Page 1 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

Chapter 1

Previously On Coveted by the Alpha Pack

But,like everything in my life, every positive seems to be balanced with a sharp edge of pain. My grandmother Elinor passes away when I need her wisdom the most. The news hits me like a punch to the chest, leaving a hollow ache I can’t breathe around. Grief tastes bitter on my tongue, and the tears that track down my cheeks are hot, leaving salt-dry trails on my skin. When I learn the ways of my mates' people to honor an elder’s death, it’s an eye-opener. The air hums with energy during the ceremonies. Every voice lifted in harmony to honor her. Drums beat slow and steady, their vibrations deep in my chest like the pulse of the earth itself. The scent of burning sage and fresh pine fills the gathering space, sharp and clean, as though purging the air of sorrow.

The pack shows its power in moments like this—a force of nature, unstoppable when united. People I’ve never even met come to pay respects to my grandmother, their presence like a sea of warmth pressing against me, even in my loneliness. Amidst it all, my mates’ hands find mine, their touch grounding me. Barrett, with his steady voice and unshakable calm, is the best at getting the alphas to talk, smoothing tensions beforethey boil over. His low murmur during the ceremony helps me breathe through the grief.

The elders, however, concern me. They’re immersed in things that make my skin prickle, like icy fingers tracing down my spine. Whispers of secrets hang heavy in the air, and the weight of their hidden dealings presses against my chest like a too-tight corset. Straightening out Wolverton is a tangled mess, the discovery of one elder as a hidden threat, the bitter cherry on top. The tension is so thick in the room that I can taste it—metallic, like blood on my tongue.

Integrating a sixth mate into our already delicate balance proves harder than I imagined. Lorcan may be a healer, but his arrival disrupts the careful harmony we’ve built. Every touch, every glance, carries meaning in a dynamic like ours, and the change hums with unspoken challenges. His blindness doesn’t hold him back, though. I watch, mesmerized, as his fingers flutter over our space, mapping it with a kind of patience and focus that makes my heart swell. But the tension in the house simmers beneath the surface, like coals glowing in the dark.

The threat of constant war makes everything harder. It feels like the universe is stacking bricks on my shoulders, one after the other, until my knees buckle. Every day brings an additional problem—more rogues at our borders, another attack that leaves the ground soaked with blood. My nerves are frayed. The air reeks of fear, sweat, and iron, the acrid tang burning in my throat. We hatch a plan—hide our pack’s greatest threat in plain sight to lure out my ex. It’s reckless, but desperation makes the choice for us. When it works, I’m both relieved and terrified. My heat comes in like a tidal wave, a cruel twist of fate that leaves me raw and vulnerable, but it helps bait him.

The final battle with my ex is chaos—shouts and snarls, the sickening thud of bodies colliding, and the sharp tang of blood filling the air. I fight for my life, for my mates, for the future we’re trying so desperately to protect. When he falls, the relief that crashes over me is almost dizzying. It feels like stepping out of a dark cave into sunlight, the warmth on my face stinging after so long in the cold.

But the attacks only ramp up from there, leaving us no time to breathe. We’re forced to make the hardest decision yet. The thought of sending our children away for safety feels like ripping my heart from my chest. I clutch them close before they leave, memorizing their scents—soft lavender and milk—and the way their tiny hands curl in mine. It’s for their safety, I remind myself, but the ache of their absence gnaws at me like a phantom limb.

Half my mates go with them, and the silence in the house is deafening. I just hope we made the right decision. My nights are sleepless, haunted by shadows at the edge of my vision and the lingering chill of an empty bed. The air feels colder now, sharp and unforgiving. I steel myself for what comes next. We’re not running anymore. It’s time to strike back—to reclaim our lives, our safety, and our peace—before the rogues can take anything more from us.

Chapter 2

Grace

It’s beenthirty-six hours since my gentle mates and children left the pack lands. The absence feels like a gaping void, stretching across my chest. I do not know where they are or how far they’ve traveled, and that’s for the best. If I don’t know, no one else does either.It’s safer this way. Conrad knows today is therapy day—it’s his turn to attend with me, even if only virtually. He already texted, reminding us to bring the tablet. He’ll call in when it’s time for me to go in.

