Page 8 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack

Lorcan chuckles and the sound is comforting. “Barrett brought home somethin’ called a corn dog. He put mustard on it and made me eat it.” His nose wrinkles, and I can’t help but laugh softly at the expression. “I wasn’t a fan.”

In the background, I hear Conrad’s laughter, the sound faint but unmistakable. Lorcan rolls his eyes, his face softening with humor. “Conrad, dunnae be an eejit,” he mutters, clearly still listening to whatever shenanigans are going on over there.

There’s a brief pause, and then I hear Conrad’s voice more clearly. “How do you even know what I’m doin’?”

“I canseeyou, bloody eejit. Grace is lendin’ me her sight.” Lorcan’s voice sounds full mischief. I hear his hair moving as if he’s shaking his head at whatever Conrad is doing off-screen.

Apparently, Conrad is up to no good. “Apparently he enjoys wearin’ kecks like you do,” Lorcan adds with a laugh, his tonelighter now. “Take back your sight, love. I dunnae wish to see his bum anymore.” I laugh, the sound bubbling up despite the knot in my chest. For a moment, everything feels lighter, easier. I take back my vision and I watch the smile on his face, remembering every single expression.

“Yeah, Conrad loves his thongs when it’s warm out,” I say with a soft laugh, still adjusting to the way his words twist and turn in unexpected ways. It’s one of those quirks I never thought I’d get used to, but here I am, laughing at the absurdity of it all.

“For once, I’m happy I dunnae have to see that daily,” Lorcan mutters, his voice laced with dry humor. My eyes catch a blur of movement in the background, and there they are—Barrett and Conrad, stark naked, chasing each other like children through the grass. The sunlight gleams off their skin, highlighting the ridiculousness of it all.

I can’t help but grin as Lorcan tilts his head, listening to everything going on around him. “Those two are worse than hares in the spring,” he adds, and I bite my lip to keep from laughing too loudly. The bond between us hums with the warmth of shared amusement, and for a brief moment, everything feels light.

“Well, to be honest,” I say, turning back to him, “Barrett is used to taking care of the needs of three alphas... four, when Nicolai wants his attention while I’m occupied.” My words hang in the air as Lorcan listens, nodding thoughtfully, though I can tell his mind is still half on the spectacle happening behind him.

“Anything new you want to tell me about?” he asks, his head tilted and his eyes closing briefly, as if bracing for whatever news I might drop.

“I’m going to learn how to run an excavator today,” I reply, a spark of excitement slipping into my voice. “The other day, Griffin took me to see a beautiful waterfall on Alpha Ambrose’s land. There were rainbows everywhere, the mist catching the sun just right.” My words fade as I reach out through the bond, sending him the image as clearly as I can—the glimmer of water cascading down, the warmth of the sun on my skin, the gentle caress of the mist when the wind shifts.

For a moment, I’m back there, feeling the magic of the place all over again. I wait for Lorcan’s response, hoping the sensation reaches him like it did me. The surrounding stillness amplifies the connection, and even with the distant sound of laughter from Barrett and Conrad, it’s like the world has narrowed to just this shared moment.

“Tell me something real. Something you want me to know about you,” I say softly, leaning back into Ethan’s warmth as he settles behind me, his presence steadying.

Lorcan shifts on the screen, his face illuminated by the soft glow of twilight. “The village where I grew up … my pack… It’s surrounded by rolling hills. I could see them, just for a short while when I was young, before my vision went.” His voice is deep, measured, the memory pulling at something tender inside him. “But the scents, they stayed with me—wildflowers, damp earth after the rain, the crispness of autumn leaves. Even now, I can picture them through the way they smelled.”

I close my eyes, letting his words wash over me like a gentle breeze carrying the fragrance of a place I’ll never know. He speaks of the moment they realized he was a healer, how it changed everything, how his world became smaller, more sheltered. His voice catches just a fraction, and I know what’s coming before he even says it.

“I feel like I’m a burden to our family,” Lorcan murmurs, his head lowering, the weight of his confession filling the silence that follows. The words shatter something inside me, an ache blooming in my chest.

“You’re not a burden,” I say, my voice firmer than I expect, as if I can will him to believe it. I take a deep breath, focusing on the bond between us, on the love I’m sending his way. “You’re a blessing, Lor. You make me see the world in a different light. Every day, I experience things differently because of you. I’m lucky to have that perspective—because of you.”

I watch him nod slightly, but I see the doubt still lingering in his eyes. His sigh is soft, resigned. “The brief moments of sight you gift me … they remind me of how much I’m missing,” he admits, lowering his head again.

“We’ll set more times aside so you can see, I promise,” I say, my heart squeezing. “I’m sorry I can’t sustain it longer. It’s … it’s not natural for me to do it at all, really.” My voice trails off, but I wish I could give him more, more than just fleeting glimpses.

“This is how I’m meant to be,” Lorcan says, his tone resolute. “But thank you, my love, for everything you do.” He smiles, and for once, the smile reaches his eyes. It’s the truth for him, and knowing that helps ease the tightness in my chest.

“Grace, we need to get going. Nic’s waiting for us,” Ethan interjects gently, breaking the moment as he flashes a grin. “You keeping my brother in line over there?”

Lorcan rolls his eyes, a familiar gesture. “The only one who can keep him in line is our mate.” His voice softens, a touch of humor lightening the mood. “Hopefully, we’ll be home sooner rather than later. I love you, Grace.”

Tears well up in my eyes as Lorcan kisses his fingers and presses them to the screen. That simple act tugs at my heartstrings. “If I had it my way, you’d be home in my arms already,” I whisper, blinking back the tears. “I love you, Lor. Take care of the wee ones—and the two bunnies you’ve got with you on this trip.”

He chuckles, the sound warm and familiar. “Dinnae remind me, lass. Speak soon.” He looks over his shoulder, frowning. “Ruby, can you turn this blasted thing off? I cannae see the buttons.” I laugh softly as the camera captures a last glimpse of the breathtaking landscape behind him before I hit the button, ending the call.

“Let’s not keep Nic waiting,” Ethan says as he helps me to my feet. We walk hand in hand toward the truck, a sense of anticipation building. It’s time to get my hands on a giant excavator—and get to work.

Chapter 7

Ethan

Gettingto sit in and listen to Grace with Lorcan gave me a new perspective on their relationship. She is with him the same way I am with her—protective, attentive. But interestingly enough, she’s not as overprotective of Barrett. That thought lingers in my mind, circling, as I drive, eyes on the road but my mind elsewhere, trying to piece together the why of it all.

“Ethan?”

Grace’s voice pulls me out of my inner thoughts, snapping me back to the present. I glance over at her briefly; her face is soft, curious, before I shift my attention back to the road. We’re following the GPS to where Nic has all the excavators parked, the quiet tension of anticipation already creeping up my spine.

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