Page 2 of Coveted By the Alpha Pack

Andrea’s voice pierces through my reverie, her astonishment palpable as she gazes at me. “Another mate? Not just any mate. That’s Lorcan. He’s a renowned healer in Ireland,” Andrea whispers, her words hanging heavy in the air, laden with meaning.

I feel a knot form in the pit of my stomach as her words sink in, a mixture of awe and apprehension swirling within me. Lorcan. The name reverberates through my mind like a thunderclap, sending shivers down my spine. The realization hits me like a tidal wave, crashing over me with its sheer force.

“What have I done…” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper as I bury my face in my hands. The weight of my actions bearing down on me like a crushing weight. A heavy sigh escapes my lips, carrying with it a sense of resignation and regret.

“You don’t have to worry about any more mates. And the best news is the packs are satisfied that you are not being hidden from them to keep from taking another mate,” Andrea reassures me, her hands moving deftly as she prepares snacks.

As her words sink in, a mix of relief and disbelief floods through me, mingling with the exhaustion that seems to permeate every fiber of my being. I fix my gaze on Andrea, hoping to find solace in the chaos in my mind. “My new house is on fire. I have a new mate and three pups, and supposedly I have dominion over all the packs,” I blurt out, the weight of my words hanging heavy in the air.

“It could be worse,” Andrea replies with a casual shrug, her nonchalant demeanor contrasting sharply with the turmoil raging inside me.

“I don’t even want to know,” I mutter, rolling my eyes in frustration. Drawing in a deep breath, I try to steady myself against the overwhelming tide of emotions threatening to engulf me. With six mates and a tumultuous history with my ex, the last thing I need is any more complications.

Just as I spiral, the house phone rings. Andrea grabs it and listens to whoever is on the other side. The way the expression falls from her face, panic engulfs me. “It’s Elinor…” Andrea says, and my worst fear has become a reality.

“Is she?” dead … I can’t bring myself to say it.

“No, not yet, but it’s getting close. You should probably go,” Andrea says as Ethan comes through the door with Deacon strapped to his chest and the girls holding his hands.

He sees the look on my face and nods slowly. “Andrea, take the girls to my mom. I’ll keep Deacon with us.” My daughters go to Andrea and they leave out the back.

“What’s going on?” Barrett says as he opens the kitchen door.

“Grams is…” I choke on the word.

Barrett nods and turns back towards the livingroom. “Con, we need to go. Get the car.” Ethan’s phone goes off and I can hear the three way call between Griffin and Nicolai. Ethan fills them in as we move into the livingroom.

“I need…” My voice waivers and Lorcan stands abruptly.

“I’m going with you, lass. Shamus, get me to the car. I need to be there for my mate.” Lorcan’s eyes glow, the muted yellow rises under the haze.

He means every word he says … My wolf tells me.

Ethan leads me past Lorcan and his brother and out to our waiting car. Grams has been staying either with Ethan’s mom or with Nicolai’s, depending on who has the children. Today it’s Nicolai’s mom. Conrad hops behind the driver’s seat and fires up the car. I carefully remove my son from the carrier that Ethan is wearing and feed him on the way.

My son latches on and it’s the only thing keeping me grounded at the moment. Grams is old and has lived a good life. I’m glad I got to be here for the last almost year with her. “Darlin, you're doing that eyebrow thing.” Ethan reaches out and rubs between my eyebrows, trying to smooth the tension away.

“I wish I could do something. Even if I were to give her a wolf. There’s no guarantee that it wouldn’t kill her.” I stare down at my son, watching his little chubby cheeks working as he nurses.

“We never try to turn the old or the sick. The dying is a gray area. It only has a chance to work when it’s their mate trying.” Ethan’s large hand comes to rest on my shoulder and he pulls me to lean against him.

“Grandpa is long dead, so that’s not an option.” I sigh, watching my son deciding to keep focused on him for the time being.

Several pings hit Ethan’s phone, and he exhales. “Nicolai caught and killed the rogues that burned the house. Griffin is with Grams, keeping her comfortable. Nic is on his way. Lor and Shamus are behind us, following along.” I nod, listening to the list as he goes through it.

The tires crunch on the dirt road beneath us as we make our way between the Murphy pack lands and into the Volkov territory. Each bump and jolt sends shivers through me, a tangible reminder of the weight of what lies ahead. Crossing the small bridge, I focus on the rhythmic sound of the tires moving over the wooden planks, a comforting rhythm amidst the tumult of my thoughts.

But then, amidst the sound of the tires, another noise emerges, one that fills me with both warmth and bittersweet longing. It’s the sound of my son nursing, his heartbeat a steady cadence that echoes in my ears. With each beat, memories flood my mind, memories of being a little girl playing with Grams, learning to cook from her, and all the countless art projects we shared. Grams was more than just a grandmother; she was my rock, my confidante, the one who nurtured my dreams.

She was the one who encouraged me to write my werewolf saga, believing in me even when I doubted myself. She supported every wild dream I ever had, even as she feared the consequences of me meeting my mates. Yet, the first time she saw us together, she knew in her heart it was a good thing.

As the Volkov alpha house comes into view in the distance, tears threaten to break free. A lump forms in my throat, and I struggle to hold back the wave of emotions crashing over me. A huge part of my life is about to come to an end, and at this moment, I feel utterly powerless to stop it.

Chapter 2

Ethan

-Black Sheep- Dorothy

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