Page 42 of Claimed By the Alpha Pack

She’s pale and trembling in Barrett’s arms. The minute Barrett moves to adjust his arms, she darts away from him and plows into my side. I wrap my arms around her tightly and rest my head on top of hers, trying to comfort her. Before I can say anything, Griffin spins Ambrose to face him.

“I appreciate the information you have provided us. Next time please warn me if it can potentially upset our mate.” Griffin motions to Grace and me as I lead her out of the room.

The conversation explodes once we make it out of the pack house and head back to our home. “Do you think we’ll be safe?” Grace tightens her grip around my waist as we walk. There’s a slight tremble in the way she holds onto me, so I know deep down she’s frightened. Let’s face it, he almost killed her.

My mate just left a landmine I need to either defuse or detonate. Both directions will have consequences. One will be worse than the other and I don’t know which will be the safer route. “Can I be bluntly honest?” I stop us under a weeping willow tree and sit down on the grass.

My mate climbs onto my lap and rests her forehead against my neck. “I wouldn’t expect you to be any other way, Wolfie.” She still giggles when she calls me by her nickname.

Running my fingers through her magenta hair not only soothes her, but it does the same for me as well. “We are going to do our best to keep everyone safe.” I draw in a deep breath and force myself to continue. “On the bright side, Ambrose and his pack are just about the same size as ours. So if we can team up, we should be able to handle the rogue issue efficiently.” I pose the same idea to Griffin shortly after saying it to Grace, and he agrees.

Her hot breath bathes my neck in its warmth, and her silence is killing me. “I need to learn to fight better and use my Luna gifts. I don’t need any of you distracted trying to protect me and get yourselves killed.” There’s the part I was afraid of mentioning.

“We’re working on the solution Darling, don’t fret, let your mates stress over the details.” Pressing my lips to her temple, she moves and suddenly sits up.

“I’m not helpless Ethan. This is my pack, too. In less than thirty minutes I become their Luna. You have to let me help other wise I’m no better than a princess locked in a tower for her own good.” The yellow of her wolf’s eyes burn slowly through the sky blue of her eyes accenting her point.

“She’s right, big brother. We need to involve her more.” Conrad says as he approaches with the others in tow.“If she’s going to learn our ways, we can’t shelter her from everything.” Even Conrad is siding with her now. My wolf is becoming angry that they will throw our mate’s life away over pride.

“Can we manage to get through the Luna ceremony before we worry about fighting to the death?” I’m trying to focus on one battle at a time and the others are trying to plan the entire the war.

“Shit! I need to get changed!” Reality sets in and our mate realizes she’s running short on time.

I push her to stand up and Barrett swoops in to run towards the house with Grace in tow. Laughing, we turn and watch them take off in a panic. “He bought her a sundress that compliments her hair color.” Conrad supplies as we start heading towards the center of the pack lands where the ceremony is going to take place.

“Griff, are you going to put a shirt on?” Arching a brow, I stare at my normally proper brother.

“No, I want the females to see that I’m claimed.” Conrad tosses a gray tank top at him and smirks.

“Good for you, but this allows the bite to be seen and you won’t be a distraction.” Conrad tosses me a black one and has a white one for himself. We switch our shirts out and I’ll be damned he was right.

“There, now everyone can see we have been claimed. Are you happy?” Pointedly, I stare at our older brother.

He looks us over, then nods. “Perfect, now maybe the females in the pack might get the point.” He shakes his head and leads us over to the greeting area. “I swear they don’t get the whole no means no thing. I had to swat Beth’s hands off me four times yesterday.”

“Don’t let our mate hear that. She still has anger control issues.” Conrad mentions then stares at me.

“Hey! I resemble that remark. Besides, she was turned after a violent attack. You know her wolf is going to be on edge no matter who turned her.” My brothers nod along with me as the conversation dies as pack members come up and greet us and congratulate us on taking a mate.

* * *

“Welcome one and all.” Mom greets the pack, getting everyone to focus up on the stage. “It is a momentous time within our pack. My sons and their Omega have found their mate and your new Luna.” Whispers start within the crowd. Some people want to know who it is. Others are angry that it’s an outsider. The ones that concern me are the girls standing around Leah, glaring openly up at us.

Mom raises her hands and since she passed her Luna powers over to Grace, it has little effect. Without prompting, she moves up alongside of Mom and takes her hand and raises hers, with Mom stilling the crowd. Her moving along with Mom sets the crowd at ease. We stare at her in awe. She’s already able to sway the pack.

Mom nudges Grace and she steps forward and holds her hands up the way she did. The pack follows her as she moves across the stage. “I am Grace Michaels, mate of your alphas.” She drops the shawl she was wearing, showing off the three bites from us. Barrett’s bite is on her back and she turns slowly, showing the fourth bite. Holding her head high, our mate takes center stage and smiles. “I was turned, saved by Ethan, when a rogue attempted to kill me. I knew Ethan, Griffin, Conrad, and Barrett were my mates before the attack that almost killed me. Conrad and Barrett have known who I was to them for over twenty years.” Her eyes scan the crowd, almost daring anyone to speak against her.

There’s movement in the crowd and I do the only thing I can think of. I move to stand behind Grace, pulling her to rest her back against my chest and wait together to see who or what is coming.

Chapter 28

Grace

-Feel Invincible- Skillet-

I noticed the movement in the crowd, and Ethan appeared at my back, offering his support. As suspected, it’s Leah, and she’s hopping mad and looks half crazed. “Griffin is supposed to be Roxy’s mate, not yours, thief!” She yells, pointing her finger at me.

Crouching down to her level, I tilt my head to the side. “Only a true mate can gift their human mate with a wolf. Do the math. This mark right here is Ethan’s.” I point to the massive bite Ethan’s wolf left on my shoulder. It’s the only solid piece of flesh the rogue hadn’t destroyed.

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