Page 28 of Finding Forever with the Alpha Pack (Return to Wolf Creek #4)
Chapter 28
Grace
It’s been almost a month since I gave birth to all the babies, and things are finally settling back to normal—well, almost. The one thing that’s far from normal is how impossible it’s been to get my son away from Barrett and his ridiculous fake boobie bottle holder. It’s like he and Dante are glued together.
“Barrett?” I call out, wandering through the house, Bishop contently latched on my breast, nursing quietly. Maeve is still napping with her father, curled up in the warmth of his arms, while the older three are out in the training field with Nicolai and Griffin, working on their hunting skills.
At the end of the hallway, I spot Ethan casually leaning against the wall, his foot propped up as he leans back, arms crossed. An easy smile spreads across his lips as I approach, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Before I can say a word, he raises a finger to his lips, tipping his head toward the room to his right. Curious, I gently detach Bishop from my breast and pass him off to Ethan, who cradles him with ease.
I move toward the door Ethan indicated, my heart racing with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Slowly, I turn the knob, easing the door open, and peek inside.
There he is—Barrett, sitting on the floor, playing with Dante in his puppy form. My heart warms at the sight of the tiny rust-colored puppy, his little paws wobbling unsteadily as he tries to navigate the rug. His fur is a shade darker than Barrett’s, but the resemblance is still unmistakable. I lean against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching them. “Dante is doing very well,” I say with a smirk, effectively blocking his escape.
Barrett jumps, spinning to face me, his eyes wide with surprise. “Oh shit,” he mutters, glancing from Dante to me like he’s been caught red-handed.
“Mind letting me have my son?” I tease, arching a brow as Dante, in his puppy form, starts making his way toward me, his little paws padding across the rug.
Barrett lets out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. “Uh... I guess playtime’s over.” He watches as Dante wobbles toward me, a sheepish grin creeping across his face.
I step forward, scooping Dante up into my arms, his tiny body warm against mine. “Don’t think you can hog him all day just because of that bottle contraption you’ve got going on.” My tone is playful, but there’s no mistaking the motherly possessiveness in my voice.
Barrett rises to his feet, smiling that charming smile of his. “What can I say? My son loves me.” His eyes twinkle with pride, but I catch the mischievous glint behind them.
I can’t help but laugh, hugging Dante close to my chest. “Yeah, yeah, but I’m his mother, too.”
Barrett snuggles closer, his hand gently brushing the tiny foot of our son. His voice is soft, almost reverent, as he whispers, “We made a beautiful baby together.” Dante shifts back into his human form, chubby baby arms open wide as his little hand slaps my chest.
I smile, my heart swelling with warmth as I kiss our baby’s cheek, rumbling softly in contentment. “That we did.”
“All of Gracie’s babies are absolutely adorable,” Ethan rumbles from down the hall, his voice carrying that familiar mix of pride and affection. As he approaches, the sight of him with Bishop nestled against his chest makes my wolf stir with satisfaction.
“That’s the truth,” Barrett adds, his eyes soft as we head toward the den. I lean down, pressing a kiss to his temple before wrapping my arm around him, pulling him even closer.
“How are the older kids doing with their hunting training?” I ask, glancing up at Ethan. There’s an air of pride around him as he adjusts Bishop, his hand moving protectively over our son’s small back.
“Fantastically, actually,” Ethan says, his chest puffing slightly. “One day, these little ones will run with the rest of the children as a pack of their own.” He kisses Bishop’s forehead, his movements gentle as if handling something incredibly fragile. The sight pulls at something deep inside me.
“As firstborn, Deacon will be alpha. Or,” I add thoughtfully, “we could ask the kids if they want to take the alpha trials. Let the trials decide.” My gaze shifts between the two boys in our arms, the weight of their future hanging in the air. It’s a conversation for another day, but the thought lingers.
As we step into the den, Lorcan is already there, rocking slowly in the chair with Maeve cradled against his chest. The soft creak of the chair is the only sound in the room, and I move quietly so as not to disturb the peaceful moment.
“Hey, Lor,” I whisper, keeping my voice low, “how’s Maeve doing?”
“She’s a bonny wee miracle. She is,” Lorcan replies, his Scottish lilt thick with love as he kisses the crown of her head. Maeve’s tiny strawberry ringlets match the color of his beard, and I can’t help but smile at how perfectly she fits in his arms.
“I wonder what color her wolf will be,” I murmur, moving closer. I place my hand over Lorcan’s and share my vision with him, letting him see his daughter through my eyes, if only for a little while. His breath catches, and I feel his fingers tighten around mine.
“I’m twice blessed, my love,” he says softly, his voice thick with emotion. He kisses the back of my hand gently before glancing down at Maeve. “She may be ready to eat again.”
I take Maeve from him, her warmth settling against me, and I feel my wolf rumbling in satisfaction. “It’s time to feed Momma again,” Ethan says, stepping beside us. “Let’s head into the dining room. I’ll cook something, assuming Mom isn’t already in there.”
I pull back my vision, smiling as Barrett helps Lorcan to his feet. “Food sounds like a great idea,” I admit, just as my stomach growls loudly. The guys laugh, and I can’t help but chuckle along with them.
Together, we make our way toward the dining room, the sounds of our laughter echoing through the halls. For the first time in what feels like ages, everything feels just right.
