Page 51 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

“I’ve never met a dominant female before,” Lily says softly, her voice hesitant as we settle onto the inflatable mattress, a temporary haven in the middle of this chaotic journey.

Grace’s eyes lower, a sigh slipping from her lips. “I wasn’t always this way.” Slowly, she lifts her gaze, and I catch the transition—her eyes shift from their usual human warmth to the golden hue of her wolf, then to the intense orange-red of her ember wolf. The transformation is striking, and Lily gasps, clinging to Ambrose as her gaze locks on Grace.

Ambrose places a calming hand on her knee. “She’s not like the ember wolves we were warned about. She was created out of love.” His voice is gentle, but there’s a weight to his words. “Ethan here is her sire, or creator. He bit her as his wolf.”

No sooner does Ambrose say that then Grace moves, lowering her shoulder and tugging down the neck of her shirt just enough to reveal the faint scar of my bite. My mark, still a testament to the moment I became part of her transformation.

“Oh, wow.” Lily leans forward, curiosity clear, but Grace stiffens slightly.

I tighten my hold on her, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I wouldn’t get too close, Lily—not until you and Ambrose finish your bond. Grace isn’t very tolerant of unbonded females near her mates.” The reminder is gentle, but it does the trick. Lily straightens, still wide-eyed as she looks at Grace.

“Mates?” Her puzzled gaze flickers between each of us.

Grace laughs, a low, warm sound. “I have six mates. Four alphas, a beta, and an omega.” Her eyes dance as she watches Lily’s jaw drop.

Nic’s voice drifts from the driver’s seat, amused as ever. “Apparently, lunar and ember wolves have multiple mates.”

I feel Grace relax against me, her trust as solid as her presence. The ember wolf in her may be fierce, but here, surrounded by family, she’s completely at ease. I tighten my grip, feeling thesteady heartbeat of the woman who was created out of love, something rare and strong enough to make even an ember wolf gentle.

“Oh. Are you one of them?” Her innocent question lingers in the air, and I see the flicker of discomfort flash across Nic’s face, the way his posture tenses.

“Yes,” Nic says, his tone steady but guarded. “But like the rest of us figured out, because Ethan created Grace’s wolf, she’ll always drift to him when she’s upset or stressed. They calm each other.” The hint of something unspoken lies beneath his words, and I know the subject bothers him.

I reach up, resting a hand on his shoulder from the back seat. “Nic here keeps Grace sharp. Challenges her mentally, you know? He owns a construction company and hired our Gracie as an engineer and drafter,” I add, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“My brother Griffin,” I continue, “he’s the lead alpha for our pack. Keeps things in order for the most part.” I chuckle as Grace rolls her eyes, her face lighting up with humor.

“Griff is more focused on his son than keeping things organized these days,” she chimes in, flipping through pictures on her phone with a small smile. She slides off my lap and moves between Ambrose and Lily, who’s been curiously quiet. Lily shifts closer, glancing at the phone in Grace’s hand, her eyes softening as she looks at the photos of our kids.

“My brother Conrad runs his business from home,” I add, catching Lily’s interest. “Sometimes Grace slips into his office to help him out.” Lily glances up, nodding with quiet interest, before refocusing on the pictures Grace is sharing.

“And our omega, Barrett? He’s an interior designer,” I say, the warmth creeping into my voice as I think back to those early days. “He decorated our entire house. Actually, he’s the reason we were able to reconnect with Grace when she moved back to Wolf Creek.”

Grace chuckles, eyes bright. “Don’t forget Lorcan. He’s from Scotland.” She waggles her eyebrows, a grin tugging at her lips as she laughs, the sound filling the van with her lightness.

“Does he wear a kilt?” Lily’s voice drops, almost conspiratorial, and I can see her curiosity plain as day.

“Oh, yes…” Grace says, her lips curving into a smile she’s trying, and failing, to hide. There’s laughter in her eyes, and the mischief I’ve come to love about her shines through.

Lily raises her eyebrows. “Does he…” She doesn’t dare finish, her voice trailing off.

“Not a damn stitch.” Grace’s cheeks flush a deep red, but she wears it proudly, her expression unashamed. “I have to admit, since he’s blind, I get a little … creative. I’ll pull the pin so the whole kilt falls right off him.” She grins, her voice turning devilish. “Or, I’ll sneak a hand under there like I’m playing that kids’ game Operation. I see how far I get before he realizes what I’m doing.” Her laugh is low and evil, and I’m honestly shocked by the things coming out of her mouth.

I can’t help but chuckle, shaking my head. “Nic, I think we need to start wearing kilts around the house.”

Grace’s reaction is instant. She’s in my lap in a heartbeat, her eyes bright and eager. “Yes, please,” she purrs, leaning over me to plant a kiss on Nic’s cheek as he drives.

Nic’s voice comes out in a mutter, though there’s no heat in it. “Damn it, woman, sit down.” His tone says he’s feeling the same hardened discomfort I am, caught between exasperation and sheer need.

She leans back, giving me a grin that’s all fire, and I wonder just how quickly we can get home.

We pickup the bikes from the storage unit, ready to head home. Grace is riding with Nic for now. After the conversation in the van, where he unknowingly admitted to feeling neglected, she felt he needed a little time alone with her. I understand that, and I can only imagine the others do, too, even if no one’s saying much.

What I realize, though, is that I need to be better—not just as her mate, but as a bond brother. Everyone besides me needs Grace, and they all deserve time with her. That thought sticks with me as I ride, the rumble of the engine steady beneath me, the road stretching out ahead like a silent promise. My phone rings, and I hit the button on my helmet to answer.

“Yo, brother,” I greet, recognizing Conrad’s ringtone immediately.

“How are you guys making out?” His voice crackles through, nearly drowned out by the chaos in the background. I hear the kids screaming, one baby crying—a typical day at home.

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