Page 46 of Coveted By the Alpha Pack

Grace

-Wolf- Saint Astoria-

The rest of the drive through the winding roads to reach the Cruz pack lands is cloaked in silence. Each twist and turn of the road seems to amplify the weight of the impending meeting. I take advantage of the quiet to message Barrett, and his response only serves to heighten my unease. He and Nicolai are at Ruby’s house, watching over the babies. The news of the recent attack on the edge of Volkov lands sends shivers down my spine, stirring memories of the confrontation with Hunter not too long ago. It’s unsettling how close these threats are drawing to home.

Nicolai’s mention of his trusted betas, including his cousin Clem, being assigned to our protection detail does little to ease my nerves. I find myself staring at the messages from Barrett and Nicolai, a mix of reassurance and concern swirling within me. With a frustrated sigh, I toss my phone onto the dashboard, the device feeling heavy in my hand.

“What’s wrong, darlin’?” Ethan’s voice breaks through the heavy silence, his touch gentle as his hand finds its place on my thigh.

“I’m not defenseless,” I reply, frustration lacing my tone. “Why does everyone treat me like I’m still some fragile human?”

Before Ethan can respond, Lorcan interjects, his voice steady but firm. “You have six lives tied to yours. If they manage to harm you, capture you... there’s nothing any of us wouldn’t do to get you back.” His words hang in the air, a somber reminder of the weight of responsibility I carry not just for myself, but for those who depend on me.

I bow my head, my hand seeking Ethan’s for comfort, and release a heavy sigh. “If I knew I was dying, I would set you all free,” I confess softly. It’s a conversation I’ve been having with Ethan’s mom for weeks now, a weight that hangs heavily between us. The words spill out, not from selfishness, but from a desperate desire for our children to still have their fathers by their side.

“I forbid it. I die when you die. Do you hear me, Gracie?” Ethan’s use of my childhood nickname pierces through my resolve like a blade. His words, laced with determination, shake me to my core.

“But the babies need you,” I murmur, my bottom lip trembling as I meet his gaze, fighting back the tears threatening to spill over.

“I refuse to live without you again,” Ethan declares, his voice filled with raw emotion as he pulls the car over and puts it in park, turning to face me fully. “Don’t you understand how vital you are to all of us? How much we love you?” His words hang in the air, heavy with unspoken truths.

Ethan sighs, his head lowering, and I see the pain etched in every line of his face. “Free the others, let me die with you,” he implores, his eyes hollow with anguish. In that moment, I realize the depth of his love, his willingness to sacrifice everything for me. And in turn, I know I would do the same for him, for all of them. I would gladly give my life to save theirs, then set them free with my last breath.

“How about we try not dying?” Lorcan’s thick brogue slices through the heavy atmosphere, momentarily lifting the weight pressing down on us.

“That would be ideal,” Ethan responds, his hand tightening around my thigh, a silent reassurance, as he maneuvers the car back into drive, propelling us forward along the road once more.

As we crest the next hill, the scene before us unfolds in a landscape of devastation. It’s as if a raging stampede has torn through the once serene surroundings. Saplings lie snapped in half, their broken forms scattered amidst a chaotic array of moss and dirt. The air is thick with the pungent scent of churned earth, and tufts of fur litter the ground as far as the eye can see.

A part of me is inexplicably drawn to the destruction. A curious fascination mingled with a sense of dread. Yet, another part, more sensible and cautious, urges restraint, warning against venturing too close to the aftermath of whatever calamity has transpired.

As the car grinds to a halt, my heart lurches at the sight of Griffin standing amidst the chaos, his silhouette etched against the backdrop of destruction. Without hesitation, I fling open the door and step out onto the scene.

The air is thick with tension, the acrid scent of smoke and fear mingling in the breeze. I close the distance between us, my senses on high alert, taking in the devastation with a slow, deliberate sweep of my gaze.

“What happened?” I demand, my eyes flicking between Griffin and the beta werewolves from both Nic’s and Cruz’s packs, who stand grim-faced amidst the wreckage. Anxiety gnaws at me as I take in the scene, the devastation overwhelming. The air is thick with the acrid scent of smoke and blood.

“The elder has seized control of the rogues since Hunter’s demise,” the beta explains, his voice heavy with weariness as he gestures towards the ravaged landscape. “He tore through here like a hurricane, leaving nothing but destruction in his wake.” The sight of the ruined forest and the shattered lives tugs at my heart, the pain almost palpable.

My gaze shifts to Ethan, who meticulously examines the crime scene with a steely determination. The intensity in his eyes mirrors the storm brewing within me. “How many fatalities?” I inquire, a knot tightening in my stomach even before the beta has a chance to respond.

“Eight,” he answers, his gaze falling upon the scattered remnants strewn across the forest floor like macabre offerings to long-forgotten gods. The weight of his words sinks into me, each one a dagger to my heart.

“Ethan?” I call out, my voice cutting through the tense air like a knife. His head snaps up, and his eyes meet mine, reflecting the turmoil swirling beneath the surface. There’s a fierce determination in his gaze that both comforts and unsettles me.

“There were at least ten wolves with the elder,” Ethan begins, his voice low and gravelly. He picks up a rod from the ground, its weight unfamiliar in his grip. “One of them was wielding a bow, picking off our patrol from a distance. No poison on the arrows, just a distraction.”

I watch as Ethan’s demeanor shifts, subtle yet unmistakable. The primal essence of his wolf stirs within him, a dangerous undercurrent beneath his human facade. Instinctively, I move closer to him, sensing the volatile energy simmering just beneath the surface.

“Strip and shift,” I urge him gently, my voice a soothing melody amidst the chaos. “Your wolf is close to the surface. Let it out.”

With a nod, Ethan sheds his clothes, his movements tense with anticipation. Before long, his wolf bursts forth, a magnificent creature with eyes that gleam with primal intensity. He rubs his muzzle against my thigh in a gesture of silent gratitude before lowering his nose to the ground, scenting the air with purpose.

“Grace?” Lorcan’s voice breaks through the moment, drawing my attention away from Ethan’s transformation.

“Yeah?” I respond, my focus shifting to Lorcan as he approaches, his expression earnest and filled with a mix of hope and fear.

“I can see better as my wolf. I can help Ethan search,” Lorcan offers, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. Glancing back at Ethan, I see him lift his head in acknowledgment, a silent acceptance of Lorcan’s offer.

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