Page 18 of Claimed By the Alpha Pack

“Think about it…” I open the bond wide, letting my siblings in on the discussion. “She has faint memories of us from twenty years ago. She was five the last time we saw her. You were ten, we were eleven. Our memories of her are much more vivid than hers would be.” I try to make sense of the situation for them. I may be the loose cannon of the family, but I am also the tactical one out of the four of us. My ability to understand people and situations is unmatched in this room.

“What Ethan is trying to say is she seems to feel the pull but doesn’t understand it.” Griffin chimes in and I want to growl at him.

“That’s not what the fuck I mean.” I glare at him from over Grace’s head while she’s not looking in my direction. “She’s been through some horrible shit with the ex and she needs time to process, so use caution. Whoever she gravitates to leave them to it. Trust is earned, not given.” Through the bond, I let a snarl loose and I guess some of my Alpha power leaks because Grace turns and looks right at me.

“Are you okay? The muscles in your jaw tensed.” Her blue eyes search my face, then look up. Her pupils expand almost blacking out the blue of her eyes.

“She shouldn’t be able to do that.” Barrett whispers through the bond.

“I’m fine Darling, thank you for asking.” I haven’t been this gentle with anyone in so long I’ve almost forgotten I can do it. Brushing my knuckles along her jaw line she relaxs slowly.

We can be gentle, just for her. My wolf says in my head, and I agree with him. Only my mate will see my soft side, the one that pictures the life with the family and children in it, and my mate to love.

She nods, then looks back at everyone in the room. Her eyes dance around from person to person, then back towards the doors. If only I knew what was on her mind. My personal insecurities are surfacing. I’ve been the monster in the family for so long.

Can this beast earn beauty’s love?

Chapter 13

Grace

~ Fallen Angels - Black Veil Brides~

What started out as dinner and dancing out turned into a testosterone filled reunion with four of the hottest men I have ever met. The one with the shaved head swooped in and stopped me from fighting Roxy. His scent soothes something in me, and I can’t explain it. Something in me tells me I can trust this mountain of a man. He feels like home. That in itself makes little sense whatsoever.

We enter the private party room and my heart races as I am closed into the room with the four men and Andrea. I search the space, noting the exits and soon as I do, Barrett opens the two doors leading outside. My anxiety lessens now that I feel like I have a way out if it’s needed.

“Grace, deep breath girlfriend. Your heart is going a million miles a minute.” Andrea snaps me out of my inner panic. Her statement prompted more questions than answers. Like, how does she know my heart is pounding?

Joe arrives with the drinks and there’s two Long Island Iced Tea’s on the tray. “I only ordered one.” Arching a brow, I take mine off of the tray and watch where he goes next.

The large bald man laughs. “I guess you didn’t notice I was drinking the same thing at the bar.” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. The man is an enigma. His emotions are all over the place. One minute I want to wipe away the tenseness in his jaw, the next I want to study him.

I back up and place my back against the wall, watching everyone. I’m even getting suspicious of Andrea at this point. Maybe this is some sick sex den. Clearing his throat, the man that looks like he wants to murder everyone runs his fingers through his hair and pulls on it. “I’m Griffin, Mayor of Wolf Creek. These are my brothers, Ethan, and Conrad.” As he names his brothers, they raise their hands. My savior’s name is Ethan.

“Let’s have some fun.” Barrett races over and grabs my hand, dragging me out the side door and into the parking lot. Ethan face palms, Griffin is complaining he wasn’t done, and the one named Conrad is following with his hands in his pockets.

We stop dead in the middle of the lot and there’s three types of vehicles parked alone. “Put the brother with the vehicle.” Barrett says and Andrea shakes her head.

“Dumbass, she just fucking met them. How the fuck would she know?” Andrea is as frustrated as I am nervous.

“I think I can do this.” My voice wavers slightly, then I look back at the guys. Cautiously, I approach the one with the long hair called Griffin. Walking around him, I study his posture and the tree trunks he calls arms. Fuck, he’s built like a grizzly bear. “Hmm…” The wind shifts and the scent of a blanket fresh out of the drier hits me, warm, inviting, secure and safe. Stepping closer, I take a deep breath of the monstrous man before me before walking towards the vehicles.

I glance back briefly and look at his shoes. Dress shoes, so I can eliminate the bike from the mix. Conrad also has nice shoes on, so he also didn’t ride the motorcycle. “Ethan rode the bike. It’s more his style…” I say confidently, and he dips his head towards me.

Studying the way Griffin and Conrad are standing, I decide to make an educated guess. “Being the Mayor of a town in the mountains, not all areas are paved, so Griffin needs the truck. Conrad, the car is yours.” Crossing my arms under my chest, I can’t help but smirk looking at them. Barrett is beaming at me. Griffin is grumbling. Ethan is collecting money from Griffin and Conrad. Apparently, he bet I’d figure it out.

“Brilliant and beautiful.” Barrett says as he strides forward and hugs me tightly to him. A soft laugh escapes my lips as I break free to approach Ethan. “Somehow, you knew I would figure it out. How?” Narrowing my eyes, I watch the first genuine smile I’ve witnessed from him cross his lips. This time the smile reached his eyes, and he laughs.

“Let’s call it faith and leave it at that.” His jovial tone changes and an undeniable hunger manifests behind his eyes.

“Faith, I can roll with that.” Looking over at Andrea, an odd look ghosts over her face for a moment, then vanishes. Looking back at Ethan, he offers me his arm and I accept as we head back into the bar. First impressions were totally wrong with him. Ethan appeared scary, aggressive, and definitely not safe to be around. He’s proven that assumption wrong. He’s protected me and got me away from danger. There’s more to him than meets the eye.

He ushers me back inside and into the main part of the bar again and orders another round of drinks for everyone. “I need food.” As if on cue, my stomach grumbles, eliciting a laugh from the guys.

“Talk about timing. Your tummy was right on cue!” Conrad says as Griffin flags down a server. Without asking, he orders one of every appetizer and I’m shocked.

“I can order for my self Griffin.” I say firmly, trying not to let the big guy run the show like Hunter used to.

---