Page 13 of Embraced By the Alpha Pack

Together, my brother and I push the bike up the ramp and slide it into the tire stands, locking it safely in place. “Go sit with Grace. I need to strap the bike down.” Griffin looks at me, shocked, and doesn’t argue with me for once. Strapping the bike down isn’t a huge ordeal. It’s more that I want him to be more involved with Grace, so their bond strengthens.

Our mate needs us … My wolf interjects before falling silent again.

I know she needs us. We need her like we need air to breathe, but there are others in the bond that need her just as much. I say to my wolf as I finish tightening the last strap.

Putting my brothers, Barrett and now Nic, ahead of me is probably the least selfish thing I have done in a very long time. Slamming the tailgate shut, I finally walk to the passenger side door and climb in, putting Grace in the middle of the bench seat. Grace is sitting there with the rib box on her lap, munching away. “Happy Darlin?” Reaching back, I grab a bottle of water and twist the top off for her.

“Yes, and no.” She stops talking and goes back to eating.

Looking over the top of her head, I motion to Griffin to talk to her. He clears his throat, his nerves getting the better of him. “Yes, and no? Is there something I… I mean, we can do to make whatever it is better?” Griffin arches an eyebrow, looking at me for reassurance, and I smile briefly that he did the right thing.

“It’s kind of selfish. And probably wrong somehow.” Grace stops eating as Griffin starts the truck to head to the hospital.

“You don’t have a selfish bone in your body, Grace.” I reassure her.

“But I do. I’m glad I’m not hurt. I’m glad it wasn’t you or Griffin. But I’m also scared because Nic is hurt. He saved all of us. If I died, it would have resulted in four additional deaths out of nowhere, not just me.” Her bottom lip quivers as the first tears finally break free of her eyes and roll down her cheeks.

My brother does the first thing instinct told him to do. He took one hand off the wheel and pulls Grace against him so he could hold her. While Griffin holds Grace, I text the others, including Nic’s mother, about what happened. I give them the update and warn them that the rogues are still targeting Grace. My second set of texts go out to the rest of the police force, telling them I wanted the contents of Nic’s car brought to my house immediately.

My second in command on the police force reports there was a list in the rogues truck. The list had the names and picture of pack members that are close to Grace that can be used as leverage. This recent development validates my deepest fear. There are rogue sympathizers in our pack and they are willing to sell out their Luna knowing full well it would kill us.

I don’t bother sharing this information before we get everyone in one place. It makes no sense to stress everyone out more than they already are. Looking up from my phone, I see Grace has abandoned her ribs and is fully leaning into Griffin’s embrace. These little moments will help strengthen their bond and help the family as a whole.

Looking away from them, I take in our surroundings and notice we are not that far from the hospital and check the eta of our other bond mates. Barrett replies and says they are ten minutes from the hospital and are bringing Grace a change of clothes.

We get to the hospital and park in the emergency room lot. It takes Griffin and me to hold on to Grace to keep her from running across the lot. Her wolf is driving her to get to Nic and I’m glad that instinct is kicking in overriding her human fear. Our mate has come a long way in such a short time. She went from calling us monsters to being the Luna of the pack. I am thankful that her love of shifter romances allowed her to get over her fears when she started feeling the effects of the mate bond. Grace may not have understood the pull towards my brothers and me, but she knew she was safe. It’s the same pull she’s feeling towards Nic now that he may die from his injuries.

Stepping into the emergency room, all kinds of announcements are being made over head. Different codes being called and doctors being paged. Griffin kisses the crown of Grace’s head and leaves her with me to go to the reception desk to inquire about Nic.

“Ethan?” I hate hearing Grace’s voice so soft and helpless. The beast in her chest is battle born and is close to a real life berserker as we are going to get.

“Yes Darlin?” I pull her towards a chair and sit her on my lap and wrap my arms around her.

Sighing softly, she rests her head on my shoulder with her forehead against my neck. “I was so scared. Nic reacted so quickly, he flung himself over me and laid the seat back, hugging me in place.” Her body trembles against me as she relives the moment. I look towards the door and the others have arrived. They stop approaching when they hear Grace talking. “He grunted as he held onto me. He was squeezing me so tight to the chair I couldn’t move. I know he was keeping me safe. All I kept thinking is he knows this accident is bad and we may die.” She hiccups and I know she’s silently crying.

Barrett approaches first and rests a hand on Grace’s arm and gets her to pick her head up. Soon as she sees’s who it is, she dives into his arms, hugging him like a teddy bear. The desk attendant moves our family to a private room to sit in. She informs us that Nic was rushed into surgery, and that his injuries were extensive.

Grace looks like she’s going to pass out. Nic’s mother and father are right there with her. Barrett looks like Grace is squeezing the life out of him. Griffin, Conrad and I look at each other, not sure what to do. We have to be strong for our mate. No matter what the next twenty-four hours bring, she’s going to need us at our best.

Chapter 9

Barrett

- I am the Highway—Audioslave-

Two weeks later -

We’ve been taking turns with Grace going to the hospital while she sits next to Nic’s bed for hours on end. Seeing all the tubes and wires all over him broke something in her, I think. Whatever wall was between them has been shattered and crumbled to ash.

“Grace?” Turning in my chair, I look up and see the doctor that had called her name.

“Yes, doctor?” Grace looks up, and she draws in a fortifying breath.

“Your friend Nic should have woken up by now.” She says friend in air quotes. The doctor is a bear shifter and is familiar with poly families.

“Is there anything else we can do?” Grace bites her bottom lip to the point of drawing blood.

The doctor looks down for a moment, then looks up at Grace as the drop of blood rolls down her chin. “That’s it. Call your husband. I’ll have all the medical stuff you need at the house by tonight. Tomorrow you can take Nic home and try what I am going to call a hail Mary play.”

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