Page 44 of Coveted By the Alpha Pack

"I would wait another twenty years for you if that's what it takes. You are it for me. The sun and the moon, the very air that I breathe." My voice is steady, but inside, emotions churn wildly. I've been in and out of therapy since my eighteenth birthday when I didn't find my mate. My wolf had fought for control to hunt down its mate. He knew it was Grace and never told me. He knew when I was old enough she was too young for what he needed from her.

"I wish I was here the whole time," Grace says, peppering my face with soft, urgent kisses. The pain I see in her eyes almost undoes me. Each kiss is a silent plea for forgiveness, for time lost.

"You were barely five when your parents took you." I thread my fingers through her long hair again, the silken strands falling from between my fingers like sand. "You didn't know what I was to you. There's no way you could have known." I press my lips to her temple, feeling her pulse thrum under my lips. The heat of her body and the weight of her on my lap settles me, anchoring me to this moment.

"But I did." She pulls back and frames my face with her hands, her eyes glowing faintly with a seriousness that makes my heart stutter. "I remember crying night after night for you. I kept telling my mom 'mine.' I wanted what was mine. It didn't make sense until I was turned. You are mine, Ethan, and I am yours forever." Her words are a balm to my soul, each one sealing the bond between us tighter.

She shakes her head and lowers her eyes for a moment before they return to their human blue. "On some level, I knew you were meant to be mine. I just didn't understand what the pull was." Grace looks down and away before meeting my eyes again, her gaze filled with a mix of sadness and resolve. "I guess my instincts got confused and sensed what Hunter was, that he was the same as you. A wolf." She pauses and inhales roughly, the weight of her confession hanging in the air between us.

“Darlin’, don’t do this to yourself. None of us could have known what my healing you would cause. All I knew was that you were hurt, and I wanted to fix it. My chest hurts seeing you cry.” I gently rub my thumb over her bottom lip, searching her face for understanding. The vulnerability in her eyes mirrors my own; I’m just as damaged as she is, maybe worse. For Grace, I would raze the earth and burn it all to ash if it meant keeping her safe.

Grace nods, and as she does, I glance over her shoulder and see Griffin standing there. He nods slowly, then turns and leaves, leaving a void in his wake. “Sometimes it haunts me. What it could have been. What we could have been, all of us.” Grace sighs, and the weight of the world seems to crush down on her slender shoulders.

“I think about that a lot, too,” I admit, my voice soft. Her eyes light up watching me, a small spark of hope. “Everything has happened for a reason. At least, that’s what I’ve come to believe.” Smirking, I help Grace to her feet, then pull my shorts back on before standing. “Let’s get cleaned up and then take the bike out. Maybe getting the wind in your hair and putting some miles behind us will make you feel better.”

Grace looks up at me and smiles. “First, we shave your head,” she beams. “I want my Wolfie, not Griff part two.” She reaches up and gives my hair a playful tug, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Yeah, it’s a pain in the ass remembering to style it.” A hearty laugh escapes my lips, and I offer her my arm. “Shave, shower, then off on our adventure. Sounds like the perfect afternoon to me.” Grace giggles before taking off running ahead of me, her laughter filling the air. Who knew all this emotional openness would be so beneficial?

Chapter 27

Lorcan

-Abyss- Yungblud-

I sit in the therapy room with Grace, my heart pounding with nerves. The air feels thick with tension, and I can almost taste the apprehension on my tongue. Being blind, I rely solely on my other senses to navigate this complex world. Yet, in moments like these, I can’t help but feel acutely aware of my limitations.

As Grace speaks, her voice quivering with emotion, I strain to catch every nuance, every inflection. But without the ability to see her micro-expressions, I fear I may miss something crucial. It’s a constant battle against the unknown, a struggle to decipher the unspoken language of her heart.

We take turns attending these therapy sessions, each mate offering their support in their own way. Today, it’s my turn to be here for Grace, while Ethan waits patiently outside in the lobby. I can sense his presence, a reassuring tether in the storm of uncertainty.

The therapist’s voice cuts through the silence like a knife, his question piercing the fragile bubble of my thoughts. “So, Lorcan,” he begins, his tone probing yet gentle, “tell me how it is to be brought in as the last mate?”

My chest tightens at the question, and for a moment, I’m at a loss for words. How do I even articulate the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me? The weight of being the newcomer, the outsider, bears down on me like a heavy cloak. But amid the doubt and insecurity, there’s also a glimmer of hope, a flicker of determination to prove myself worthy of Grace’s love and trust.

Taken aback, I halt the gentle strokes on Grace’s back, my mind whirling with the therapist’s unexpected question. I reach out through the bond, summoning Ethan to our side. Grace may need him, and in my uncertainty, his presence is a comfort. With her expressions hidden from me, I feel lost, grasping for any clue to understand her inner turmoil.

The creak of the door signals Ethan’s entrance, followed by the familiar scent that fills the room, grounding me in his presence. Relief floods through me as I sense his arrival.

“You’re not scheduled to be here yet, Ethan,” the therapist interjects, a hint of surprise in his voice.

“I know,” Ethan responds, his tone dropping several octaves, commanding attention. “Lorcan asked for my assistance with Grace, considering his blindness.” His words leave no room for argument, his authority asserting itself effortlessly in the room.

“Everyone has been great,” I murmur, my accent thick, sensing Grace’s subtle movement beside me. Her presence is a comfort amidst the unfamiliar surroundings.

I gesture towards my milky white eyes, a constant reminder of the challenges I face daily. “It hasn’t been easy, all things considered,” I confess, the weight of my words palpable in the air.

Grace’s warmth beside me encourages me to continue. “I had resigned myself to the idea of being alone for the rest of my life, and strangely, I was content with it.” Memories of my past solitude linger in the recesses of my mind, a stark contrast to the companionship I now cherish.

“My brother and I ventured to America to reconnect with old friends in the Murphy pack. Little did I know that fate had other plans in store for me. After the party ended, that’s when I caught Grace’s scent,” I recall, a fond smile tugging at the corners of my lips. The memory of that moment floods my senses, igniting a warmth within me.

As if summoned by my thoughts, Grace’s hand finds its way to my beard, a gentle tug that sends shivers down my spine. Her scent envelops me, comforting and intoxicating all at once. She leans in to kiss me tenderly, a silent affirmation of our bond.

“How are you adjusting to everything, Grace?” The therapist’s voice cuts through the air, laced with a concern that feels like a weight pressing down on me. “Six mates is a lot for any female to handle. Especially one that can’t see to defend himself in times of trouble.”

His words strike a raw nerve, and I can feel the tension coil in my muscles, making my back stiffen involuntarily. Fear grips me tightly, like an icy hand clutching at my heart, as I wait anxiously for Grace’s response.

The room suddenly feels smaller, suffocating even, as the weight of the therapist’s words hangs heavily in the air. Every sound seems amplified, from the soft hum of the air conditioner to the faint rustle of papers on his desk. My senses are heightened, acutely aware of every detail, every shift in the atmosphere.

---