Page 25 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

“How was the trip?” Ethan asks, tilting his head as he steps aside, making room for Nicolai to come forward and shake my hand next.

“Good. Got a lot of work done,” I reply, glancing over at Nicolai. “Took the girls on a few hunts. Your dad’s phenomenal, by the way. He knows several people at the national park we went to and shut down an entire section for us. Gave us complete privacy.”

The memory brings a genuine smile to my face, still fresh from the experience. I rest a hand on Nicolai’s shoulder, appreciating the weight of the moment. But as I meet his eyes, I can tell something’s off. His smile doesn’t quite reach them.

“Dad’s good like that,” he says, his voice steady but carrying a heaviness. “I’m glad you had a safe place to stay.”

The words linger between us, and for a moment, the room feels heavier. So much has happened since we were last together as a family, and it shows in the cracks we try to hide. I give his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, hoping it’s enough to bridge the gap that time and circumstances have carved out.

We stepout onto the back porch as a family, the evening air carrying the scent of meat sizzling on the grill. Griffin is hunched over the flames, his gaze softening as he turns the food. The golden glow of the setting sun casts long shadows across the deck, and the sight of everyone together again—whole and unbroken—makes my chest tighten with something that feels suspiciously like hope.

Grace guides Lorcan out onto the porch and settles him at the table closest to the rail. She’s immediately at his side, pressing herself against him like she’s trying to fuse them together, her touch light but possessive. Her hand tugs Barrett down beside them, a smile teasing at her lips. I see the way her body relaxes with them there, the bond between them thrumming like a living thing.

Before I can fully appreciate the moment, the sound of small paws scrabbling against wood fills the air. The three pups come barreling out of the house like tiny, furry wrecking balls, their tails wagging furiously. Grace barely has time to react before they tackle her, sending her sprawling onto the ground. She laughs, a bright, joyous sound, even as they smother her with licks and happy little puppy noises, it’s pure chaos—the best kind.

One by one, the pups shift back, tiny limbs giving way to gangly human forms, and Grace is there, offering clothing and wiping away tears of laughter. Deacon, though... Deacon’s different. He’s grown, almost doubled in size, his limbs longer, more sturdy. Grace’s smile wavers, and I see the quiver in her bottom lip. Tears rim her eyes as she looks up at me. The silent question hanging there—when did this happen? How much time did she lose?

“He’s so big...” Her voice is barely more than a whisper, choked and broken.

I catch the look she sends Griffin, the anguish that radiates through the bond like a low, throbbing ache. Griffin’s expression softens, his usual commanding presence melting away as he bends over and scoops Grace up off the ground. The tenderness in his touch, the way he cradles her close... it’s a side of him that’s rare, but it’s there, and it brings a warmth to my chest.

“We grow faster as our wolves,” he murmurs softly, almost like he’s reassuring himself as much as he’s trying to soothe her. Seeing him so present, so attuned to Grace’s emotions, it’s like glimpsing something sacred.

I clear my throat, the weight of my next words settling over us. “With everything that’s been happening, Uri suggested they remain as their pups so they could escape if they needed to.”

The instant the words leave my lips, I see the shift in Grace. Her eyes narrow, the sorrow replaced with something sharper, more controlled. She looks over at Nicolai, then back at me. There’s an understanding there, a grim acceptance.

“Good thinking,” she says, her voice hollow. Her gaze shifts to the pups, and I see it—the realization that they’re different, changed. Older. “At least they had options.”

Silence falls like a shroud. No one speaks of the horrors that happened in our absence, of the things they had to endure while we were gone. Instead, we talk about the new house, the way it all came together, how everyone pitched in. It’s safer that way, easier to pretend like we’re whole again.

My gaze drifts around the porch, and I can’t help but notice how the colors blend perfectly with the scenery—the deep blues and soft greens. A familiar palette. “The colors here seem familiar,” I say, my tone light, teasing.

Grace laughs, a sound that’s still tinged with the sadness of before. “Apparently, some alpha—I won’t mention names—had it painted like my old place.” She smiles fondly, first at Nicolai, then at Barrett. “My omega knew me better than anyone, and he hadn’t even met me yet when he painted that cabin.”

Barrett’s grin is pure pride. “I remembered the little things you loved as a kid. The yellow of that one snapdragon. The different blues and greens of our eyes.” He chuckles softly, shaking his head. “You used to be fascinated with Ethan’s eyes, especially after he healed you.”

He’s laughing now, recounting stories that are as familiar to us as the sound of our own heartbeats. “We should have known back then there was something between you two.”

Barrett’s words flow, filling the air with a sense of nostalgia. We talk for hours, each of us sharing memories and catching up on what everyone missed. Grace moves from mate to mate, weavingherself into each conversation, each story. Her presence is a balm, soothing the raw edges of our separation.

Ethan said that therapy would bring us closer together and damn it, he was right. As much as I hate admitting it, my older brother called it perfectly.

The porch lights flicker on, casting a soft glow over the family gathered together. Grace leans against Ethan, her head resting on his shoulder, and I can see it—the bond between us all, stronger now than it’s ever been. I look around at the faces of the people I love, and I know one thing for certain: no matter what comes next, we’re ready. We’re a family again.

Chapter 18

Grace

Everyone’s been back almosta week, and I’ve been cycling through the nights in each of my mates’ beds. It’s been a game of shifting shadows and stolen moments, but Conrad and Barrett cheated, sneaking in with each other when it was their turn to share me. That thought makes me smile, but there’s a familiar, low, rolling heat churning in my belly that pulls my attention to the calendar.

My heat … it’s close, too close.

I call for Ruby early in the morning, handing her the children’s packed bags as she arrives. She arches a brow, lips twitching in a knowing smile. “It’s time?”

“Yeah.” I nod, my voice a little breathless. “Griff already agreed to wear protection for the duration, so the others have a chance at their own pups.” I roll my neck, leaning in to kiss her cheek in gratitude. My mother-in-law doesn’t hesitate, wrapping her arms around me briefly before stepping back.

“Good luck, dear. Enjoy yourself,” she says softly, before gathering the children and turning toward the car. As they driveoff, I take a deep breath, feeling the anticipation thrum through me like a live wire.

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