off Jorge during Halloween, when he had been dressed as a mock biker. It would have to do.

  He nervously typed his message.

  Urgent. Hook up needed. Meet at the shifter club downtown? Fangs. 6:00 tonight.

  Even if the tough guy didn’t reply, at least he would be in the right place to find himself a hook up. Fangs was teeming with just the unsavory sort that made Jorge’s skin crawl. It was the perfect place to exact his revenge.

  Greg set to work dressing himself up. It was already nearly 5:00, and he would need time to drive across town to get to Fangs by 6. He chose a tank top that showed off his perfect biceps; not bulky and intimidating like the shifter’s, but still formidable. Hopefully it would be good enough for him.

  “Going somewhere?” Marty asked as Greg whisked past.

  “Getting my revenge,” Greg said.

  Chapter 3

  The wolf shifter club was just as seedy as Jorge had always made it out to be. Still, it was clean and everybody seemed to be leaving each other alone. The people
he had claimed were beasts, at least knew how to hold their liquor.

  He had no trouble spotting the man who had represented the epitome of rebellion on the ShiftMe site. He was looming in the corner, his dark eyes fixed menacingly on the ground. For some reason, even though he was really attractive, nobody was making any effort to talk to him. Maybe they were intimidated by him. Whatever the reason, Greg was the only one who seemed brave enough to approach him.

  “There you are,” the man said, gripping Greg firmly by the arm. He pulled Greg behind him, dragging him outside into an alley.

  “Hi,” Greg said, wondering what he should say to a man like this. They clearly had nothing in common. Still, he was a nice guy at heart and wanted to feel closer to the man. “My name is..”

  “Shut up and kiss me,” the shifter said, throwing himself into Greg’s personal space. They kissed, but it wasn’t the intimate thrill that Greg had been hoping for. Instead, he found himself trying to pull away for air, or maybe for some space from the man. It was a little bit too alarming to be sexy.

  Greg yelped as the man’s strong hands groped him roughly. Greg tried to call for help but the man’s mouth was pressed hard against his, and it was impossible to get a word out. Finally, he was able to squirm away.

  “Stop it!” Greg panted.

  The shifter’s face morphed in rage, and his dark eyes bore into Greg’s.

  “What do you mean stop it?” he demanded. “You’re the one who contacted me, remember? Or were you just being a cock tease? I fucking hate little cock teases!”

  Greg cried out in fear as the shifter lunged at him, his hands ready to wrap around Greg’s neck.

  “I’m gonna get what I fucking came here for you little twink. You think I can’t tell that this is all a game for you? Dress up a little and think you can roll with the big boys?”

  Greg cowered as the man grew furious, his eyes flashing wildly and changing from the dark brown they had started as and into a deep, void-like black. The man snarled as he gripped Greg by the shoulders. Greg flinched, bracing himself for a world of pain.

  Suddenly, Greg was being pulled away from the man by the back of his shirt.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You leave that boy alone!”

  An older man was standing between Greg and the attacker, his salt and pepper hair glistening silver in the moonlight. The man had his hands on his hips, his muscular arms flexed and ready to put up a fight.

  “But the fuckin twink led me on, Luke!”

  “It’s all right, Bruce. Maybe his ways are different than yours and that’s okay. Right? Remember what we talked about before.”

  The furious wolf shifter seemed to deflate, and Greg’s heart finally began to slow its intense beating.

  “Why don’t you go on inside and have a brew. Tell them to put it on my tab. Sometimes things just don’t work out with people, right? It’s for the best if we only do what both people agree with and everyone’s allowed to change their minds. Go on then. Get yourself the good stuff.”

  “I’d be robbing the cradle with you anyway, twink. Still in diapers? That omega bitch doesn’t need a daddy.”

  “All right, just go get your beer.”

  “I’ll deal with you later,” Bruce promised, and reluctantly turned to walk back into the bar.

  Chapter 4

  “What the hell?” Greg breathed, leaning weakly against the brick wall of the alley. He held his hand to his head and groaned. “That was fucked up.”

  “You’re all right now,” the older man said, turning to face him. Greg’s heart thudded when the man’s dazzling blue eyes met his own. He was absolutely stunning. He had always thought that older human men looked better aged. That went even further when applied to wolf shifters.

  “Your name is Luke?” Greg asked, hoping he had gotten the men’s names straight. Luke grinned and nodded.

  Greg took a moment to catch his breath, and look the man up and down. He was unbelievably handsome. He looked like he had been working with his hands his whole life. His entire body was rippling with purposeful muscles; not the bulging kind like Bruce’s, that looked like you had to spend hours of your life in a gym to get them, but the kind that showed this man knew exactly how to use his body.

  He was wearing a tight white V-neck t-shirt, and a tuft of silver hair poked out, pasted against his firm chest. His legs were clad in form-fitting jeans that gave a generous hint of the prize concealed beneath them. Luke said nothing as Greg studied him, and finally turned to leave.

  “Wait,” Greg said softly, running after the man. His legs felt like jelly after being assaulted, but he couldn’t stand the thought that the man would disappear from his life just like that. “My name is Greg.”

