14. Barrett

Chapter 14

Barrett

-The Hanging Tree- The Hunger Games-

I feel the exact moment that Grace makes Lorcan hers. It’s as if a bolt of lightning streaks through the air, crackling with raw power. My heart races as I gasp, the intensity of the connection driving me to my knees. Beside me, my bond mates also collapse, a collective response to the monumental shift in our dynamic.

As I struggle to catch my breath, I meet the gazes of my companions. There’s a silent exchange of understanding, a recognition of the profound change that has just occurred. And then, like the calm after a storm, I sense it—the bond settling into place.

Gone are the chaotic surges of energy that once plagued us, replaced now by a serene sense of harmony. I glance around, meeting Ethan’s bewildered expression as he voices the question on all our minds. “What just happened?” he asks, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Griffin, ever composed, offers an explanation. “The bond settled,” he says, his gaze sweeping over his brothers and then to me and Nic.

Nic, still recovering, staggers to his feet, a hand pressed to his chest as he surveys the scene. “She’s done it,” he declares, a hint of awe in his voice.

I tilt my head, studying him intently. “What do you mean?” I ask, my voice trembling slightly as I find my balance.

“Think about the legend of the Lunar Wolf,” Nic says, a smile spreading across his face. “She brings balance—Alpha, Beta, Omega. And before her turning human, this is what she needed.”

His words hang in the air, sinking in as I grasp the enormity of what Grace has achieved. With a newfound sense of clarity, I meet the eyes of my companions, a shared understanding passing between us. Grace, our mate, has fulfilled her destiny. In doing so, she has brought us all into alignment.

“She’s going to be alright,” I say, my voice trembling with excitement as relief floods through me. I leap from my seat, heart racing, and dash into the kitchen. The fridge door flies open with a forceful tug, and I scan its contents, my mind already concocting a feast fit for celebration.

As I gather ingredients, the energy in the kitchen shifts. Within moments, the room is alive with movement and chatter as everyone pitches in to prepare dinner. It’s a symphony of clinking utensils and murmured conversations, a tangible sense of unity and purpose filling the air.

I had always feared for Grace, knowing the immense power she harbored would inevitably lead to her downfall. But now, with the recent turn of events, there’s a glimmer of hope for a future together, a future stretching out before us like an endless horizon.

Ruby enters, a radiant smile gracing her face as she distributes the children to the alphas. “Come on, Barrett,” she says gently, her warmth enveloping me like a comforting embrace. In her presence, I feel a sense of belonging I’ve rarely known, a maternal instinct that transcends blood ties.

Several hours later, Grace and Lorcan stride into the house, their faces glowing with exhaustion and relief. As they step inside, a thunderous round of applause erupts, echoing through the air, a symphony of gratitude and admiration. I rush forward, eager to envelop them both in tight embraces, feeling the warmth of their presence against my skin.

Grace is passed around like a cherished treasure, embraced by each of us. I hold her close, feeling the weight of worry lift from my shoulders as I sense her calmness, her acceptance of the love surrounding her. It’s as if she absorbs our collective relief, letting it wash over her like a gentle tide.

For so long, I’ve been haunted by the fear of losing her to the overwhelming power she possesses. But today, in this moment of shared joy and gratitude, that fear dissolves like mist in the morning sun. It’s the love of a blind beta, unwavering and pure, that has brought us to this point. Lorcan stands tall beside her, his handshakes firm and his smile genuine, accepting the congratulations with grace and humility.

In this embrace of love and solidarity, I know that we’ve overcome the darkest of challenges. And as I look into Grace’s eyes, I see not just the relief of survival, but the promise of a future filled with hope and possibility.

Agnes finally arrives, her gentle presence bringing a sense of relief as she steps into the kitchen, her warm smile calming the chaos that had brewed in her absence. With a graceful flick of her wrist, she takes over from where I had been struggling, seamlessly slipping into the rhythm of kitchen tasks. As she works alongside Ruby, their laughter fills the room, a melody of familiarity and comfort.

Meanwhile, I find myself relegated to the sidelines, but it’s not a punishment; it’s a chance to observe. I dance around the table, the clinking of plates and silverware accompanying my movements, a symphony of anticipation for the meal to come.

Grace, our vivacious mate, rushes over to the tablet nestled in the kitchen's corner, her excitement palpable. With a few swift taps, her playlist fills the room with upbeat pop tunes, setting the perfect backdrop for our impromptu kitchen dance party.

Our daughters, caught up in the infectious energy, join in, twirling and giggling as they sing along to the catchy lyrics. Watching them, I can’t help but be swept away by the sheer joy radiating from their faces.

Suddenly, Grace prowls toward me, her playful demeanor lighting up the room even more. She corners me against the wall, her mischievous grin mirroring my own. “Hey cutie,” she purrs, her breath warm against my skin as she nuzzles my cheek.

“Hey Gracie,” I murmur, leaning in to sip gently at her lips, savoring the warmth of her presence. “I missed you,” I confess softly before pressing another kiss to her lips.

Her laughter, like a delicate melody, dances through the air, reassuring me with its sweetness. “I wasn’t gone for long,” she assures me, peppering my cheeks with tender kisses.

But just as we settle into our intimate cocoon, Ruby’s voice intrudes, yanking us back to reality. “Dinner, you two,” she calls, breaking the spell.

