Page 20 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

The roarof the engine fades into the background as Ethan and I tear down the road, the weight of what’s coming pressing against my chest. His workout playlist fills the silence between us, and ‘All Animal’ blares through the helmets speakers. The song’s raw, primal energy thrumming in my veins. Each word reverberates inside me, syncing with the steady beat of my wolf’s pulse. It’s more than just a song—it’s an anthem, a reminder of how far I’ve come. I used to be human, but now … now I’m something else. Something more. Somethingdangerous.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and an icy shiver snakes down my spine.The Elder. His presence slithers into my awareness like a foul scent carried on the wind. My wolf snarls, teeth bared, her instincts roaring to the surface.

Blake is close.

‘Ethan,’I growl through our bond, the urgency sharp enough to cut. He’s silent for a beat, but I know he feels it too. The shift in the air, the weight of something dark and dangerous settling over us.

We’re so close I can practically taste Blake’s blood on my tongue. The thought sends a surge of satisfaction through me. Every step brings me closer to him, closer to ending this nightmare. The sooner I take that bastard down, the sooner I can bring my mates and children back. I’ve been separated from them fortoo long.

Ethan parks the bike in one smooth, practiced motion, and before I even register it, I’m off, my muscles coiled and ready. My feet hit the ground, and I’m moving, the savage burn of my wolf forcing the shift as soon as my clothes hit the ground.

Nothing—nothing—is going to keep me away from my mates and babies any longer. My anger is a living thing, hot and wild, fueling every stride. I know hunting Blake like this is dangerous, reckless even, but I don’t care. Thirteen wolves are with me, including Ethan. I’m not alone, but the fire burning inside me feels like mine alone.

‘Wait up.’Ethan’s voice snaps through the bond. A thread of caution wrapped around the words. I grit my teeth but slow to a walk, my heart pounding like a war drum as the shack looms into view.

The shadows shift around me, concealing the white of my fur as I move closer, my breath coming in slow, controlled exhales. ‘It’s almost over,’ I think, forcing the words through our bond.‘My babies can come home. I want my family back together.’I can barely keep the desperation from leaking into my tone, the longing cutting deep.

‘I know, Gracie,’Ethan replies, his voice gentle yet firm.‘But don’t do anything irrational. We strike as a team.’His reminder is a sharp blade, slicing through my haze of rage. He’s right, of course.He always is. Since getting his MC involved, the planhas changed. It’s no longer just about me and my vengeance—it’s about strategy. Patience.

But all I can think of is Blake. All I can think of is the blood that’s about to spill.

The moon is high, casting an eerie glow over the clearing, and the shack crouches in the darkness like a predator waiting to pounce.‘This is it,’I think, my heart pounding in time with the primal rhythm still echoing in my mind. Nothing is going to stop me.

Creeping around the perimeter of the house, the hair on the back of my neck prickles. Every step feels wrong, heavy with the weight of a trap just waiting to be sprung. Something deep inside gnaws at me, urging me to stop, back up, and reassess. My breath catches in my throat, heart pounding as I crouch lower into the underbrush, scanning the windows.

What am I missing?

‘What made you stop?’Ethan’s wolf presses up against my side, his warmth grounding me, though it doesn’t calm the tension winding tighter in my chest. The moonlight flickers through the branches overhead, casting everything in eerie shadows as I keep my gaze trained on the house. It looks ordinary enough, but I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched—hunted, even.

‘Something feels off,’I murmur, my voice barely a breath.‘As much as I want to run in there and tear his throat open...’My words trail off, the bloodlust simmering beneath the surface, but I can’t bring myself to act on it just yet. Then, a sharp yelp cuts through the silence. One of the wolves with us—Crank. I freeze, adrenaline spiking as I scan Ethan’s wolf's face for a reaction,trying to gauge if he knows what happened. My pulse quickens, dread creeping in.

‘Crank got hit by spikes in the ground,’Ethan responds, his wolf form tilting its head before locking eyes with me. The quiet confirmation sends a chill racing down my spine.‘Your instincts were right.’

I swallow hard, forcing the unease down, then scoot further along the tree line, keeping low, hidden in the heavy brush where human feet can’t follow. The forest around me hums with life, but my focus is razor sharp, every muscle primed for a fight.One wrong move, and we’re done for.

From this angle, I finally get a clearer look at the house. In one room, I spot him—Blake. He’s sitting there, calm as ever, watching something.Cameras. I squint, heart skipping a beat, when I realize he’s scanning the yard with them. In his hand, a tranquilizer gun.The same kind they use at the zoo.My breath hitches. He’s not just watching—he’s waiting.Hunting us.

I relay what I see to Ethan through our bond, my nerves on edge. He nods once before slipping away into the darkness, his body a blur of fur and muscle as he moves off to draw Blake’s attention. The tension crackles in the air, thick and suffocating, but I wait.Breathe. Wait.My pulse thunders in my ears.

The second Blake’s focus shifts, the cameras tilting towards Ethan’s wolf form on the screen; I move. My body launches forward like a coil releasing, feet barely touching the ground as I sprint for the house. The glass window looms in front of me, my reflection merging with the shadows as I hit it full force, shattering through it in an explosion of shards.Time slows.Blake’s head whips around, eyes wide, gun raised. But I’m already on him.

Blake screams as my canines sink into his shoulder, but I miss his throat. Damn it. His blood spills over my teeth, metallic and hot, but I don’t savor the taste. Several clicks echo through the room, a deadly sound that sends a shiver down my spine. Before I can react, searing pain rips through me. I’ve been stabbed.Twice.

“If I’m going to die, so are you, Luna. See you in hell,” Blake spits, venom dripping from every word. I adjust my grip on his shoulder, growling low, ready to tear him apart.

But something’s wrong. Horribly wrong. My blood feels like it’s boiling, fire racing through my veins. This isn’t just adrenaline—it’s worse, far worse than when the ember wolf took over. Then it hits me, and dread sinks inrage serum.

‘Ethan, run... Rage serum. Two rounds.’I barely grit the words out through clenched teeth, fighting to keep my mind from slipping into a dangerous fog. I can only pray he understands he doesn’t come in here with me. God, please don’t let him try to save me now.

I sense him—Ethan’s coming closer.No, no!My head snaps in his direction, and through the haze, I see his face at the window. Two darts stick out of my thick white fur, adding to the fire inside me. My body moves before I can think, charging at the window, but I stop short. I don’t leap through. My prey is in this room, and I want him dead.

Blake’s rattling breath fills the silence, a grim melody to my growing fury. Slowly, I turn, stalking toward him, my paws heavy on the bloodstained floor. His time is running out, and the sound of his weakening breath is music to my ears.

There’s only one thing on my mind now—destroy Blake. He’s done too much. To my family, to my pack, tome. Every second of pain I’ve endured these last three years crashes through me like a tidal wave. The abuse from Hunter, the endless torment from the psycho exes of my mates. It all fuels the inferno inside me.

The room narrows, darkening at the edges as my rage consumes me, sharpening my focus. Blake is going to die here.Slowly. Painfully.I’ll make sure of it. No one’s going to piece him back together after this. No more nightmares, no more terror. I will rip him to shreds, tear him apart until there’s nothing left but blood and bone.

And when it’s done, I’ll finally be free.

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