I sit nestled against Lorcan, the warmth of his body comforting as I breastfeed Maeve and Dante. My wolf hums softly to both babies while they latch on. That gentle rumbling sound filling the room with an almost hypnotic peace. I can feel my eyelids growing heavy, the combination of feeding and the babies’ contentment lulling me into that familiar, sleepy haze. Ethan is at the stove, working his magic, the savory scent of pepper steak and my favorite potatoes with onions filling the air. My stomach rumbles, reminding me how much I love his cooking, but it’s funny how every time the babies sleep, I drift off right with them.
The clatter of a plate hitting the table in front of me jolts me out of my drowsiness, and I blink, a soft laugh escaping my lips. “Yum, that smells so good.” I breathe in deep, savoring the mouthwatering scent of the meal.
“Want me to feed it to you, Gracie?” Ethan raises his eyebrows, glancing from my arms full of babies to the food sitting in front of me.
I laugh, the thought almost too tempting. “That would be helpful.” I sigh, looking at the plate longingly. “It’s times like this. I wish I had four arms.”
“That’s what we’re here for, lass.” Lorcan leans in, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of my head, his breath warm against my hair. “Need me to take a wee one, or are they still eating?” His nose brushes against my hair, and I feel my body relax into him even more.
“Still eating,” I murmur, nuzzling Maeve’s tiny head. “As soon as Maeve’s done, I promise to pass her back.” Just as I say it, Dante detaches with a little squirm.
“Barrett, your son is looking for you,” I call out, knowing he’s been hovering nearby, waiting for his turn.
I’ve never seen Barrett move so fast. He practically leaps to my side, scooping Dante out of my arms with the biggest grin on his face. “Who’s the daddy? I’m the daddy,” he croons, cradling Dante close as he sits down, beaming like he’s won the lottery.
I roll my eyes, but there’s no stopping the smile that tugs at my lips. “No more with that boob contraption thing, okay? Eventually, he’s going to reject feeding from me,” I warn, arching a brow at him.
Barrett pouts, his lip jutting out as he sits down with Dante. “Oh, okay...” He trails off, his face the picture of a wounded pup, but he settles in the window seat with his son, content.
Maeve finally pulls away, and I pass her off to Lorcan, who takes her with a soft smile before I reach for Bishop, who Ethan hands over just as smoothly. It’s like playing musical babies around here, but it works. When I glance down at my plate, I notice Ethan’s cut the food up for me, and my heart swells with gratitude. He always thinks ahead like that.
“I have to ask, Ethan,” I start, as I finally dig in. “Why the name Bishop?” He freezes for a moment, his face contorting into a cringe before he sighs.
“You’re probably going to get mad at me for the reason,” he admits, wincing slightly as if bracing himself.
“Try me,” I say, curious now.
“It’s after my favorite Marvel character.” He grimaces, waiting for my reaction.
I stop mid-bite, fork hanging in the air, then slowly grab my phone. A few quick taps later, I find what I’m looking for. “Seriously? Bishop?” I shake my head, pretending to pout. “Hell, I would’ve been happy with Logan.”
Ethan chuckles, moving to sit next to me. “You’ve got a thing for the actor from the live-action movies. Let’s be honest here, Grace.” His grin widens as he leans in to kiss my cheek.
“Okay, fine... busted,” I admit, moaning a little as the flavors of his cooking hit my tongue. The savory pepper steak and buttery potatoes melt in my mouth, and it’s pure heaven. Ethan always knows exactly what to make for me—his southern comfort food is perfection.
As I savor another bite, my wolf hums contentedly, and I catch Barrett’s playful smile from across the room. It’s moments like this that make everything feel right again.
I clear my plate, savoring the last bite as Ruby brings over a generous slice of apple pie for dessert. The sweetness is welcome, but my mind drifts away from the table, my gaze moving over each of my babies, their peaceful faces pulling at my heart. There’s still one promise I need to keep.
“I know that look, Gracie. What’s on your mind?” Griffin leans against the table across from me, his tone gentle but curious.
I take a slow breath, feeling the weight of my thoughts settle around me. “I have a promise to keep to Ambrose,” I whisper. “As soon as the little ones are a month old, we need to find his missing mate.” My eyes meet each of my mates and the sadness I feel ripples through the bonds we share, a somber echo in the quiet room. “I don’t know how he’s kept himself together all this time, being separated from her.”
Ethan meets my gaze, a sympathetic understanding in his eyes as he nods. “We did a lot of things we regret to fill the void.” He winces, the weight of past choices heavy between us. “He’s probably doing the same, just to keep himself from losing control of his wolf.”
The memories of their confessions still linger—how they struggled to hold on to themselves, seeking anything that could dull the ache of being without their mate. I know what they went through, the restless ache, the temptation to become something darker. Ambrose must be doing the same, and it tears at me to think of his pain.
“After next week’s check-up, let’s have Ambrose over to plan,” I say, feeling a surge of warmth from my mates through the bond, a shared understanding of what we owe him. He’s been there for me in so many ways, his strength and loyalty unwavering. Ambrose kept me safe after my attack, stayed by our side through every challenge. Finding his mate is the least we can do, and I feel my resolve strengthen, knowing my mates feel the same.