Today, Nicolai, and Conrad are supposed to be with me. Since Conrad can’t be here physically, Griffin volunteered to be present in his stead. Ethan would have come, but... having Nicolai and Ethan in the same room? That would be like priming a nuclear bomb. We decided against it. For everyone’s sake.

“Grace?” Mark, my therapist, stands in the doorway, his expression kind but expectant as he opens the door wide. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah...” My voice comes out soft, more hesitant than I intended. I glance down at the tablet in my arms, feeling its weight as if itholds more than just a way for Conrad to be with me. Taking a deep breath, I stand and make my way toward the office.

“I’ll get a hold of Con and tell him it’s time to call in,” Griffin says with that easy smile of his, offering me a moment of comfort. His hand brushes mine lightly as I pass, grounding me.

“We’ll be right outside if you need us.” Nicolai’s voice is low, steady. I can feel his eyes on me, watching, protective. He dips his head slightly, a silent promise.

I nod and step inside, the door closing behind me with a soft click. The silence presses in, and the room feels smaller, more intimate now. My fingers hover over the tablet, waiting for Conrad’s call, the tension in my chest growing with each passing second.

As I move through the office, I can feel the weight of my task pressing down on my shoulders. My hands tremble slightly as I set the tablet on a small table in the corner, doing my best to appear calm and collected. The hum of the air conditioning seems too loud in the stillness, but it’s nothing compared to the pounding in my chest.

“What do you have there? More importantly, where’s Conrad?” Mark’s voice breaks the silence, his eyes following my every move with curiosity, trying to piece together the puzzle he doesn’t even know exists yet.

I force a casual smile; the lie slipping from my lips like second nature. “Con had to go away for business for a while. He’s going to call in so he can attend.”

The words barely settle before the tablet rings, a sharp sound that sends my heart into overdrive. My breath catches in my throat as I swipe to answer, my fingers clumsier than I’d like toadmit. “Hi, Con. How’s your business trip going?” I hint at the lie with a practiced tone, keeping my voice steady despite the storm raging inside.

“It’s going,” he says, a soft smile playing on his lips, but there’s a shadow in his eyes. “We wish you were here.” He glances past me to Mark. “Whenever you’re ready, Doc, I am.”

I nod, hurrying to take my seat, my body buzzing with anxiety. It feels like every nerve is on edge, and my eyes can’t stop darting between Conrad and Mark. The tension in the room is thick, making it hard to breathe.

Mark leans forward slightly, fixing me with that thoughtful gaze of his. “So, this is the first time you’ve been separated from your mate. How are you dealing with it?”

I knew he’d come to me first. He always does. I take a deep breath, my fingers twisting in my lap. I drop my gaze to a stray fuzzy on the rug, the tiny imperfection becoming the only thing I can focus on. “Not well, if I’m being honest.” I lift my eyes, first to Conrad and then to Mark, the weight of the lie pressing harder with each word. “Con’s on a business trip, and my in-laws took the kids to Disney for a vacation. They brought Lor with them, just in case any of the kids get sick or hurt.” I bite my lip, weaving the lie just tight enough to hide the truth. I can feel Conrad watching me through the screen, but he says nothing, letting me do what I need to do.

Mark’s brow furrows in that way it always does when he’s digging deeper. “An empty nest is a new thing for you. It’s going to be tough. How does it make you feel, Grace?”

The question pulls at me, and I feel my wolf stir beneath the surface, restless, bristling against the façade I’m holdingtogether. I glance back at Conrad, wishing he were here, wishing we didn’t have to lie. Mark leans forward, but he’s careful not to encroach on my space. He knows better than to push too hard when my mates aren’t physically here.

“Anxious,” I admit, the word slipping out before I can stop it. “I feel very anxious. I fear what might happen if I’m not there.” My voice wavers, the vulnerability creeping in as my mind swirls with images of dangers lurking in the shadows, the threats I can’t see but know are there. My wolf’s presence becomes stronger, pacing beneath the surface, as if preparing for a fight only she can sense. I breathe out slowly, trying to keep it together, but the fear gnaws at me, relentless.

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