Page 3 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

“Okay,” she whispers, her tone so defeated it nearly breaks me. This conversation is going to be brutal, but it’s necessary.

“Ready when you are, Doc,” I say, drawing in a deep breath, already bracing myself for the storm that’s about to hit.

“So, the first date. Were you two alone, or did you have company?” Mark tilts his head, studying us like we’re part of some experiment.

“Ethan and Griffin were there,” I reply, pulling Grace against my side, needing the connection as much as I want to offer her comfort. “Considering everything, I didn’t mind. She was uneasy, and there was also the threat of her crazy ex, so having them around made sense.”

Mark nods, leaning forward a bit. “So, is it safe to say you’ve never had a date off pack lands, just the two of you?”

Grace growls low, and I can feel her tension spike. She hates when anyone pries into her personal life, especially him.

“That’s correct,” I say, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, giving her a gentle squeeze. “With everything that’s happened in the last year, we haven’t had time.”

Mark shifts his focus to Grace. “Have you gone on any dates with your other mates alone?” She turns her head away, refusing to answer, her body going stiff.

“If I had to guess, maybe Ethan. Possibly Griffin.” I say, and at the mention of Ethan, her entire body tenses, like a wire pulled too tight.

Mark sighs, leaning back. “It would make sense. Her sire is the one she’d cling to the most. His wolf created hers, after all. Their bond apparently started when she was five. No wonder his wolf is the most unstable out of the brothers. He’s spent the longest without his mate.”

Before I can react, Grace leaps from the couch, fury propelling her across the room as her claws extend. “Leave Ethan alone!” she roars, lunging at Mark. Her raw, primal anger fills the space like a thunderstorm about to break.

I barely grab her around the waist, catching her just before she clears the desk. She struggles in my arms, her growl vibrating through me, and I know she’s seconds away from shifting.

Griffin comes barreling back into the room, eyes wide as he sees Grace thrashing in my hold. “What the hell happened?” he demands, quickly stepping in and taking her from me, his arms wrapping around her to calm her down.

“Mark mentioned how unstable Ethan’s wolf is,” I explain, my voice tight with frustration. My eyes shift to Mark, who has plastered himself against the far wall, pale and trembling. “She lost her temper.”

“Ethan is off-limits, Doc,” Griffin says firmly as he holds Grace tighter, trying to soothe her trembling frame. “You should knowbetter than to bring him up. Her wolf is fiercely protective of him.”

Griffin turns, carrying her toward the door, and I follow, grabbing our bags from the waiting room on our way out. The session is over, and nothing productive came of it. Not like this. Not when the only thing lingering in the air is the unspoken threat of what could’ve happened if I hadn’t caught her in time.

Silence is never golden…

Griffin drives us home, his eyes focused on the road ahead while the soft hum of the engine fills the car. Grace sits between me and the door in the back seat, her tablet propped up in front of her as she video calls Conrad, Barrett, and Lorcan. The air feels thick with the weight of her recent session, her voice sharp as she recounts the details.

“I swear, I wanted to rip the therapist’s throat out,” Grace says, her eyes narrowing as she recalls the frustration. Even though the screen between us blurs the distance, her energy practically crackles in the confined space.

Barrett’s voice cuts through the phone. “Gracie, you have to understand—it’s a known fact alphas lose their marbles the longer their wolf is denied their mate. Honestly, I’m surprised the big guy’s as level-headed as he is.”

Grace sighs, the sound soft but heavy with pent-up annoyance. “I know, but he doesn’t get to say shit like that about Ethan.”

I watch her pout, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it. The contrast between this moment and how she nearly tore apart the doctor is almost too much. Her fingers drum against her leg in irritation, the same fingers that probably could have snapped bones just minutes ago. There’s something amusing about how quickly she can switch from deadly to vulnerable, though I’m careful not to let my smile break through.

“Hey, guys,” I finally say, my voice raised just enough to catch their attention on the call. The three of them chime in with their greetings, their voices a blend of concern and affection for Grace. I lean forward slightly, catching her eye with a reassuring smile.

“You all got Griffin’s text, so you know what’s coming. Since you three are off in the wild blue yonder, we’ll schedule your one-on-one time first.” The words slip out smoothly, but the tension in the car remains. They’ve been gone too long, and with everything Grace is dealing with, they need this time with her more than we do. My mind drifts for a moment, wondering how we’ll balance the chaos ahead, but I push that thought aside.

I can feel the tension in my chest tighten as Conrad offers, his voice casual but knowing exactly what’s needed in this moment. “I can take Lorcan to a spot where the reception is good tonight, so he can talk to Grace alone.” Conrad offers as he picks up Ashina and Nina and balances them on his legs.

The two little girls wriggling in place as they beam at the tablet in front of them. “Hi mommy, hi daddy,” they chirp in unison, their innocent voices cutting straight through the weight in the air. Grace leans in closer to me, making sure I can see both our daughters’ faces.

“Hi, babies…” Her voice is tight, and I can see the battle she’s fighting just to keep from breaking down. The smile she offersthem is fragile, like it’s about to crack. “Daddy Griffin can hear you,” she says, swallowing hard, trying to hold it together for them.

Griffin’s eyes flicker up in the rearview mirror as he drives, his usual calm demeanor slipping ever so slightly. “Are you two being good for your other daddies and grandparents?” His voice is gentle but tinged with the same sorrow we all feel.

“Yes...” The girls glance around, and there’s a quick exchange of looks between them. Ashina, always the eager one, pipes up first. “Deacon’s pup chewed the valve off a tire yesterday. Pop pop had to fix it.”

Nina immediately slaps her sister’s shoulder, her little face scrunched in disapproval. “We don’t tattle on the baby.” She turns her wide, innocent eyes on me, the furrow in her tiny brows making my heart ache. “I miss you, daddy. When can we come home?”

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