Page 40 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

The room goes silent for a beat, and everyone turns to stare at Barrett. My poor, sweet omega, still blissfully unaware of the bomb I’ve just dropped on him. He looks around, completely lost. “Who’s cutting the cord?” he asks, glancing at the others like one of them will step up.

Nicolai pats him on the back, smiling. “You are.”

Barrett’s eyes widen, darting from me to the baby, then back to me. “I’m what?”

“Barrett,” I say with a laugh, doing my best impersonation of Maury. “You are the father.”

“Holy shit, I have a son!” Barrett leaps forward, his face lighting up with pure joy. He showers me with kisses, then leans down to kiss our son before clamping off the cord and biting through it, still buzzing with excitement. His reaction makes everyone laugh, and before I know it, he’s stolen our baby away from me, cradling him as he leaves the nest.

But I don’t have time to rest. “Who’s going to deliver the last baby?” Ethan asks, looking around.

I roll my eyes at him, shaking my head. “Get in here, you big lug. It’s easy.” He hesitates for a moment before climbing into the nest with me. I brace my foot on his knee, preparing to push again, and his eyes dart nervously between the suction bulb, towels, and clamps.

“What do I do?” he asks, sounding a little out of his depth.

“Support the baby’s head and guide it out,” his mother instructs, sliding up beside him to offer guidance. We’ve suspected this last one is his since the beginning, and I can see the nervous excitement in his eyes.

“Okay, I can do that,” Ethan mutters, his face determined. Ruby quickly sanitizes his hands and helps him slip on the sterile gloves.

“I’m gonna start pushing,” I grunt, curling forward, using Lorcan’s legs as support. The pressure builds, and I can feel the baby moving down.

“I see the head!” Ethan’s excitement is infectious, even if I’m too busy to laugh. “You’re doing so good, Gracie,” he whispers, his voice filled with awe. He caresses my thigh as he lowers his head to watch. “Come on, baby, you can do it. Almost there…”

With one final push, I feel the baby slip from within me. I collapse back against Lorcan, letting out a long, exhausted sigh as his hands move over my body, sending healing energy through me. My eyes flutter closed for a moment, trying to catch my breath.

“Gracie…” Ethan’s voice is different now, almost reverent. His eyes flick between me and the baby, and my heart sinks, fear clawing its way into my chest.

“Yes?” I manage, my voice barely a whisper as Lorcan helps me sit up.

“We have a son,” Ethan says softly, his eyes glistening with tears as he offers me the baby. I nuzzle him, inhaling deeply, praying to any god who will listen that this child is Ethan’s.

The scent hits me—sweet, unmistakable, like toasted marshmallows. Relief floods through me, and I look up at Ethan, who still looks terrified. “You have a son to name and a cord to cut,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.

Ethan falls to his knees, tears streaming down his face. The last time I saw him cry like this was when I was dying. Lorcan gently slips out from behind me, and Ethan dives in, holding both me and his son tightly. His mom clamps the cord, and Ethan bites through it, his tears mixing with mine as we cry together in the nest, overwhelmed by the moment.

We may look like blubbering idiots, but right now, in this moment, everything feels perfect.

Chapter 27

Nicolai

Watchingmy mate deliver three babies was, without a doubt, the most intense thing I’ve ever witnessed. I thought one birth was stressful enough, but three? It takes everything to a whole new level. The entire time, my heart felt like it was going to explode from the pressure, each push sending shockwaves through the mate bond as I watched her strength unfold.

Barrett is already strutting around the house, proudly wearing his son, his chest puffed out like he’s conquered the world. The sight brings a small smile to my lips. Lorcan settled into the recliner with his tiny daughter nestled against his chest, the baby looking like a delicate little doll compared to the sheer size of her father. And then there’s Ethan—he’s terrified to even breathe. He’s leaning back on the couch, barely moving, with his son asleep on his chest, his eyes wide as if any slight shift could shatter the world around him.

“Are you ready for a shower?” Conrad’s voice pulls my attention back to her. She’s lying in the nest, sipping on juice, her exhaustion visible but the softness in her smile soothing.

“That would be nice,” she says, her voice a little breathless before she yawns, eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment.

Griffin and I step into the nest with her, moving with care. We both know how fragile she must feel right now, physically and emotionally, and we’re taking no chances. Together, we help lift her up and out of the nest, her body limp in our hands.

“I’ll do laundry,” Conrad calls from behind, stepping into the nest as he gathers up the dirty linens with quiet efficiency. The air smells faintly of birth and sweat, and he’s already moving to clear it away, to restore some semblance of peace.

Griffin and I guide Grace down the hallway slowly, taking our time, letting her lean on us for support. Each step is measured, every moment carefully paced. I can feel the weight of what she’s just been through in every heavy breath she takes. By the time we reach the main bathroom, I can see the relief in her eyes. We had one of those enormous tubs installed when the house was built—big enough to fit multiple people—and now it seems like a godsend.

Conrad catches up, helping Grace out of her clothes while Griffin and I support her weight. The room is warm, the steam from the hot water curling in the air, wrapping around us like a protective blanket. One by one, we strip down, careful with every movement, as if any sudden action could disrupt the fragile peace that’s settled over her.

Once we’re all ready, we guide her into the tub, the hot water instantly soothing her aching muscles. I watch the tension melt from her body, her eyes fluttering closed as she sinks deeper into the warmth. The water ripples gently around us, and for the first time since the chaos of the births, I feel a sense of calm wash over me too.

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