Page 33 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

Barrett’s grin is mischievous, his blue eyes sparkling with that evil little streak he’s developed over the last few months. “They’ll never see it coming.”

The smile that stretches across my lips matches his, and I lean into him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “We’ll make it one hell of a reveal,” I whisper, my wolf stirring in agreement. It’s going to be chaos... and I can’t wait.

Two weeks later…

It’s been exactlyfourteen days since we found out what we’re having. I remember the moment like it’s happening all over again—the room filled with the quiet hum of the ultrasound machine, the sharp smell of antiseptic mixing with the faint sweetness of my anxiety. Lorcan, Nicolai, and Ethan were right there with me, each of them holding their breath until Dr. B gave us the all-clear. The babies are healthy, their tiny hearts beating strong and steady. I still can’t get over the plural. Nicolai, always the one with the sharpest focus, remembered to ask Dr. B for the gender reveal images, sealed in an envelope for Barrett. He insisted on throwing the party himself.

The drive home feels surreal, like we’re floating through some strange dreamscape where everything is both thrilling andterrifying. As soon as we walk through the door, we’re swarmed. Questions bombard us from every direction—how many, what do they look like, are they okay? But it’s the intense gazes of our daughters that make me pause. Ashina and Nina stare at me as if I’ve sprouted three heads, their curiosity palpable.

“Momma?” Ashina and Nina chime in unison, their voices soft but insistent. The way they look at me, dressed in matching outfits, tugs at my heart. I can’t help but smile, even as I feel the familiar twinge of bittersweetness that always comes when I see how much Nina wants to belong.

“Yes, girls?” I murmur, moving to the recliner and sinking into the plush cushions. Almost immediately, both of them scramble into my lap, curling up with their heads resting on my shoulders. Their warmth seeps into me, steadying the wild beats of my heart.

“Is the baby okay?” Ashina’s question is hesitant, her small hand reaching out tentatively to touch my stomach.

“The babies are healthy and growing big and strong, just like you and Deacon did.” I turn, pressing a kiss to Nina’s forehead, feeling her small body melt against me. “From what your daddy told me, you were a very healthy and strong baby.”

Nina had a hard time adjusting since her mother passed away giving birth to her, and I know this pregnancy has stirred up old fears for her. When I was carrying Deacon, she couldn’t even look at me without tearing up. I wrap my arms around her, holding her close. “I promise, sweetheart. I’m going to be okay.”

“I’m scared…” Nina’s voice is barely a whisper, her eyes squeezing shut as she buries her face in my neck. The vulnerability in her voice makes my heart clench.

Ashina slips off my lap, giving us space, and Nicolai is there in an instant. He leans against the arm of the recliner, his gaze gentle but intent as he reaches for Nina’s small hand. “Nina,” he says softly, waiting until she peeks up at him through her lashes. “Gracie is being taken to the doctor every two weeks for check-ups to make sure everything’s okay. She’s a wolf like us, big and strong. Your birth momma was human. Unfortunately, most humans don’t survive birthing a shifter baby.”

Nina sits up a little, her gaze sharpening as she processes his words. “Gracie lived … Why didn’t my mommy?” Her voice cracks, the plaintive whine echoing through the room and drawing everyone’s attention.

The others gather closer, their concern a palpable presence that seems to wrap around us like a protective cocoon. Ethan kneels in front of us, his expression open and sincere. “We have an answer for that, little one,” he whispers, his voice low and steady. “Gracie had my blood in her system since she was five. Whatever it did to her back then probably made her strong enough to survive. It’s not something we understand fully yet, but it’s what saved her.”

Ethan’s gaze shifts from Nina to me, then back to Nicolai. There’s a tension there, a question unspoken, but I can’t focus on it now. Nina’s eyes widen, her little brows furrowing as she tries to make sense of it all. Slowly, she nods, her small shoulders relaxing just a fraction before she lays her head back down on my shoulder, her breath shuddering out softly.

I tighten my hold on her, pressing my lips to the crown of her head, feeling the fragile trust she’s placing in me. For now, it’s enough. I glance at Ethan and Nicolai, the unspoken gratitude in my eyes mirrored in theirs. We made it through one more hurdle, but there are so many more to come.

“Everything’s going to be okay, Nina,” I whisper, my voice steady and sure. I feel the truth of it settling deep within me, solid and unwavering. For her, for Ashina, for our growing family—I’ll make sure of it.

We spend the hours before bedtime crowded together in the living room, the gentle buzz of excitement filling the air as we show the children pictures of the babies growing in my belly. The girls, Nina, and Ashina, huddle close, their wide eyes glued to each image, bursting with giggles and endless questions. Their joy is infectious, and I can’t help but smile as they bounce in place, already planning all the ways they’ll help once the new arrivals come.

Conrad and Lorcan take turns bringing me snacks and drinks, hovering in that subtle way they do, making sure I’m comfortable and cared for. Conrad presses a glass of cold water into my hand while Lorcan offers me a plate of sliced fruit, their movements synchronized, effortless, as if they’ve done this a thousand times. I take a sip, letting the coolness soothe me, feeling the bond between us strengthen with every quiet gesture.

Across the room, I spot Griffin, Barrett, and Nicolai sprawled out on the floor, surrounded by a sea of brightly colored Legos. They’re building some kind of elaborate castle, and the girls are eagerly offering suggestions, their little hands helping shape the walls and towers. I watch as Griffin grins, his face softening in a way that most people never get to see. Barrett’s low laughter rumbles through the room as Nicolai leans over to guide Nina’s hands, his patience endless. For a moment, everything else fades away, leaving just this—this warm, safe bubble of family and love.

My gaze shifts, searching, until I find Ethan and Deacon nestled in the window box seat I love so much. Ethan’s head restsagainst the wall, his eyes closed, and I can hear the soft rhythm of his snores from across the room. Deacon, tiny and precious, is sprawled out against his chest, his chubby hand patting Ethan gently in his sleep. The sight of them together, so peaceful and content, makes my throat tighten with emotion.

It’s moments like this that make me believe my life is exactly how it’s supposed to be. That every hardship, every scar, and every dark memory were all worth it to get here—to this point where I’m surrounded by the people I love most in the world. I have six incredible men who hold my heart, each one unique, each one bringing something vital and irreplaceable to our family. Our children, with their bright eyes and boundless energy, have brought light to places in me I didn’t even know were still dark. Nina and Ashina, who showed me that family doesn’t have to be bound by blood, are sisters in the truest sense of the word.

I lean into Lorcan’s warmth, resting my head on his shoulder, feeling the steady beat of his heart through his shirt. Conrad curls up beside me, his hand finding mine, lacing our fingers together. The quiet hum of our bond, the shared understanding and love, thrums between us like a live wire.

“How did I get so lucky?” The words are soft, almost a whisper, as they slip from my lips, barely audible over the soft murmur of the room.

Lorcan shifts, his lips brushing against my forehead in a feather-light kiss. “We’re the lucky ones,” he murmurs, his voice low and filled with so much warmth it’s almost overwhelming.

I turn, looking up at him, then over at Conrad, and finally at the rest of my family scattered around the room. Griffin’s laugh booms as the girls cheer, and I catch a glimpse of the affectionatelook Barrett throws their way. Ethan shifts slightly, pulling Deacon closer even in sleep, his instincts still protecting what’s his.

I smile, the happiness swelling in my chest almost too big to contain. For the first time in a long time, I feel whole. Complete. This—this right here—is everything I’ve ever wanted.

“We’re all lucky,” I murmur, tightening my grip on Lorcan and Conrad, savoring the warmth of their presence. “Every single one of us.”

Chapter 23

Griffin

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