Page 24 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

“I missed you so much, cutie,” I murmur, happy tears escaping my eyes. I quickly swipe them away, my emotions settling along with my wolf the longer I hold on to him. The storm inside me quiets, and for the first time in days, I feel... at peace.

“I missed you too, Gracie,” Barrett whispers, hugging me just as tightly. His lips brush the underside of my jaw, and my wolf rumbles with satisfaction, pleased by his forwardness. It’s a simple touch, but it’s enough to send heat racing through me, my pulse quickening just a little.

“Later, cutie...” I press a kiss to his forehead, my mind already racing with possibilities. In the back of my head, I’m plotting, considering the most epic “sex jenga” I can think of, a grin stretching across my lips that’s far from sweet or innocent. Feral Gracie is lurking just beneath the surface, ready to pounce, and I can already sense Wolfie stirring in response.

The rest of the ride home is filled with the quiet hum of the car, but my thoughts are anything but calm. I feel my wolf brushing closer to the surface, not with rage this time, but with hunger. That feral side of me that Ethan loves so much is back, and I know it’s only a matter of time before I let it out to play.

Chapter 17

Conrad

The moment Barrettand Grace make contact, I feel it—a jolt through the bond, electric and undeniable. It hums under my skin, and for a second, I’m almost jealous that Barrett gets to see her first. But then again, with all the changes Grace’s been through, it made sense to send him in first. Our resident omega has a calming effect, and right now, that’s what she needs.

“What’s their ETA, Con?” Griff’s voice drifts in from the kitchen. I can hear the sizzle of something hitting the grill, the rich scent of steak and chicken kabobs already filling the air. He’s got the roasted veggies ready to go, too. Classic Griff—planning a feast to welcome everyone home.

I pull out my phone and check the family app, tracking their location. “About ten minutes out, give or take,” I say, my voice a little tighter than I intended. The restlessness is clawing at me, making it hard to stay still. I’ve been pacing the house, my nerves like live wires sparking beneath my skin.

I pop my head into the den, where Lorcan’s sitting on the floor with all the pups either sprawled across him or nestled against his side. The sight makes me smile, despite the tension in mychest. “Everyone good, Lor?” I whisper, careful not to disturb the sleeping pups.

“Everythin’ is right as rain,” he says softly, leaning his head back against the couch. His eyes flutter shut for a moment. There’s something about the pups when they sleep—it pulls you in, makes you want to drift off with them. But not me, not today. I’m too wound up waiting for her.

I check the app again, impatient, trying to will time to speed up. My thoughts are a mess, swirling between excitement and guilt. I’ve been so focused on marrying Barrett that I haven’t been the best mate to Grace. Two weeks ago, I made a promise to myself—to do better, to show them both that I love them equally. But now, all I can think about is seeing her, holding her, making sure she’s okay.

The wait is killing me, so I head out to the porch and sit on the swing, staring down the long driveway like I can make their car appear just by sheer will. The wind shifts, carrying the scent of the forest, but all I want is the smell of Grace’s hair, her skin, the warmth that only she brings. My heart thunders in my chest, anticipation gnawing at my nerves.

Then I hear it—the crunch of rocks under tires. My pulse spikes, adrenaline flooding my veins as the car winds up the driveway. The first glimpse of the car’s front fender sends a surge of emotion through me, almost overwhelming.They’re here.They’re finally here.

Part of me wants to scream, to tell everyone she’s home, but another part of me wants to be selfish. Just for a little while. I want to hog Grace all to myself, to feel her in my arms before anyone else.

Ethan parks the car, and before the engine even dies, Grace throws the door open and runs straight for me. My heart leaps into my throat, and I’m on my feet, arms open, ready to catch her.

Grace screams my name, her voice carrying across the gravel driveway like a bolt of electricity. Before I can even react, she’s running at me full force, and I brace myself just in time to catch her as she leaps. Her legs wrap tightly around my waist, and the world tilts as I spin her, the gravel crunching beneath my boots. Her lips crash into mine, fierce and demanding, and I’m lost in the taste of her, the feel of her body pressing against mine.

I grip her tightly, my arms like iron bands around her, pulling her closer as if I could fuse us together. Her tongue teases the seam of my lips, and I open for her without hesitation. She rises up, using her legs, angling my head back as she takes control of the kiss, her fingers threading into my hair and gripping tightly. My cock hardens instantly, my body responding to her in ways I can’t control. Her wolf rumbles deep in her chest, the sound vibrating through me, stoking the fire that’s already burning inside.

I slide my hands down the curve of her back, fingers digging into the soft, firm flesh of her ass as I hold her firmly against me. She’s all heat and wild energy, and I’m caught in her storm, happily drowning in the intensity of it.

“Conrad!” My mom’s voice cuts through the moment, and she swats at my arm. “Let the poor girl breathe.”

Barrett’s laugh follows, light and teasing. He smacks my ass as he walks by, adding to the playful chaos. “Come on, Momma Ruby. They’ve got some catching up to do.”

I barely register them walking away, too lost in Grace, in the feel of her body against mine, the way she’s holding me like she never wants to let go. Eventually, she breaks the kiss, though she doesn’t pull far, peppering my cheeks with soft, lingering kisses. Her breath comes in quick, uneven gasps, and I can feel the tremor of her wolf beneath the surface.

“I missed you, Con,” she whispers, her voice husky with emotion and desire. Her eyes pulse between human and that eerie red-orange I’ve heard Griffin talk about—the ember wolf. There’s a power there, just beneath the surface, and it sends a shiver down my spine, mixing excitement with something darker, more primal.

I don’t say anything, just hold her tighter, knowing that whatever this is between us, it’s stronger than anything I’ve felt before. And it’s only just beginning.

We barely make it inside when the familiar sound of paws skittering across the floor echoes down the hallway. It’s only a second before the puppy stampede happens, all three of them bolting toward us, barking with excitement. The rush of energy hits like a wave, and Ethan is the first to react, dropping to his knees right in the middle of the hall to greet them.

“Hey, kids!” he laughs, letting the three pups swarm him, tails wagging furiously as they cover him with wet, happy licks.

Grace shifts in my arms, her attention turning from the children to something else entirely. I feel the change before I see it—her body going rigid, the surrounding air charged with something unnatural. Her eyes cloud over, turning milk white as she goes completely still. I recognize the shift instantly. She’s lending Lorcan her sight.

The heavy clunk of boots echoes down the hallway, and everyone turns at the sound. Lorcan appears at the end of the hall, his presence commanding as always. “Lass...” His voice is a deep rumble, and before I can even react, he’s right there, scooping Grace out of my arms like she weighs nothing. The kiss he plants on her is rough, desperate, and she squeals softly, trying to wrap her legs around his waist but failing.

Lorcan just grins, palming her ass and holding her tight against him as they exchange their hellos. There’s a rawness in the way they move, a feral intensity that only seems to grow when they’re around each other.

I shake my head, suppressing a smile. My brother, always so quick to embrace chaos. I offer him a hand, and Ethan finally pulls himself off the ground, brushing off the puppy fur as he takes my hand and yanks me into a hug.

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