Page 37 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

I’m home. And I’m surrounded by people who love me enough to make sure I always feel safe, even when surprises lurk just around the corner.

Chapter 25

Ethan

“Mom,Gracie is going to murder us...” I mutter, the words escaping like a frustrated growl as I roughly rub my hands over my freshly shaved head. The dining room feels unbearably small with all the anticipation pressing down on me. Three cakes, perfectly frosted and decorated, sit on the table, and my nerves are a live wire. Only close family friends are here—Ambrose, Nic’s sister, and Andrea. It’s a small gathering, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

“She will not.” Agnes’s voice is firm, a grounding presence, as she and Uri arrive, bringing the kids with them. She flashes me a reassuring smile, but it does little to settle the turmoil in my chest. “This is very thoughtful, the way we’re doing it.”

I glance at the baby A cake again, my mind spinning. By the timeline, this one has the highest probability of being mine. The thought sends a shiver of both excitement and anxiety racing down my spine.

The sound of a car pulling up outside makes my breath hitch. Three doors open and close, and I freeze, staring at the cakes as if they’ll somehow reveal the answers on their own. The frontdoor creaks open, and then I hear it—Gracie’s voice, light and teasing.

“We’re home!”

“In here!” I yell back, trying to keep my voice steady, but I can’t help the way my nerves ramp up, shifting into overdrive. My heart pounds so hard it almost drowns out the rest of the sounds.This is it.

The moment Gracie steps into the dining room, Barrett swoops in, plopping a crown on her head with a mischievous grin before leading her to the table. “The time is upon us to see which genders are joining our family,” he announces dramatically, then hands Grace the largest knife I’ve ever seen.My stomach drops.

“Are you sure the knife was a wise decision?” Nic’s voice calls out from the sidelines, his concern mirroring my own. He’s only half joking.

“Probably not, but here we are,” Barrett says, shrugging casually as he steps back, giving Grace the space—and the knife. I can’t tell if he’s fearless or just crazy.

“Deacon?” Grace calls for the littlest member of our family, and with Griffin’s help, he toddles over to his momma’s side. My breath catches as I watch them. “Which cake should we cut first?” she asks gently. Deacon’s little face scrunches up in concentration before his tiny finger points confidently to the middle cake. “Good choice.” Grace’s smile is radiant as she glances over at Agnes. “Care to join me?”

Her gaze shifts to Agnes, then to Ruby. Both moms step forward, their hands steady as they place them over Grace’s, guiding theknife through the cake. With a twist of the blade, the inside reveals itself in a brilliant pink.

“We have a girl!” Agnes announces, her voice filled with joy. She and Ruby step back, giving Grace a moment to process. I catch the glimmer of tears in Grace’s eyes before she blinks them away, a proud smile on her lips.

“Nina? Do you want to help cut a cake?” Grace asks, her voice soft and inviting. Nina, still a little shy, nods, and grabs Nic’s hand, pulling him forward. She stares at the two remaining cakes, her gaze lingering on the first one, but then Ashina growls softly, her protective instincts surfacing.

“I want to cut C.” Nina’s eyes dart between her dad and Grace, and when they nod, she steps up, small fingers wrapping around the knife handle. With Nic’s help, they slice through the third cake. The interior is a striking blue.

“It’s a boy,” Nic announces proudly, his voice strong and full of emotion.

I exhale a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Two down, one to go. My eyes flicker to the remaining cake, my heart racing. Ashina’s hand wraps around mine suddenly, her tiny fingers squeezing tight. My gaze snaps to hers, and she’s staring at me with a determination that almost knocks me off my feet.

“Come on, Dad, let’s cut it.” The smile she gives me is small but genuine, and my throat tightens. It still floors me, the way she calls me Dad so easily, like I’ve always been here. I swallow hard and nod, letting her lead me to the table.

Grace smiles softly, handing me the knife, stepping back to give us this moment. “Go ahead, Ethan,” she murmurs.

I guide Ashina’s hand, our fingers intertwined around the handle. “Let’s do it, pumpkin,” I whisper, the words almost catching in my throat. Together, we press the blade down, cutting through the layers slowly. I pause, fear constricting my chest, before we twist the blade and?—

Blue. The interior is a deep, vibrant blue.

“It’s a boy!” Ashina squeals, her excitement bursting free. She leaps up, her arms wrapping around my neck, and I drop the knife, hugging her back tightly. My heart swells, emotions surging, and I struggle to keep it together.

I glance at Grace, who’s watching us with a smile that’s both proud and bittersweet. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Despite that, doubt gnaws at me.

Please, let the doctor be right. Let this be real.

But for now, I hold Ashina close, letting the hope settle in my chest. The excitement around us fades into the background, and I focus on the warmth of her hug, the way she trusts me so completely. For this moment, everything feels perfect.

We celebratewell into the evening, the house alive with laughter and warmth, but it does little to ease the tightening knot in my chest. There’s maybe two, three weeks left of this pregnancy, and then everything changes. We’ll be a family of thirteen. It sounds surreal, overwhelming even, but it’s happening, and the weight of it presses harder with each passing day.

An hour ago, Deacon decided I looked comfortable enough and curled up on me, falling asleep almost instantly. His little body was warm and peaceful, and I didn’t have the heart to move him. Then, about thirty minutes ago, Gracie joined him, settling against me and drifting off into sleep, her breathing slow and even. It’s moments like this that should bring me peace, but the quiet magnifies the tension building inside me.

“Need a hand?” Conrad’s voice breaks through my thoughts, and I look up to find him smiling down at me.

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