Gracie intertwines her fingers with mine, pulling me towards the table where Lorcan sits on her other side. Deacon is passed to her, and with a graceful motion, she adjusts her top and feeds him right there at the table. The sight fills me with an overwhelming sense of peace, as if all the chaos of the world has momentarily ceased.

I watch in awe as Deacon closes his eyes, his tiny hand patting the top of his mother’s breast, finding comfort in her embrace. It’s such a simple, yet profound image, and it floods my heart with an indescribable joy. In that moment, surrounded by the ones I love, I feel like I’ve found my true place in the world.

I stand amidst the joyful gathering, my heart swelling with warmth as I observe my companions and the newest additions to our family reveling in the festivities. The atmosphere is alive with laughter and music, but my attention is drawn to the two young girls, daughters of our kin, twirling and darting between relatives with carefree abandon.

Suddenly, their playful dance halts as their gaze fixates on Lorcan. It’s then that I notice Grace’s eyes take on a peculiar milky hue, and I watch as Lorcan meets their curious stares with a gentle smile.

“Are you sharing your vision?” I inquire softly, breaking the spell, and Grace startles, her eyes darting nervously between us.

“Um, yes?” Her voice wavers, uncertainty flickering across her features as she grapples with the newfound ability.

“You can share your vision?” Nicolai’s voice carries a gentle reassurance as he reaches out, tenderly clasping Grace’s hand.

“It seems so. My wolf taught me how,” Grace replies, a tentative smile playing on her lips. “He didn’t know what he looked like. Or me.” Her eyes cloud over once more, a milky white veil enveloping her gaze, while Lorcan’s own eyes shimmer with a vibrant green amidst the ethereal glow.

“Today marks the first time I’ve ever truly seen in my entire life. I feel blessed by Selune’s grace,” Lorcan murmurs, his voice tinged with reverence. “I will offer her praise and thanks until the end of my days.”

Grace’s chest swells with a mix of pride and apprehension as she stands before Griffin, her heart pounding in her chest like a tribal drum. She takes a deep breath, savoring the moment before she speaks, her words dripping with honeyed affection.

“I am lucky that I can gift you sight,” she murmurs, her voice a soft melody in the stillness of the room. The corners of her lips turn up in a tender smile, her eyes closing to relish the sensation. “Even if it’s for a little while.”

But beneath the affection, there’s a simmering determination, a fierce loyalty to her pack that ignites like wildfire. “Think about the bigger picture,” she continues, her voice steady despite the turbulent emotions swirling within her. “If trouble comes, all of my mates will be able to fight and protect the family.”

Yet, amidst the warmth of her words, there’s a chill of doubt in the air as Griffin’s caution cuts through the moment like a sharp blade. “It’s very dangerous what you are doing, Grace,” he warns, his voice a stark contrast to her own.

Grace’s eyes snap open, blazing with an intensity that sends shivers down Griffin’s spine. They burn with the golden fire of a true alpha, flecks of red dancing in their depths like embers in the night. At that moment, she seems more than just a lunar wolf; she’s a force of nature, a primal entity bound by instinct and desire.

“And you know this how?” she challenges, her voice a low growl, tinged with a hint of defiance. “Sense isn’t always what is right.”

The tension between them crackles in the air like electricity, a silent battle of wills raging beneath the surface. Grace’s gaze turns borderline feral as she locks eyes with Griffin, her disdain for his adherence to rules simmering just beneath the surface. In her heart, she knows that sometimes, to protect her pack, she must embrace the wildness within her, even if it means defying convention and risking everything she holds dear.

Griffin leans back in his chair, his heart pounding against his chest, his breath caught in his throat, shocked at Grace’s reaction. The air in the room seems to thicken with tension, suffocating, as if Grace’s power looms over them all like a heavy blanket.

After speaking with the elders, Griffin knows the extent of Grace’s abilities. She possesses a formidable strength, capable of bending the will of everyone at the table to her command. Memories flood Griffin’s mind of the first time Grace met the Alphas after her wedding, the way she effortlessly silenced or even extinguished the fierce spirit of an Alpha’s wolf.

“What are we doing tomorrow?” Griffin’s voice trembles slightly as he tries to divert attention away from the palpable aura of authority that Grace exudes.

Grace inhales deeply, her gaze sweeping over each person at the table with an intensity that sends shivers down Griffin’s spine. “Once Ethan is fully healed,” she begins, her words carrying a weighty gravity, “he needs to train the new Alpha in Wolverton.”

Nicolai shifts uncomfortably under Grace’s gaze, a silent acknowledgment of her power.

“Every week,” Grace continues, her voice a commanding whisper, “you will alternate training the new Alpha. He currently is the weakest link.” As she speaks, we feel a tingling sensation wash over us, as if Grace’s power is reaching out, testing, probing.

Grace’s eyes begin to glow with an otherworldly light, and she closes them, her breaths coming slow and measured. I feel a gentle brush, almost like a caress, of her power moving over me, leaving me feeling both awed and unsettled.

Suddenly, Grace hums softly, her fingers drumming a steady rhythm on the tabletop. The tension in the room eases slightly, but I can still feel the weight of Grace’s command lingering in the air.

Her eyes snap open, piercing and intense, as she looks at each person. “Ambrose is going this week to start the new Alpha’s training.” With that announcement, Grace’s demeanor shifts, and she looks down at her plate, resuming her meal as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. But we know better. Grace’s power, once unleashed, lingers like a silent threat, a reminder of the force that she wields.