Page 3 of Embraced By the Alpha Pack

Shaking their heads, they watch Ashina and the other puppy play. “Sorry, my granddaughter got away from me. I was supposed to be watching her so my son could attend today.”

Ruby smiles and bends down at the same time her friend does and picks up Ashina. “You and I both know that pups do what they want. This is my granddaughter, Ashina. Grace, this is Agnes and Nina. They are part of the Volkov pack.”

The minute Ruby mentions the name of the pack, I feel my blood run cold and I start looking for an exit. “Ah, very nice … Pleasure to meet you both.” As I back away, I run into a very firm, warm chest. The scent of toasted marshmallows envelopes me, and I know I’m trapped. Ethan has stopped my escape and probably sensed how uncomfortable I am.

“It’s always a pleasure seeing you, Agnes.” Ethan’s deep voice vibrates my back and I want to melt into him and hide. His arms wrap around me, holding onto me tightly. Unconsciously, I breathe in time with him and the urge to run slowly vanishes.

“So, this is your beautiful bride?” Agnes beams as she reaches out and gently touches my arm.

“She is, and she is mated to my brothers and I as well as Barrett.” Ethan nuzzles my temple and the deep murmur of his wolf in his chest settles my beast. The discomfort of having all the strange alphas in the house slowly melts away.

Tilting my head back, I look up at Ethan’s smiling face as his hand gently grips my neck. The tips of his fingers press on the muscles of my throat, not hurting me. It’s a dark promise for fun later. “Thankfully, the humans aren’t here, otherwise we would be the talk of the town.” He turns me and kisses me passionately, getting everyone around us to cheer him on. Do I like being watched with my mates? I’ll have to examine that little tidbit later.

We break apart and I can’t help giggling at him. Ethan makes me blush as I shake my head. “You’re incorrigible.” Playfully I slap his chest then dart away into the crowd heading towards Griffin. The heavy thudding of Ethan’s shoes behind me makes me giggle even harder. It seems now I’ve been given the idea of being chased is even more fun. “Griff.” I scream as I leap into his arms. He spins us in a circle and the next thing I know, I’m sandwiched between both twins.

“Your scent is changing, baby girl…” The deep rumble of Griffin’s voice shoots straight to my core.

Ethan nuzzles the back of my neck and smiles against my skin. “Someone is getting ready to go into her first heat.” He drags his teeth along my shoulder, making my skin feel like it’s on fire. My canines elongate and I feel my claws break free of my fingertips. Dragging my hands down Griffin’s chest, I shred the shirt from his body before I come to my senses.

“What’s wrong with me?” It takes everything within me to pull myself free of the twin sandwich I found myself in the middle of. My skin is on fire, and my core aches thinking about my mates.

Ruby comes up alongside of me and pulls me away from the boys. “Control yourselves. It’s not the first time you two bone heads have been around females in heat. It’s different because you’re mates. The drive to reproduce will get stronger.” Ruby stares into my eyes as she tells us about my first heat.

My heart sinks slowly as I think about my heat and a mysterious mate number five floating around at the wrong time. Part of me wants to run, the other part hide. The more dominant side wants to lock myself away with my four bonded mates and take care of business.

Ruby smiles and pats me on the arm and drags me away from the guys. “Come along child, I’ll help you get through this. It will get easier once you know what to expect.” Ruby and Agnes take me to the alpha house and into the master bathroom. Agnes sets her grand daughter down and goes about starting the water in the tub. “We’re going to put you in the bath with some herbs so you don’t lose your mind during the heat.”

“Herbs will help?” Furrowing my brow, I’m puzzled by how simple herbs are going to deaden the drive within me.

“The herbs will cover your scent. It’s more so that whatever happens is on your terms, not the guys losing their minds.” Agnes supplies as she drops herbs into the steaming tub. “Don’t worry, we will leave extra satchels of pre-mixed herbs for you to use daily.” Agnes smiles as I watch her.

“Tell me about your son.” My curiosity is getting the better of me. He’s older and handsome, but that’s all I really know about him.

“As you already know, he was present for the christening of your alpha mates. I believe, depending on the time of year, he’s about eight years older than they are.” Agnes goes on about other details and it all sounds like it’s underwater to me. If he’s eight years older than they are and they are six years older than me. That makes him thirteen years, almost fourteen years older than I am. My mini panic attack occurs just as I step into the tub and submerge myself completely. As I open my eyes underwater, looking up towards the surface, I see Ethan staring down at me.

He pulls me up, forcing me to surface. “Is there a reason you were panicking underwater?” Arching a brow, he stares at me, then smiles. I can assume by the change in demeanor he knows exactly what has me in a panic.

“You obviously know that Nicolai is at least thirteen years older than me.” I stare up at Ethan for a moment and sigh as I look down and away.

“I told the guys the age thing may be an issue for you. Our difference isn’t bad. Almost six years isn’t huge in the entire scheme of things.” Ethan says sympathetically as he reaches over and grabs the loofa and nudges me forward. Leaning forward, I hear him squeeze the soap bottle, then feel him starting slow circles as he washes my back.

“You don’t have to bathe me, Ethan. I can do it myself.” My voice is far softer than I expected, and I relax under his care.

“I know I don’t. I want to. There are several things I can’t protect you from, and it kills me I can’t.” He chuckles softly. “I can’t stop your cycle. It’s the natural order of things. Nicolai, being another mate, I can’t stop, again it’s as nature intended.” He stops washing my shoulders and moves into my field of vision. “When ever it is you grant us a chance to have babies with you. I can’t take away the pain and experience it for you.” He bites his bottom lip and I can feel through the bond he means every single word.

There are several things I know I must accomplish. I need to fix the bond with Griffin so my wolf doesn’t cause issues in the future. There’s a fifth mate I need to get to know for myself. The age difference bothers me, but I can deal with it as long as he’s a good man. Grams always said never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Who knows, Nicolai may be the gift I never knew I needed.

Chapter 3

Griffin

- If Tomorrow Never Comes–Bad Wolves & Ice Nine Kills-

Pacing the deck seems to have become a new favorite pastime of mine as I listen to Conrad, Ambrose, and Nicolai talking about Grace. Ambrose and Conrad recount Grace’s creation to Nicolai and I watch the horror morph on his face. Grace is battle born, created through trauma and the love of her sire. The near death experience created a Moon Wolf, one of the strongest of us all. In a fight, I honestly believe she would defeat Ethan in a heartbeat. But her sire bond to him would never allow her to raise fang or claw to him in anger.

“Griff?” Conrad steps into my path and stops me in my tracks. With the exasperated look on his face and the shaking of his head. I can tell he’s been trying to get my attention for a while.

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