Page 28 of Claimed By the Alpha Pack

“Contrary to popular belief. I know I’m safe with you, Wolfie.” She kisses the tip of her finger then boops me on the nose before turning towards Conrad and makes a heart with her hands. He imitates her, and she turns back down the path, padding silently towards the lake. We fill Grif and Barrett in on how the trip to the pond is going. Our big brother is stressed beyond all recognition, and is afraid of history repeating its self.

The air changes as we get closer to the pond and Grace stops yards away from the entrance to the pond. Sliding up alongside of her, I wrap an arm around her waistline and walk forward closer to the grass before the lake. Conrad comes up and rests his arm over her shoulder, offering her support as well. “I remember seeing this.” Her heart pounds in her chest as she stares at our surroundings.

“It seems like a lifetime ago since we were last here.” The subtle pain in Conrad’s voice doesn’t escape me. The minuscule twitch of his eye and wince he tries to hide doesn’t go unnoticed. His scent screams stress and fear. Thankfully, these telegraphed reactions go unnoticed by Grace.

Conrad quickly glances over at me before we step out of the tree line and onto the dirt leading towards the lake edge. A gentle breeze blows from beyond the pond and directly in our faces. Grace closes her eyes, feeling the wind in her face. I would almost say she was enjoying it. “We’re here.” Lowering my head, I whisper the words next to Grace’s ear. She visibly shivers and leans towards my voice. Instinct tells her I’m safe, that I will protect her with my life.

As Grace turns her head, her lips lightly brush against mine, and I freeze. I don’t want to frighten her, yet my wolf is driving me to mark her. Claim her, make Grace mine. She lingers there with our lips barely touching. I can feel the velvet softness of her lips and the warmth of her body. My body screams for her, my wolf whines in my head, knowing how close she is. He wants his mate, his forever love. The one being that was made just for him. The one female in the universe that can pull us out of a blind rage.

Grace kisses my lips softly and turns away, looking towards the water. My wolf puffs up with pride at the fact that his mate is brave enough to walk the last steps alone. Conrad and I step slowly behind her, watching closely as she finally gets close to the edge.

The water ripples as she stares down into its depths. We move to stand beside her and watch the images that manifest before us. I’ve never gazed into the pond before and it’s intense. I see my wolf running across an open field heading towards a ridge in the distance. The first rays of the sun are breaching the mountain top, bathing the earth in light.

In the morning’s first light, Grace is standing there with a new baby suckling at her breast. Her daughter Ashina holding onto her mother’s leg with her eyes glowing golden. The radiant smile that crosses Grace’s lips sets my soul at ease. Shaking my head, I double blink, clearing the beautiful vision from my eyes. My heart soars, knowing without a doubt that Grace will be with us in the future.

Grace stands still as a statue as she stares into the ripples of the pond. Conrad is also still lost in the vision that the pond offers him. Watching the emotions flicker over their faces is almost as mesmerizing as experiencing it. Conrad breaks free of this vision first and turns to face me. “She’s incredible. In my vision, she had two children and a baby nursing at her breast. I wonder if the baby is mine?” Hope is written all over Conrad’s usually playful visage.

“Mine, she only had Ashina and a baby feeding from her. I guess we see our individual child in her arms.” Walking closer to Grace, I watch as a smile and happy tears fill her eyes. Glancing down at her reflection in the water and I see a silver wolf staring back at me. “Con, quick look in the water and tell me what you see.”

Moving quickly, he stares down into the pond, then looks up at me. His eyes dart back and forth several times before he settles on me. “A silver wolf stares back at me. Is it Gracie?” He looks back at the pond, then back at me again.

“I’m not sure. I think so.” Just as I answer Conrad, Gracie snaps out of her vision.

“Wow, that was intense.” She looks back at the two of us, then back over the water.

“Are you okay?” Resting my hand on her lower back, I draw her closer to me.

“I think so. Not really sure how to explain what I saw.” Her arms wrap around my waistline and Conrad comes up behind her and we sandwich her between us.

Heat blooms between the three of us, and her scent changes and screams of desire. I dare to glance down at Grace, and her pupils are blown as she stares up at me. As Grace pulls free of Conrad and me, the worst possible thoughts fill my mind. Just as my heart sinks, she smiles. “Chase me.” Grace takes off at a run, crashing through the woods. Conrad and I make eye contact and he takes off running.

My wolf and I have other ideas. Stripping free of my clothes, my wolf breaks free of his human bonds. As soon as his paws hit the dirt, we take off running after Grace. I have never felt more alive than I do at this moment. My mate wanted me to chase her. Wants to be hunted by her mate, and hopefully claimed afterwards. My claws dig into the earth as we fly over the moist terrain, gaining on Grace.

Her back is to me as she stares at the wildflower field beyond the forest. Before she knows I’m there, I shift back and press my chest against her back. “Got ya, little red.” Startled, Grace jumps and turns to face me, then smiles.

“Yeah, you do.” There’s a confidence behind her eyes I didn’t see before as she looks me over. My heart shudders in my chest as I return her hungry gaze.

“See something you like?” Tilting my head to the side, I purposely flex my muscles. Each flex has her eyes following the path of the twitching muscles.

Biting her bottom lip, her tongue slips out and wets her bottom lip. My eyes track the movement hungrily. I can feel my cock thickening and moving in time with my heartbeat. Grace’s eyes lock on my length and her scent blooms, filling my senses. Her nostrils flair as the wind shifts behind me. I question exactly how sharp her senses are.

I honestly don’t believe that Grace notices that she’s moving closer to me. Her fingers twitch at her side as she moves to within a foot of me. Slowly, her hand extends out and the tips of her fingers dance over my skin. Sharply I breathe in, trying to restrain myself. I want to take her and make her mine.

“You look tense, Wolfie.” She presses her body against mine and kisses my chest over my heart. “What can I do to make you feel better?” Her hand slides up my skin and goose bumps chase the path that her hand takes.

Closing my eyes, I let my senses over take everything. Every inch of skin she touches blazes to life beneath her fingers. “It’s difficult to fight instinct, Darlin. My wolf and I want you. We need you.” Opening my eyes, I know exactly what color they are. My wolf is damn close to the surface and I can feel the ripples of fur just under the surface.

Grace shocks me and closes the distance between our lips. We crash together like opposing waves on the ocean. Turbulence and beauty all rolled into one. Her hands roam all over my body, exploring all the years of hard work I put into building my form.

It’s now with my mate in my arms. I know what my father meant when he explained what a mate is. The sun rises and sets with her smile. And you would raze the earth to destroy anything that makes her sad. I’ve never been the hero in the story. I’ve been the bad guy, the thing that goes bump in the night.

Unlike Griff, I would sacrifice the world for Grace in a heartbeat.

Chapter 20

Grace

~Middle of the Night - Loveless

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