Page 35 of Claimed By the Alpha Pack

“It’s her only chance to survive!!” Ambrose booms, inches from Griffin’s face.

“You don’t know that!” Griffin’s voice is nothing short of terrifying.

“Fine! Watch your fucking mate die then!” Ambrose punches Griffin square in his jaw, sending him flying backwards.

Ambrose’s inhuman blue eyes glow brilliantly as he stares at Ethan. “Don’t be stupid like your brother … Save her..” The plea dies on Ambrose’s tongue as he sees Griffin getting back up again. He turns and leaves, taking his pack with him.

It’s now that I notice the area looks like a massive crime scene. Blood and flesh strewn all over the forest floor like that scene in the Aurora book. I’m half expecting to find gut garland hanging from a fir tree. Ethan has a very limp and pale Grace curled against his chest. Her breaths are labored and she’s covered in blood.

“The rogue tried to turn her … Instead, he mangled her body.” Griffin spits the words out like the flavor of them disgusted him.

“Did you?”

“No, the fucking bastard got away. Gracie distracted me by calling my name.” Griffin proclaims as he sits at Grace’s feet.

Even hearing Griffin’s words didn’t help the dread that is steeling deep in my heart, looking at our very limp mate. “Why did it fail when the rogue tried?” I don’t know why that answer mattered right now. But, for me, it did.

“Grace chose me … I bare her mark. My blood is in her veins.” Ethan closes his eyes and presses his lips to her forehead.

“Then you know what you need to do, big brother.” Conrad slides up the tree he was sitting at the foot of. He coughs several times, holding his ribs. He looks worse for wear but ten times better than Grace.

Steeling himself against the inevitable, he lifts his head and stares at Griffin. “Hold her tight while I shift?”

“You know I will.” Griffin moves up and accepts Gracie from Ethan.

Her head lulls off to the side as he rests her back against his chest. Ethan’s wolf rips free from its human bonds. The beast stalks slowly forward as Griffin pushes Gracie off of his chest.

“Griff, why did he shift? It’s going to hurt her more.” My worry makes Ethan’s wolf look up briefly before it glances at Griffin.

“The bite from our wolf is more powerful for the transformation than a human bite. She doesn’t have a chance if his wolf doesn’t act fast.” Pain is all I hear in Griffin’s voice as he nods at Ethan’s wolf.

His wolf licks Gracie’s face, and she stirs for a moment and threads her fingers through his ebony fur. Before I can say anything, his wolf lunges forward and sinks his canines deep into her flesh.

The ear-splitting—blood-curdling scream that escapes Gracie’s lips makes me cry. The pain she’s in is clear in her wide eyes, and now silent scream her face is contorted in. It’s now that I see it. A faint glow in her eyes. Hope sparks to life within me as I help Conrad move closer to Ethan and Griffin. Our eyes remain locked on Gracie as so many contorted expressions mar her beautiful features.

The blood in my veins runs cold as I watch the emotions flicker over Griffin’s features. He feels her pain. Turning quickly, I see Conrad gripping his shoulder. “Fuck!!” He screams before dropping to the ground.

Ethan’s wolf releases Grace and licks her wounds closed. Griff turns Grace in his lap and holds her tight to his chest. “We need to get her home.” His eyes find mine and I leap into action.

Brad moves quickly, bringing the car as close to the site as possible. Ethan’s shifted back and dressed by the time Brad makes it back. Griffin passes Grace off so he can stand up and head towards the car. I dive in first, hoping to hold Grace through this. Griff takes pity on me and passes Grace into the car to me. Her body is slowly warming up, and the color is returning to her skin.

“I think she’s getting better.” The waver in my voice is a dead giveaway to how I’m feeling.

Ethan slides in the back with Conrad, placing Grace’s feet in his lap as Griffin takes over driving the car. Andrea hops in the passenger seat and keeps turning around, looking at Grace. “I’ve never seen a human turned before. Will she survive?” Of course, Andrea asks the question I do and don’t want the answer to.

“If she makes it through the night and wakes up tomorrow, she’ll be in the clear.” Conrad states clinically. I watch as he types furiously on his cellphone to someone.

“Mom also warns since we turned her after a violent attack, her wolf may awaken in attack mode. It’s best for Ethan and Barrett to be in there. Her natural drive to protect an Omega will override her thirst for revenge.” Conrad sighs, then looks up at me. “Comfort her, and for Fenrir’s sake, do whatever she wants until she gets her wolf under control.” His eyes pass from me, then over to Ethan.

Nodding, I can’t help but smile. “Her wish is my desire. I will be the best Omega ever for her.”

Griffin chuckles slightly. “Good boy Barrett…”

I perk up and beam in Griffin’s direction. He’s a very stingy Alpha when it comes to giving praise. I swear if I was shifted, my tail would be wagging a million miles a minute. Ethan smirks at me and shakes his head. “Yeah. I know I have a praise kink…” I say, rolling my eyes.

“It’s no secret Barrett…” Andrea laughs as she looks at me.

We arrive at the house and the instant shuffle of passing Gracie out of the car and into Griffin’s waiting arms. He kisses her forehead and carries her into the house. He stops outside the door to Ethan’s room and waits for him to catch up. Silly Alphas and their need to have their own private sleeping areas. I follow behind slowly and shut the door behind me.

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