Page 10 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

“In this position, you can use the boom arm,” I tell her, guiding her hand to the two joysticks on the chair’s arms. Her skin feels warm under mine, a subtle reminder of her nerves. “The one on your left extends the arm or brings it back.” I demonstrate, moving the arm with precision, watching it swing like a giant mechanical limb through the dim light. The machine groans as I push it right, the world outside tilting slightly before I bring it back to center.

“The stick on the right operates the bucket, extending it or curling it up,” I continue, positioning myself behind her, close enough to feel the slight tremble in her breath. My arms reach over hers, the scent of diesel and dirt mingling in the cool evening air as I guide the bucket through its range. Slowly, deliberately, I scoop up some dirt and swing the machine to the right, dumping the load with a satisfying thud. The earth moves, but the tension between us feels even heavier. This is her moment.

I step aside, giving her space. “Go ahead. Your turn.”

Grace wipes her palms on her pants, a nervous habit that only makes my heart race faster. She grips the joysticks, her movements tentative at first. But soon, confidence blossoms. The boom extends contracts, the bucket flexes under her command. When she scoops her first bucket of dirt and dumps it with precision, my chest swells with pride.

“That was awesome! Can I do it again?” Her eyes light up, and for a moment, the tension eases.

“Absolutely,” I say, unable to hide my grin. “I’m going to check in with Nic. You can move this whole pile if you want. Tonight’s just about getting used to the machine. Have fun with it.”

I lean in, pressing a quick kiss to her temple before stepping out of the cab, my mind already shifting to the next task. But as I walk toward Nic, I can’t help but glance back at Grace. The steady hum of the machine blends with the quiet thrill of knowing she’s got this.

Nic is smiling as he watches Grace in the machine by herself, effortlessly moving the dirt around like she’s done this a thousand times before. “You have her running that machine by herself in less than an hour.” Nicolai beams, clearly proud of our mate, his chest puffing out just a little more. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say that was just a refresher course for her. Those two,” he gestures toward Ambrose and Griffin, who are now standing around looking more than a little defeated, “just couldn’t get it. I had to walk away and let them figure it out for themselves.” Nicolai chuckles, shaking his head. The sound filled with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

I follow Nic’s gaze, my attention settling back on Grace, her movements smooth and controlled, as if she’s been running an excavator for years rather than mere minutes. The low hum of the machine echoes in the air, the rhythmic scoop, and drop of dirt almost hypnotic. She’s in her element, focused, determined.

A rush of pride swells in my chest as I watch her. There’s something mesmerizing about the way her mind works, how quickly she picks things up. Grace’s intelligence astounds me on most days, but moments like this? They remind me just how extraordinary she really is. I can’t help but wish I was even half as brilliant as she is. She makes everything seem so easy, so effortless, and I’m left in awe, trying to keep up.

Nic nudges me slightly, his eyes still glued to her. “You know, I think she might have a secret life as a machine operator. We should ask her later,” he jokes, but there’s an underlying admiration in his tone, a sense of awe we both feel.

I smirk, but there’s a tightness in my chest now. It’s moments like these when I realize how lucky I am to be with her—this woman who can do anything she sets her mind to.

Chapter 8

Grace

One week later…

I have‘Me Too’blaring in my earbuds, the beat thrumming through my body as I dance around the room, trying to shake off the anxiety gnawing at me. Nicolai and his team are already in place, setting the machines and charges. My eyes flicker to the clock. Each tick feels like a countdown to something I’m not sure I’m ready for.

The plan, Nicolai said, is to close off the mouth of the cavern first, before setting off the bigger explosions. His logic—using up all the oxygen inside to force the rogues to surface—makes sense, but it still feels like overkill. I can’t shake the feeling that something could go wrong, though I keep that worry to myself.

“Ready to go, Grace?” Griffin’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. He’s standing in the doorway, waiting. I follow Griff out the door and across the yard to his truck.

I climb into the car beside Griffin, and the door shuts with a solid thud. The tension in the air is almost suffocating. As the engine roars to life, I let out a shaky breath.

“I’m scared, Griff,” I finally admit, my voice barely louder than a whisper.

His jaw clenches, and I can see the strain in his expression, even in the dim light. “We all are, Grace. There’s too much we don’t know—how many rogues are out there, waiting. All we have is our betas and about sixty wolves near the two open cavern mouths.”

I nod, the numbers giving me a small sense of relief, but it’s short-lived. “How many will be watching our backs?”

He’s silent for a beat too long, the road stretching endlessly ahead. “Twenty, including the blast crew. They’ll be with you the whole time.” His hands grip the steering wheel tighter, knuckles whitening.

“And what about you?” I place my hand on his forearm, feeling the tension vibrating beneath his skin.

He glances at me, his smile forced, his eyes betraying the truth. “Not sure about the exact numbers. Keeping you safe is the priority.”

My stomach twists. I know what that means. They’ll be out there with bare-minimum support, risking everything. The weight of it presses down on my chest, and I suddenly feel like I can’t breathe. Each minute that passes feels like we’re driving closer to the edge of a cliff, and I do not know if we’ll make it to the other side.

My mind races with terrifying possibilities as the realization sets in—I’m about to leave my mates exposed. The weight of it crashes over me, tightening my chest. My fingers tremble as I glance at Griffin, my question clawing its way out of my throat.

“Griff?” My voice cracks, but I push through, trying to sound stronger than I feel.

“Yeah?” He tilts his head, giving me a quick glance before turning back to the road, his jaw tense. He knows.

I hesitate, forcing the words out before I can second-guess myself. “If I die... will Lorcan and Barrett survive because they’re not alphas?”

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