Rose, Charlotte - Bayou Flood [The Shifters of Alligator Bend 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Free

not allow it.
    But no matter how hard he clenched his muscles, no matter how clearly he pictured himself in human form, Gabriel couldn’t deny that his gator self was overtaking his body. Before he knew it, he was on the floor, crawling out of his clothes, and everyone in the venue was screaming and panicking. Everyone, that is, except for his six friends, who were trying to keep everyone calm and protect him from getting stepped on.
    Turning his body around, he saw that Virgil was in the same shape. But before Gabriel could try to ask his friend what had happened, a jealous rage surged through his body. Virgil, it seemed, was experiencing the same thing, because all of a sudden, he opened his jaws and bellowed.
    Gabriel was equal parts confused and angry. But his body and mind weren’t completely his own. He didn’t have the chance to try to think things through or figure out what was going on. Instead, he slapped his head against the hard concrete of the club floor. It was a territorial move and one he felt his body had made for him without his having any real desire to do so.
    In response, Virgil bellowed again and then attacked with a whip of his tail. By that point, the venue was mostly clear. The security guards were yelling at his friends in an attempt to make them leave, but Adele was giving them some story about them being wildlife management experts specially trained to handle alligators.
    Another swipe of Virgil’s tail distracted Gabriel from the rest of the conversation, and he launched back into the attack with full force, snapping, biting, and bellowing, trying to drive his friend off.
    “Okay, enough’s enough,” he heard Armand say.
    Gabriel didn’t know what that meant, but as he attempted to retaliate against one of Virgil’s blows, he found himself suddenly bound by Armand’s and Nelson’s arms.

Chapter Two

    Armand gripped his hands around Gabriel’s jaws. Still caught off-guard by his sudden shift and completely freaked out, Gabriel didn’t stop thrashing. He kept trying to open his jaws to snap at Virgil, but Armand held fast.
    “Chill out, man,” Armand commanded. “Just calm down.”
    Gabriel, however, was not ready to settle down. He continued thrashing his tail and scratching his claws on the floor, desperate to get away. Virgil didn’t seem to be in much better shape, either. He could hear Xavier and Oscar trying to talk him down, as well as the scratching of claws on concrete.
    Suddenly, Gabriel felt a strong pair of hands grip his tail.
    “If you just relax, Armand and I can explain everything,” Nelson said. “There’s an answer to all of this, but there’s no point in trying to discuss it until we get you two back in human form and revive her. So if you want answers, you need to chill.”
    Gabriel finally quit struggling.
    “You sure you can be calm?” Armand asked.
    Gabriel blinked twice.
    “Okay, then. We’re lettin’ go of you now. But if you freak out again, we’re gonna take hold of you again. We need to be able to trust that you’re gonna stay in control of yourself.” Armand and Nelson stepped away, and Gabriel resisted the urge to start attacking again.
    “Good,” Nelson said with a nod. “Now, I know this change hit you unexpectedly, and it’s the first time in a long time you’ve had that problem. I know you’re tense as hell, and that’ll make it harder for you to shift back. But just close your eyes, relax, and let it happen. Same way you always do.”
    Gabriel wanted to demand answers right then and there, but lacking vocal cords, he had no choice but to obey his friend. He closed his eyes and willed his body to relax. Then he pictured his skin returning to its regular tanned smoothness and visualized his teeth shortening. Gradually, he felt his muscles and limbs begin to lengthen, felt himself grow to full height, felt his claws retract into fingernails. He opened his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, then bent down and hurried to pull his