Page 42 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

Nina’s eyes go wide as she stares at the three newborns. “There’s so many...” she murmurs, her awe palpable as she takes in the sight of her new brothers and sister.

I smile softly. “Momma Grace carried three pups this time. Two boys and a girl.” I point to each of the babies carefully, naming them as I do. “That’s Maeve, Bishop, and Dante.”

Before I can finish, I feel a tap on my elbow. I glance down to see Ashina looking up at me, her big eyes filled with curiosity. “Daddy Nic?” she asks softly, her little fingers wrapping around the fabric of my shirt.

“Yes, sweetheart?” I reach down, pulling her close to my side, tucking her against my hip.

Her voice is a whisper, tinged with concern. “Did Daddy Ethan have a baby this time? He’ll be so sad if he didn’t.” Her eyes flicker from me to the babies Grace is holding, her worry written all over her face.

My brows furrow, confusion settling in. “Why didn’t you look at Barrett?” I ask, puzzled by her question.

Ashina and Nina both giggle, their laughter like soft bells in the quiet room. “Because he’s been singing that he’s the daddy, so I know that one’s his,” Ashina giggles, pointing at Barrett as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

I can’t help but chuckle along with them, a warmth spreading through me as I glance back at Barrett. He has a way of makingsure everyone knows when he’s proud, and right now, it’s hard to miss.

Grace opens her eyes slowly, motioning for all the children to join her. I move quickly, helping the girls and Deacon climb onto the bed. They crawl carefully, their little faces full of excitement, toward Grace and Barrett, their attention fixed on the tiny bundles in their arms.

Barrett sits up, burping his son with practiced ease before spinning him to face the rest of the children. “This is Dante,” he announces with a proud smile. “He was the second baby born.” The girls lean in, their wide eyes sparkling with curiosity as they gently reach out to touch Dante’s tiny hands.

“He’s so cute,” they say in unison, before dissolving into giggles at the perfect timing.

“And this,” Barrett continues, shifting slightly to reveal Maeve, “is Lorcan’s daughter.” The moment Maeve opens her eyes, revealing that brilliant emerald green color, the girls gasp in awe. Her strawberry blonde curls catch the light, framing her tiny face, and I can already tell she’s going to have them wrapped around her finger in no time.

“She’s the oldest of the babies,” Barrett adds, his voice filled with pride.

The girls are mesmerized, immediately turning their attention to Maeve, their fingers gently brushing her curls as they smile down at her. Nina, ever the curious one, looks up at me and Grace, her eyes wide with hope.

“When can she play with us?” she asks, her voice full of excitement.

I chuckle softly, leaning down to kiss the top of Nina’s head. “Remember how long it took Deacon?” I remind her, glancing over at the now-sleepy boy cuddled into Grace’s side. “It’ll take about the same amount of time, depending on how often she shifts.”

As I speak, the soft creak of the door catches my attention. Ethan steps inside, his voice hushed as he moves with purpose, scooting between me and the wall to get closer to Grace and the babies. His eyes immediately lock on his son, and I can see the shift in him, the way his entire being softens as he approaches.

“How’s Momma and the babies doing?” he asks quietly, his tone filled with that protective warmth only Ethan can pull off.

He reaches out, gently touching his son’s tiny hand. Instantly, the baby grips his finger, holding on with surprising strength. Ethan’s face lights up, his smile soft but full of pride. “That’s my boy,” he murmurs, his voice almost reverent as he leans over to take his son from Grace. The connection between them is palpable, and for a moment, the world outside of this room fades away, leaving just us—our family, our pack—safe and whole.

Chapter 28

Grace

It’s been almosta month since I gave birth to all the babies, and things are finally settling back to normal—well, almost. The one thing that’s far from normal is how impossible it’s been to get my son away from Barrett and his ridiculous fake boobie bottle holder. It’s like he and Dante are glued together.

“Barrett?” I call out, wandering through the house, Bishop contently latched on my breast, nursing quietly. Maeve is still napping with her father, curled up in the warmth of his arms, while the older three are out in the training field with Nicolai and Griffin, working on their hunting skills.

At the end of the hallway, I spot Ethan casually leaning against the wall, his foot propped up as he leans back, arms crossed. An easy smile spreads across his lips as I approach, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Before I can say a word, he raises a finger to his lips, tipping his head toward the room to his right. Curious, I gently detach Bishop from my breast and pass him off to Ethan, who cradles him with ease.

I move toward the door Ethan indicated, my heart racing with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Slowly, I turn the knob, easing the door open, and peek inside.

There he is—Barrett, sitting on the floor, playing with Dante in his puppy form. My heart warms at the sight of the tiny rust-colored puppy, his little paws wobbling unsteadily as he tries to navigate the rug. His fur is a shade darker than Barrett’s, but the resemblance is still unmistakable. I lean against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching them. “Dante is doing very well,” I say with a smirk, effectively blocking his escape.

Barrett jumps, spinning to face me, his eyes wide with surprise. “Oh shit,” he mutters, glancing from Dante to me like he’s been caught red-handed.

“Mind letting me have my son?” I tease, arching a brow as Dante, in his puppy form, starts making his way toward me, his little paws padding across the rug.

Barrett lets out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. “Uh... I guess playtime’s over.” He watches as Dante wobbles toward me, a sheepish grin creeping across his face.

I step forward, scooping Dante up into my arms, his tiny body warm against mine. “Don’t think you can hog him all day just because of that bottle contraption you’ve got going on.” My tone is playful, but there’s no mistaking the motherly possessiveness in my voice.

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