  “Nice to meet you, Greg,” Luke said, grinning at him. His teeth were a perfect pearly white. Everything about shifters was attractive, and somehow, this man had seemed to find the fountain of youth. Although his hair was grey, he seemed as spry and agile as the most fit men Greg knew. “What are you doing here anyway? This doesn’t seem like the kind of place a guy like you should be hanging around in. Nothing but trouble with some of these sorts.”

  Greg was surprised that Luke would stereotype the shifters at the bar.

  “Oh, you don’t like shifters?” he stammered. “I thought…”

  “No, I love shifters. I am a shifter,” Luke said, his eyes sending a jolt of electricity into Greg’s. Greg’s heart hammered as Luke continued speaking. “I just think this club draws an unsavory sort. The crowds here tend to be a little on the wild side, you know?”

  “I guess so,” Greg said, shivering as memories of the assault gripped him.

  “So why are you here?” Luke persisted. He didn’t seem eager to drop the question. Greg supposed it did seem a little bit strange for somebody like himself to be hanging around in a place where shifters would get the wrong impression about him. He certainly couldn’t pull off the look, and Luke seemed to see right through him. His question seemed to be saying, “You’re not man enough to be here.” Although it felt like a challenge and embarrassed Greg, he felt compelled to answer anyway.

  “I’m here because I wanted to meet a wolf shifter,” Greg admitted. “I’ve never been with one before and I thought…”

  Luke raised his eyebrow, a wizened, whimsical look on his face.

  “I don’t know. My life is kinda upside down right now,” Greg sighed. Jake grinned.

  “Can’t be that bad, you ain’t dead yet.”

  “No…I’m still here,” Greg agreed. Still, it felt miserable, and he was sure that the older man was probably making fun of him. He probably had a husband out there somewhere waiting for him to get back.

  Suddenly, Greg’s phone buzzed and tore him away from the thought. He checked it and cried out in alarm. It was a message on his ShiftMe app from the terrifying shifter he had contacted, and had finally gotten out of his thoughts. With Luke there it was easier to be able to forget what had just happened. Now it was right in front of him all over again.

  “What is it?” Luke asked, prickling and coming close to Greg to see over his shoulder at the screen.

  I’m hunting you down after sunset, baby twink.

  “That jackass,” Luke said with a sigh. “Let me go get my jacket.”

  “What for?” Greg asked, bewildered.

  “I’m going to have to take you home with me tonight to protect you from that idiot.”

  Greg’s heart leapt to his throat and Luke disappeared into the club for a moment. He returned soon after with a leather jacket draped over his firm body and a smile playing at his lips.

  “Follow me,” he said.

  Greg obeyed, not knowing what else to do. It wasn’t every day he found himself in a ridiculous situation like this, but somehow he had managed to secure the protection of a man like Luke. What would he expect in return, he wondered? Maybe he could cook dinner for him, or clean…

  “Wear this,” Luke said, stopping in front of a beautif
ul motorcycle. It was the nicest in the parking lot, although most people had taken bikes to the club that night. It was dazzling, even in the moonlight, and looked down at the black helmet that Luke had just shoved into his hands. He fastened it to his head.

  “Are you sure this is necessary?” Greg stammered as Luke mounted the bike. “I could just go home. He doesn’t know where I live.”

  “Silly boy,” Luke said, shaking his head. “That man can smell you and your fear. He’ll be on you like white on rice, no matter where you are in the city. But he knows better than to encroach on my turf. I’m respected here. Now shut your pretty lips and brace yourself. She goes fast.”

  Luke patted the bike fondly before revving the engine. Greg gasped in surprise when the bike bolted forward.

  “Hang on, Greg,” Luke hollered with a pleased whoop into the night. Greg gripped the older man’s chest for dear life as they sped down the highway, the bright beam of the bike’s headlight guiding the way to the safety of Luke’s house.

  Chapter 4

  On the road, Greg felt like he was flying. He had never been on a motorcycle before. The closest thing he had was an electric scooter that he had used in college to save money. It was fun, but nothing like the speed and power of Luke’s motorcycle speeding boldly down the highway.

  “This is amazing!” Greg exclaimed.

  “That’s nothing,” Luke called back to him. “Look at the stars!”

  Greg wasn’t sure when it had happened, but somehow they had traveled outside the city. He was only used to seeing a couple of stars twinkling sadly in the sky as the rest were concealed by light pollution. But out on the open road, the sky had opened up into a whole new world of bright, twinkling lights, constellations, and even planets.

  “A shooting star!” Greg cried, taking one of his hands from around Luke’s waist and pointing up at the sky. Luke chuckled, pleased by Greg’s delight.

  “Make a wish, boy!”

  It was a strange and impulsive thing to wish, but Greg squeezed his eyes tightly closed, and wished with all he had that he would never forget the feeling of freedom he had been blessed with by climbing onto Luke’s bike that night. At first he had been nervous, but somehow, he had been able to trust the man almost instantly. Whether it was because he had proven his initiative by protecting him from the terrifying shifter he had hoped to hook up with, or because he was just a comforting sort of man, Greg had never felt safer.