Page 24 of Embraced By the Alpha Pack

She finishes making her choices and backs away from the plans. Looking them over it makes me proud of the fact she knows what she wants. The design would fit in two of the plans I have drawn. My favorite one and a compromised one that would also work for her desires. I flip the designs over and show her the exterior design of the two plans that would work for the house she desires. “Which exterior pleases you? Both designs can fit what you want and how you want it.”

Grace looks at the two designs and pushes my favorite one forward. “This reminds me of a doll house I had as a little girl. I would like this one please, Nic.” She turns and looks up at me with a radiant smile.

“Your wish is my desire.” Leaning forward, I kiss her cheek and look at the others. “I’m going to deliver this to my office so the plans can be put into motion.” Curling up the plans with the exterior she wants dog-eared. “I’ll be back in time for supper. Conrad, can you please take me to my office since my car is for lack of a better word out of commission?”

“Sure Nic, the sooner we leave, the sooner we can return.” Conrad kisses Grace’s lips, then leads me around the side of the house and towards his car.

Today for the first time in a long time I have a hope for the future that wasn’t there before.

Chapter 15

Ethan

- Watch the World Burn—Falling in Reverse-

The attack on the babies was the final straw. I watched my gentle mate lose herself to her wolf, and tear through the rogues like a child through wrapping paper. Sitting back, I watch Grace interact with Nic and she’s unsure, and it’s mostly because of what she did to get the babies back.

We walk around the front of the house and Grace watches Nic and Conrad leave. She tilts her head several times before spinning on her heels to face me. “Am I a monster?” She looks down at her hands. “I mean, when I close my eyes, I see what I did all over again. All the blood and death that surrounded me.” She flips her hands back and forth, looking them over as if seeing blood on them. Her human conscience has caught up with what her wolf had done.

“Come with me.” I take hold of her hand and start walking her to the northern part of the property. It’s a feeder stream that feeds the river that she first saw Nic. “This is a tough conversation. I need reinforcements for this one.” I text Ambrose and Griffin since we need Barrett to watch over Ashina. Both Alphas agree to meet us at the location I indicated.

“Why do you need reinforcements for this? I don’t understand.” Grace tilts her head, then moves to sit on a log near the stream.

“I’ve always been the monster in the family.” Huffing out a laugh, I sit on the dirt in front of her. “I was paid to hunt humans that jumped bail. Hunt humans … A wolf was paid to hunt humans.” I enunciate the sentences and watch for Grace’s reaction.

“They were criminals. You were doing a good thing.” She nods, sure of her answer.

Before I get the chance to speak, I see Griffin approaching with Ambrose in tow. I knew they had a meeting about the rogue issue today while I was tasked with keeping Grace busy. “Not all of my hunts were for criminals, Darlin. A few of them were for dads that stole their children or moms that did the same.”

Ambrose steps into Grace’s line of sight and gives her a slight wave. “Rogues are criminals against pack law. Most times, depending on the crime, the rogues are executed on the spot.” He moves and crouches down in front of Grace and takes her hands in his. Normally this kind of move would anger me, but he’s trying to help, so I’ll allow it. “You protected your daughter and your mate’s daughter against rogues that if they were captured would have been executed.” He offers a sincere smile and looks up at Griffin.

“Ambrose is correct, if any of the rogues would have lived they would have been executed before the council. So in a sense you did like Ethan would do and took out those that should have been removed long ago.” Griffin states calmly before he turns and motions back to the house.

Barrett comes out with both pups in tow and Ambrose looks from Grace to me, then back to the pups. “I’m guessing one is Nic’s?” Looking now at the little ones, their markings are very similar.

“Yes.” I reach down and scoop up Ashina and hold her to my chest. Barrett reaches down and picks up Nina and holds her. Ashina shifts back to her human form and starts patting my face, giggling. “Someone can be a very naughty pup sometimes.” Nuzzling Ashina, I hear Grace giggle.

“If I wasn’t already pregnant Id be worried about my ovaries exploding. You guys are too precious with my baby.” Grace leans forward and nuzzles her baby, kissing her cheeks. I doubt she realizes how much her actions are wolven and not human.

“She’s our daughter. You gave her life and you are our mate. It’s as simple as that. Nic’s daughter is ours since he is part of our family unit.” Shrugging my shoulders, I feel as if it’s a rather simple concept to accept.

Grace nods and smiles up at me, then over at Ambrose. “Thank you for coming all this way to help them cheer me up.” Slowly, she moves forward and pecks his cheek before moving over to Griffin. “Griff, I’m hungry. Can you make your french toast for me for lunch? You make it the best.” Grace pouts and Griffin is done for.

“Of course, light on the cinnamon or somewhere in the middle?” He presses his lips to her forehead and I watch her melt. It makes me happy that they worked through their initial issues and are closer now.

“Light please, Wolfie and I are gonna finish our walk, then we’ll be home. I’ll text you so the food won’t be squishie.” Grace scrunches her nose looking at Griffin and he chuckles.

“See you soon, baby girl.” Griffin and Ambrose turn and walk away, leaving Grace and me alone.

“We do have other things to talk about, Darlin. How are you feeling about Nic in the family?” We start walking again and as we do, Ashina falls asleep in my arms, drooling on my chest.

Grace stops walking and moves in front of me. Her fingers adjust her daughter’s curls away from her face before she looks up at me. “Better.” Bitting her bottom lip, she draws in a deep breath before speaking again. “Nic almost died so that I could live. We weren’t bonded in any way, shape or form beyond knowing what we are to each other.” Grace shakes her head as she glances down for a moment, then looks up again. “I ran from my mate, the same one that saved me. I was such a chickenshit.”

“Grace, there is no way for any of us to know what the future holds. There’s nothing to have any guilt over or bad feelings. It all worked out in the end and that’s what matters.” Grace looks as shocked as I feel, having spouted some deep philosophical shit.

“I guess you’re right Wolfie, I still feel bad that I ran from him. I thought we, the five of us, were it.” Shrugging her shoulders, she looks her daughter over again, then giggles.

“What’s so funny?” My curiosity is getting the better of me.

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