Page 2 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

“That’s a perfectly natural reaction, Grace. I’m proud of you for admitting to it.” Mark’s praise rolls over me, and my wolf instantly bristles, fur prickling as if he’s speaking down to us. I can feel the simmer of her irritation clawing just beneath the surface.

‘A delta shouldn’t take that tone with us,’she growls, her voice a low, dangerous hum.

I remind her gently, ‘He’s not in our pack. Not our problem.’But even as I think about it, I can’t shake the tension coiling in my muscles.

“Your wolf is showing, Grace. What did she just say to you?” Mark’s question slices through the air, his probing voice pushing too far, too fast. My pulse quickens, a hot wave of anger rising as my wolf snarls louder in my mind.

“You’re a delta,” I snap, teeth gritted as I lock eyes with him. “She feels you’re being condescending, masking it under theguise of praise. She doesn’t like it.” My voice comes out rough, the growl rumbling in my chest, barely suppressed.

Mark’s face pales for a split second before he straightens, quickly nodding. “I apologize to both of you, Luna. For my tone.” His words are careful now, like someone tiptoeing through broken glass. He shifts uncomfortably before glancing over at Conrad, eager to change the subject. “How is the separation for you?” His tone is casual, but I see the flicker of something else behind his eyes as his brow arches.

I turn to look at the screen, where Conrad’s face flickers with a forced smile. “I’m in the same place as Grace with it. Being away from everyone is stressful,” he admits, voice quieter than usual. “But Barrett came with me for the trip, so at least I’m not alone.” His gaze drops, and the smile falters, leaving only the weight of his words hanging between us.

Mark tilts his head, a predator circling closer. “If I remember correctly, you and Barrett were involved before Grace, correct?”

The room seems to still, my breath catching in my throat as Conrad sighs. “Yes. We were together for almost fifteen years before Grace.” He bites his bottom lip, eyes refusing to meet mine.

Fifteen years.The number ricochets through my head, and I blink, doing the math in my head far too quickly. Fifteen years before me. The implication hits me like a physical blow. Conrad and Barrett were together before his eighteenth birthday.

My mouth drops open, my heart pounding with the sudden onslaught of questions. “Did I...? Are you...? Are we...?” The words falter on my tongue, each incomplete thought spiraling into a tangled web of confusion. Was Conrad only ever into menbefore me? Is our bond... forcing him into something outside his nature? The thought makes my stomach twist painfully, and suddenly, I can’t breathe.

Before I can fall deeper into the panic, Griffin opens the door and pulls me effortlessly into his lap, his muscular arms wrapping around me like a lifeline. Nicolai takes the seat beside me, his warmth grounding me even as I struggle to comprehend. My eyes stay locked on Conrad.Am I interrupting the life he was supposed to have with Barrett?

“You told her, didn’t you?” Griffin’s voice cuts through the chaos in my head, his tone more statement than question. Conrad nods, his shoulders slumping under the weight of my unspoken fears.

“I’ve always been pansexual, Grace,” he says softly, his voice carrying the sincerity I so desperately need to hear. “Barrett too. We love who we love because of who they are, not their gender. Yes, Barrett and I have always leaned towards males. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. You’re my mate. Our mate.”

His words settle over me, but the uncertainty still claws at the edges of my mind. Nicolai leans in, his voice low and reassuring. “You know Felicity and Anna in my pack? They’re mated and both females. If they weren’t meant to be mates, they wouldn’t have bonded the way they did.”

I exhale slowly, my nerves settling slightly as the weight of Nicolai’s words sinks in. Despite that, part of me wonders...Am I enough?

Mark flips through his notes from previous sessions, his brow furrowing slightly before he sighs. The sound is heavy, weighted with a mix of exhaustion and perhaps something deeper—asense of urgency. “I have a little bit of homework for Grace and Conrad.” His voice breaks the silence, and my stomach tightens, anticipating what he’s going to say next. His gaze flickers between Conrad’s face on the tablet propped on the table and me, settling long enough to make me feel exposed, like he’s seeing through the surface of things.

“I want you two to spend at least an hour on video chat talking about different aspects of your life,” he says, his tone soft but firm. “I feel like part of the bond made you two skip vital ‘getting to know you’ parts of the relationship.” The way he says it—like it’s something we missed, something important—makes my pulse quicken. I glance at the screen, where Conrad’s face remains neutral, though his eyes shift ever so slightly, almost like he’s bracing himself too.

Mark tilts his head, his attention now moving to Griffin and Nicolai, who sit nearby, their bodies tense, like they’re expecting more than just this small assignment. “You know what, let’s make it a thing with everyone,” Mark continues, his voice picking up momentum. “One hour of talking without sex or pack politics involved. One on one, maybe individual date nights. For those not at home, maybe set time aside to do an activity together. There are plenty of games you can play over the internet to work together and spend time.”

His suggestion isn’t bad—I can see the logic in it—but there’s something about it that makes my chest feel tight, like the air in the room is suddenly too thick. I nod along with his words, trying to ignore the prickling unease creeping up my spine. An hour of talking... no distractions... just us. It sounds simple, but I know better than to think it will be easy.

“We’ll call a family meeting for either tonight or tomorrow to get a schedule set for everyone to have their bonding time,” Griffinannounces, his voice calm and commanding as he takes control of the situation. His fingers move swiftly across his phone, sending out a text to the family group chat. I watch him, the tension in his jaw barely noticeable, but I see it. There’s always something simmering beneath the surface, something more than what’s being said.

Chapter 3

Nicolai

Griffin sends the message out,and I respond quickly: I’m available whenever. The replies from everyone else trickle in, almost identical.

“I’ll set a day and time; everyone seems to have an open evening schedule,” Griffin says, striding over to grab the tablet. His movements are calm, but I can already feel the tension building inside me. “Enjoy your session with Grace.” He leaves, and it feels like I’ve been dropped into hell.

“Let’s start with your first official date, shall we?” Mark’s voice cuts through the room, too cheerful for what’s about to unfold. Grace growls immediately, a low, dangerous sound rumbling from her chest.

“No,” she snaps, turning her head toward the door, her whole body radiating defiance.

I can feel the heaviness settle over us like a thick fog. “I’m okay with it starting there, Grace,” I say softly, trying to get into her line of sight, but all I see is the pain and anger flickering in her eyes.

“No...” Her voice is softer this time, almost broken. “I don’t want to think about it.” She lowers her gaze, biting her bottom lip, her posture shifting from fiery resistance to quiet vulnerability.

But we need to go through this. I know it, and so does she. I curl my index finger under her chin, gently lifting her face so her eyes meet mine. “I have zero regrets about what happened, Grace. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.” I search her face, watching as the fire in her eyes slowly dims, replaced by sadness. She drops her gaze once more.

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