Page 30 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

He soaps up a loofah, his movements slow and gentle as he scrubs my back. “You don’t have to bathe me, Con. I can do it…” I yawn again, trailing off. The idea of fighting him on this feels almost laughable. I’m too tired, too content, to do anything other than lean into his touch.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble. “Let me take care of you.”

I nod faintly, the heat from the water and the steady rhythm of Conrad’s hands soothing me. For a moment, I let myself drift, letting go of everything—the plans, the worries, the exhaustion. It’s just me and Conrad, the steady beat of the water against my skin, and the sense of safety that comes from being with someone who knows me inside and out.

We finish up in the shower, steam still clinging to the bathroom mirrors, and I towel off quickly, letting the warm air keep the chill away. I slip into a pair of soft leggings and an oversized tee shirt that seems to have magically appeared in the bathroom. The familiar scent clings to the fabric—Nic’s. A small smile tugs at my lips. Griffin’s touch is also clear in the set of lacey bra and panties he’s chosen for me, his favorite that I had put on. I slide them on, enjoying the subtle caress of the fabric, knowing exactly what kind of effect this will have on him later.

Once dressed, we head downstairs, my hand trailing along the polished banister as we move through the house and into the dining room. The murmur of conversation dies down as I step in, and I’m greeted by the sight of all my children and most of my mates gathered around the table, eating what looks like lunch.

“Well, good afternoon, Gracie...” Ruby’s voice calls out from the stove, where she’s tending to something that smells mouthwatering sweet. She glances over her shoulder, a soft smile curving her lips as she watches me cross the room and lean into Conrad. His muscular arms wrap around me, and I melt into his embrace, holding on tightly.

“Hm? Afternoon?” I blink, glancing up at the clock on the wall. Damn it, it really is. It’s already twelve-thirty. I arch a brow at the revelation, a wry smile playing on my lips.

“Lass?” Lorcan’s rich brogue pulls my attention. He’s seated in the corner booth, his massive frame taking up a good portion of the space, but he opens his arms wide, inviting me over. I press a quick kiss to Conrad’s cheek before bouncing up and practically throwing myself into Lorcan’s lap. The moment I settle, his arms wrap around me, and I feel tiny, enveloped by his presence. He cradles me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, and a sense of peace washes over me. There’s something about Lorcan that smooths out all the rough edges. It’s something I crave.

“Are you healing me, you sneaky mate?” I tug playfully on his beard, feeling the soft bristles under my fingers. Leaning in, I press a gentle kiss to his lips, feeling his power swirl beneath the surface.

“Aye, figured you might be sore.” His lips brush against my temple, and I feel the gentle hum of his gift passing through me. Warmth blooms under my skin, easing every lingering ache and tension until I’m practically floating. “You and the wee ones are perfectly healthy.” His voice is low, soft, and I can feel the smile that spreads across his lips.

“That’s good to know.” I nuzzle closer, resting my head on his broad shoulder, letting myself bask in the comfort of his embrace. I almost don’t notice when Ruby sets a plate of French toast and a glass of juice in front of me.

I lift my head, glancing around the kitchen, but something feels off. The usual noise, the clatter of silverware and soft laughter, has quieted. Everyone’s staring at me, their eyes wide withvarying degrees of concern, curiosity, and something else I can’t quite put my finger on.

“What?” I look from one face to the next, trying to make sense of the sudden shift. We all know I’m pregnant. The heat ended, so there’s no big revelation there. Yet they’re all still watching me like I’ve done something unexpected—like I’m some kind of puzzle they’re trying to solve.

Lorcan’s arms tighten around me protectively, and I can almost feel his wolf bristle, sensing the subtle tension in the room. My gaze narrows as I try to figure out what I’m missing. Is it because I’m sitting with Lorcan instead of snuggled up against Ethan?

A soft chuckle draws my attention back to Lorcan. “Relax, lass,” he murmurs, his voice a gentle rumble. “They’re just not used to seein’ ya so content with me is all.”

His words take a moment to settle, but when they do, a rush of warmth spreads through me. They’re surprised because I chose to be here, in his arms, seeking comfort from him. My eyes soften as I glance around the room again, and the tension that had been building in my chest dissipates.

With a soft sigh, I lean back into Lorcan, savoring the feeling of safety and love that radiates from him. “Guess I’ll just have to surprise you all more often.” I wink at the others, and slowly, the tension in the room breaks, smiles returning to their faces.

For now, I push aside the questions and enjoy the meal, surrounded by the people I love, knowing I have a lot more surprises in store for them.

Chapter 21

Barrett

Lorcan said wee ones…Plural. The word keeps bouncing around in my head like a pinball machine on tilt. A grin spreads across my face, and it’s all I can do not to squeal and run around throwing confetti like it’s New Year’s Eve. The others have already connected the dots, but it seems like Gracie’s exhaustion is keeping her from fully realizing what this means.We’re having two or three babies.

The thought sends a thrill through me, and I take off at a sprint, racing through the house to the small studio Nicolai set up for me in the Alpha’s workspace downstairs. I barely register my surroundings as I grab the color swatches and fabric wheels, my hands trembling with excitement. I might not be working as much as I used to, but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up entirely. For this, though? For our family? I’d drop everything.

When I return to the kitchen, Grace is curled up with Ruby and Andrea, her exhaustion visible in the way her shoulders sag just a little more than usual. But there’s a soft smile on her face as she looks up at me, and my heart does a little flip.

"So, for the nursery..." I hold up the tools of my trade, and Gracie’s smile widens, a spark of interest lighting her eyes.

"Let’s walk up there and take a look," she says, grabbing the French toast sticks and a bottle of water before joining me. We step out of the kitchen just as the guys swarm Lorcan, their excitement palpable.

The new baby nursery is attached to Grace’s room, while the older children’s rooms are down the hall. We have an entire third floor of bedrooms we can shuffle the older kids to when these rooms are needed. Grace opens the door and flips on the light, revealing the bare space. The walls are untouched, the floor still uncarpeted. We have done nothing with it yet because we wanted Grace to make it her own when she was ready.

I quickly text Conrad for the flooring options, since I forgot to grab those samples in my rush. "Con’s bringing the flooring selection up," I mention casually, watching as Grace flips through the paint chips and fabrics simultaneously, her eyes focused and intent.

"Oh, okay..." she murmurs, settling on one fabric that has several colors woven into it. But it’s the three different paint chips she keeps staring at that grab my attention: deep spruce green, dark rose, and a rich dark blue.

"I can’t make up my mind. I love these three..." She hands me the chips and regards the four walls. After a moment, she reaches up and takes the pencil from behind my ear.

Walking over to the biggest wall, she writesmuralin the center, then steps back, her head tilting as she studies the space. Her movements are slow, deliberate, as if something in her subconscious is guiding her. I watch in silence as she places thedeep spruce green chip on one wall; the dark rose on the middle wall, and the dark blue on the last blank wall. She tilts her head, staring at the way the colors play against each other and the area marked for the mural. The blue and green frame the mural area, and the rose is directly across from it.

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