Page 44 of Embraced By the Alpha Pack

Nic shifts first and holds his hands out. “I have brought my mate and her other mates here. With the help of our Elder Benjamin, we are joining the Murphy Pack with the Volkov pack as well as what remains of the Gratus Pack.” Nic announces and several growls echo in the street.

Benjamin steps forward. “We are in the presence of a true Lunar Wolf. Her power and presence have been tested and felt by the elders. We certify Grace Murphy is this generation’s Lunar Wolf.” He turns and motions for me to step forward.

Glancing at Ethan, he nods and follows several steps behind me. I feel naked being out in the open like this so that everyone can see my snow white fur. It’s thicker than what any of them possess.

“Lunar Wolves are created, not born!” someone yells from the back of the pack.

Barrett steps forward and holds onto my robe, standing next to me. I know what’s expected of me. I shift back to my human form. Dozens of scars litter my pregnant body. Areas where deep, healed gashes can be seen. Spots where the jagged edges of where my ex rended the flesh from my body trying to turn me. Ethan’s wolfs bite emblazoned on my shoulder, a testament of the strength of our bond. Nic’s pack goes silent as Ethan moves to stand before me, offering me his strength and comfort.

“My ex almost killed me when he abducted me. He tried turning me, forcing a mate bond on me. Unfortunately for him, I had found my fated mates in the Murphy Alphas and Barrett. Later, at my public wedding to Ethan, I met Nicolai and found out he was also a fated mate.” I meet his pack’s gaze as Barrett slips my robe over my shoulders and helps me fasten it in place.

“Who turned you?” One of the women in the front asked. Her eyes are tear filled, having seen my scars.

“Ethan, or should I say his wolf did.” Barrett helps me kneel and I lower the shoulder of my robe. Ethan’s massive black wolf approaches and opens his mouth, resting his teeth over my shoulder, engulfing it completely.

Whispers erupt through the crowd as the gravity of my turning hit them all. A Lunar Wolf is created from a violent, near death experience that turns them. Since my fated mate was the one that turned me, my bond and temperament are different. I’m not a war machine like the other Lunar Wolves in the past. I may have Ethan’s wonderful temperament, but I am, mostly, calm and rational.

Chapter 26

Nicolai

- Burn it to the Ground–Nickelback-

Watching Grace shift and bear her pregnant body to the three packs has my hackles standing on end. I’ve seen her scars, but for whatever reason, they look worse in this light. Even the elder cringed, looking at her body. Barrett helps her with the robe, then she shows us how Ethan turned her. She must have been within a breath of dying to endure the bite from his wolf.

The size of his maw compared to her shoulder is mind blowing. I had wondered how she acquired that scar. When we bit her, the scars are small half moons because only our canines were used. He used his entire wolven mouth. Watching my pack, several members look pissed. Others are in awe of Grace.

“Whose pup is she carrying?” Someone yelled from the back and I shake my head.

“It doesn’t matter whose it is. It is all of ours.” I growl out, staring at the back of the pack. I know who asked the question and I will be damned if I’m going to allow a one-night stand to mess with my mate.

“Is that it? We have a Luna and now four Alphas?” Jason one of my betas questions. Double blinking, I stare at my beta shocked by his question.

Grace smiles up at me and steps forward. “No. You have one alpha and one Luna. Nicolai is still be Alpha of this pack.” Her voice carries through the pack and she raises her hands and a soothing feeling washes over everyone. “Griffin will remain in control of the Murphy Pack and Conrad will assume control over what was the Gratus Pack.” She looks over at the elder and he nods.

“With joining the three packs, a joint name is needed. I chose to register us as the Wolf Creek Pack since Wolf Creek runs through all three lands. It seemed fitting.” Grace keeps her head held high as she looks at everyone gathered.

Murmurs move through the crowd, some agreeing with the name, others complaining they want things to remain how they are. “Things are not changing.” My voice booms and my pack silences immediately. I rarely raise my voice and they know I’m pissed when I do. “I have a Luna now, that is the big change. We are part of a bigger pack now.” I motion to the Murphy and Gratus packs behind me.

“This union of the packs ensures safety in numbers with the increasing rogue issues.” Reaching back, I grab a hold of Grace’s hand and give it a squeeze. Ethan moves to her opposite side and holds her other hand. “We have allies within our joined packs. No more having to call and HOPE for help. Through Grace, I can summon the full might of the Murphy and Gratus packs to come to our aid. Through Grace, they can do the same when they need us.”

Out of the corner of my eye I watch Grace close hers and she hums softly and a soothing feeling like a warm blanket washes over me. As I look around, the others are feeling it, too. “I don’t like using my gifts.” Grace says as she releases both of our hands. “Our families will be safer with the packs joined like this.” She smiles as she looks back and me, then over at Ethan. “All four of my alphas have their own prowess in battle and will work diligently to make sure the safety of all is maintained.” Grace yet again defers power back to us. She amazes me when she does that.

“You are the Lunar Wolf. You are supposed to rule all of us,” Althea calls from the sidelines. She is one of the oldest wolves in the pack.

“You’re right I am. My choice to keep the Alphas in power is what is best for everyone. I don’t know everyone’s names here, do I?” She tilts her head then looks over at me. “Nicolai knows your name and probably your birthday and family tree. All things I will learn in time.” Althea seems pleased with Grace’s answer and lowers her head to her. Grace does the same and I feel the minute their bond snaps in place.

“Althea has acknowledged Grace as her Luna. What of the rest of you?” I move to stand behind Grace and wrap my arms around her and rest my hands on her stomach, waiting.

The hesitation in the pack makes me uneasy. One by one, they lower their heads in deference to Grace. Only one wolf refuses to lower her head and I don’t recognize her. “Fuck! Get her!” Griffin yells and his betas take off chasing after the woman I don’t know.

Grace is shaking and lowers her head to my pack, snapping the bonds in place. “What’s happening?” I say, looking at Griffin.

“That’s Roxy. We’ve been hunting her for months. She’s with Grace’s ex hell bent on killing our Luna.” Griffin looks over at Ethan, then back at me. “Get Grace back to my house. I’ll beef up security. Barrett, don’t leave Grace’s side,” Griffin says before shifting to join in the hunt.

“Con?” Grace says softly and to hear her this broken makes my heart ache.

“Yes?”

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