Page 45 of Claimed By the Alpha Pack

Besides, earlier on the end of the bed, this is the most tender I have ever seen Ethan. Grace has turned the family terror into a good upstanding man, a responsible mate, and a man worth looking up to. Grace turns and snuggles into Ethan’s neck and stays there. The three of us look at each other, shocked, watching Ethan allow her so close to his throat.

* * *

Later that evening…

Instead of joining the pack for the rest of the celebration, we only returned long enough for the old Luna to pass on the title of Luna formally. We walk among our pack mates, accepting their congratulations and well wishes. Some elders tell stories of the moon touched wolves like Grace. It’s an interesting history how, unlike the rest of us, the lunar eclipse holds no sway over them. That caught the twins’ attention. Sometimes the rogues are unaffected by the eclipse, which would leave the entire pack defenseless.

Grace sat with the elders for a while and they asked her several questions about her wolf and she answered honestly. Because Ethan turned her. Their bond is the strongest, and her wolf took on some of his less pleasant qualities. I pull Grace into my lap as she explains her fluctuations in her temperament. It seems she feels and reacts to Ethan’s surges. She gets angry with him, then tries to soothe both of them.

“That explains why when I feel like I’m going to murder someone, it suddenly fades.” Ethan stares at Grace in amazement.

“Sorry?” She winces slightly, thinking she did something wrong.

I pull her tighter against me. “It’s a good thing, trust me. Ethan doesn’t need to be fighting the world constantly.” I kiss her cheek, trying to reassure her.

The pack Elder smiles and motions for Grace to get closer. “As Luna, you can make or break the pack.” He smiles and extends his frail hand towards her. Grace gently takes his hand and places it between both of hers. “You are exactly what this pack needs. Like their mother, you understand the human and wolf side of things.” He smiles and pats the top of Grace’s hand with his free hand. “May you rule for many years to come. Luna,” He chuckles to himself.

“What’s so funny, Elder?” I am curious to know what’s so funny.

“A moon wolf is the Pack Luna. The moon Goddess is Luna. It has come full circle. Packs from all around may come to see a moon wolf as Luna to receive her blessing.” The Elder smiles and motions for Griffin to help me up. He waves at all of us before he and the others leave us.

The high pitch barks of Ashina draw our attention as she comes running towards us. She’s never alone. Griffin and Ethan take off ahead of us as Grace gathers up her daughter. One of the pack teachers had Ashina and several other pups in a playgroup in the meadow close to here. I help Grace look her daughter over before she passes her to me.

“Something’s not right.” Grace says loud enough other pack members hear her and they shut off the music. “Beta’s divide yourselves, half to your alphas. The rest remain and protect the women and children.”

“Yes Luna.” Echoes from all the Betas before they shift and take off on their assigned tasks.

Ruby walks over and takes Ashina from me. “You three may be needed.”

Grace’s eyes flair to life for several beats, then fade. Dustin and two others approach and bow to her. “Guard my daughter and our old Luna with your lives.” The stare and tone Grace is using leaves no room for arguments. They bow immediately and usher Ashina and her grandmother to a safe location.

“What’s wrong Grace?” I get in front of her and take a hold of her hands.

“Rogues are closing in. At least, that’s what Ethan is saying.” She turns to Conrad and doesn’t even utter a word.

“I’m already on it. Alpha Ambrose…” He walks away with the phone stuck to his head and I can only assume she spoke only to him.

Grabbing my hand, Grace pulls me toward the women and children. “We need to check on the little ones and help keep them safe.” I want to resist and fight to just keep her safe, but as Luna it’s a life of servitude. Her instinct to protect others far surpasses what we could have hoped for from her.

What sounds like an all out war is waging near the school and it’s almost a blood bath. Grace’s wolf rips free from her body and she howls what I could only call her death song before charging into battle. She rips through the first rogue she comes in contact with, then lunges for the second. Conrad has shifted and launches into battle alongside of her.

I do as I was told and head towards the females and children and stand guard over them. Remaining human may or may not be the best idea at the moment, but it’s what I feel is the best thing to do. Pulling out my phone, I send messages to local Alphas of smaller packs asking for help and some agree to send some betas our way. Dread sits in the pit of my stomach as I watch the battle continue.

Eventually Ambrose and his pack arrive, and the tide turns slowly in our favor. Grace has a pile of bodies near her and there’s blood coming from her shoulder and ribs. Conrad is limping but still on his feet.

When the last of the rogues are driven off, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The old Luna and Ashina eventually emerge from their hiding spot to assess the damage to the pack. “Barrett, we need hot water and towels to clean up the wounds before the fighters shift back.” She commands me and I run off to gather the supplies.

I fill a bucket with hot soapy water and throw in a dozen wash cloths to tend to the wounded. Andrea arrives on scene and starts helping to tend to the wounded. Grace pushes other wolves ahead of herself as she keeps looking towards the horizon, watching for our other mates.

Griffin and Ethan’s wolves break through the brush close to us and Grace stops barking commands at everyone. Dustin moves towards them with towels and they shift on the spot. “How long has she been in command mode?” Griffin points at Grace and Ethan smiles, proud of our mate.

“Soon as the fighting stopped, she literally started barking out orders to everyone on the ground.” Huffing out a laugh, I shake my head. “I thought your mom and Ethan were bad. Gracie far exceeds them when it comes to being commanding.”

Ethan stops dead hearing his name and flips the middle finger in my direction. “Suck my dick Barrett…” Ethan grabs his crotch and growls.

“Gladly Alpha!” I salute him and he stops dead in his tracks, not expecting that kind of answer out of me in public. The moment of levity is short-lived as we tend to the wounded.

“This was just a test.” Grace’s eyes are glowing with the power of her wolf as blood runs down her ribcage.

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