Page 15 of Embraced By the Alpha Pack

“That’s a big order.” I pull Grace against me and kiss her temple.

“I want to bring everyone food. I don’t want to leave anyone out.” She shrugs and sits up as the food gets passed into the car. Diving forward again, she grabs the one bucket of chicken and starts eating.

Conrad chuckles as he pulls out into traffic. “Do you think there will be any wings in that bucket when we get home?”

Grace looks at the bucket, then over to me and then up at Conrad. “Maybe. That’s why I had you order two.” Shrugging her shoulders, she goes back to eating.

“Conrad, can we stop at the coffee shop and hit the drive through? I could really use some caffeine.” Part of me I really want the coffee, the other I want to test the pregnancy theory.

We pull into our favorite java joint and place our usual orders, plus enough for everyone at home. Grace hasn’t even noticed that we were in line yet. Between messaging the others and both sets of mothers, she’s unaware. Conrad pulls the travel trays into the car and Grace stops and she gets a sickly green color to her.

“I’m gonna be sick.” She opens the window closest to her and vomits onto the pavement.

I move closer to Grace and start rubbing her back and Conrad goes to pop the trunk and arrange the coffee haul in there. “Nice slow deep breaths, Grace. It’s going to be okay.” Slowly Grace stops heaving, then slides back into the car and lays down with her head in my lap.

“Can we go home?” Grace says softly as she turns on her side to press her forehead against my stomach, blocking out all the light.

“Anything you want, Gracie.” I watch Conrad pacing outside of the car. I know he called his brothers, alerting them to what is happening. We know she’s pregnant by scent. She hasn’t even thought of that as a possibility until I think just now.

Conrad climbs back into the driver’s seat and puts the car in drive, heading home. The enthusiasm and hope that radiated from Grace is gone. Her emotions are on lock down and I don’t know what to do to fix what’s broken. I’m an omega. My drive and what I feel is my purpose in life is to love and tend to my family. I’m at a loss when it comes to Grace. The guys are easy. A blow job usually fixes everything. Females are different. They need time to process, understanding and not to be pressured into coming to terms with things until they are ready.

Deep down in my gut, I think she’s scared she’s going to disappoint the guys if she doesn’t give birth to a son. Thinking ahead, I reach out and text the guys in our silent family chat. The same one we haven’t touched since Grace came into our lives and created the new one.

Barrett: Guys, I think Gracie just realized she’s pregnant. She’s shut down and curled up in a ball on the back seat with her head in my lap.

Griffin: Conrad filled us in. What do you need us to do?

Barrett: I believe we need to be understanding and comforting.

Ethan: We do that already. What else?

Barrett: I’ll ask her to take a test to make sure. I know we can smell it, but I don’t believe she knows we can. Whatever the result is, we react appropriately.

Griffin: WE already know the test is going to be positive.

Ethan: Stop being an asshole. Barrett means we shower her with affection and reassure her the baby no matter what the gender is will be loved. Don’t be a tool.

Griffin: Fuck, that’s right. She said her ex became an abusive asshole when Ashina was born.

Barrett: I just want mommy and baby to be happy and healthy.

Ethan: Exactly, that’s what’s most important. I’ll fucking kick your ass if you make her cry.

Griffin: I’m liking being a girl, Dad. (Sends a pic to the chat of Ashina asleep on his chest.)

Barrett: It looks good on you, Griff. We are about ten minutes out, warn the moms of what’s happening.

Looking up, I watch Conrad glance at the messages at the red light catching up. He nods and sends a smiley face emoji before refocusing on the road.

Tonight is going to be interesting.

Chapter 10

Grace

- Lost—Linkin Park-

The lyrics of the recently released Linkin Park song replays in my head on an endless loop. Getting sick not once but twice from the smell of coffee it can only mean one thing.

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