7. Grace

Chapter 7

Grace

-Vigilante Shit- Taylor Swift-

The world feels different now, altered in a way that’s hard to grasp. It’s been two months since Grams passed away, and her absence weighs heavily on my heart, leaving an emptiness that seems to permeate everything around me. I know she wouldn’t want me to drown in sorrow, but finding a way to navigate through this grief feels like an insurmountable task.

“We are okay. It’s okay to be sad,” my wolf’s voice echoes softly in my mind, a gentle reminder amidst the storm of emotions swirling within me.

“I miss her...” I whisper back, the ache in my chest threatening to overwhelm me.

“I know, Grace. She would want us to carry on and protect the pack, ” my wolf responds, her words a soothing caress to my shattered heart. “All the packs in our region are ours to protect. We are their Luna.”

Her warmth lingers, a comforting presence that allows me space to process, even as we move silently through the house. My thoughts drift to the upcoming trip to Wolverton, a journey that feels both daunting and necessary. I need to see the pack, to connect with them in this time of uncertainty.

In the kitchen, I find Barrett packing food for the trip, his actions a silent testament to his protective nature. I sidle up beside him, pressing a kiss to his cheek, grateful for his presence and the comfort he brings.

“Why are you making food?” I ask, curiosity mingling with concern in my voice, my mind already racing with possibilities.

Barrett tilts his head, a subtle gesture that speaks volumes. “At the moment, I don’t trust anyone,” he replies cryptically, his words sending a shiver down my spine. For my Omega to adopt such a defensive stance, something significant must be unfolding, something I’m not yet aware of.

“What do you know?” I murmur, planting several more tender kisses on Barrett’s cheek before gliding to the opposite side of the kitchen island.

“The elders are still there because there’s a lot of infighting. I’m worried we’re walking into a war zone,” Barrett confesses, his words punctuated by the sound of his hands slapping over his mouth in realization. It’s a raw moment of vulnerability, unintentionally laid bare.

I nod, absorbing the weight of his words. The tension in the room is palpable. Digesting the information, I finally come to a conclusion. “I’m going to have Griff stay here with you, Conrad, and Lorcan, while Ethan and Nicolai come with me,” I declare, a wry smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. “Cry ‘Havoc!’, and let slip the dogs of war,” I add, arching a brow and reciting my favorite quote from Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar.

“What’s this about dogs of war?” Ethan’s arms fold over his chest, his lips twisting into that infuriating half-smirk that always seems to provoke a flurry of conflicting emotions within me—anger and attraction swirling together in a maddening dance.

“You and Nic are coming with me to Wolverton. Griff, Con, Barrett, and Lorcan are staying home with the babies,” I assert, lifting my chin in Ethan’s direction, silently daring him to challenge my decision.

“Okay,” Ethan responds, too easily, before retrieving his phone from his pocket and firing off several messages with practiced efficiency.

“Okay? That was too easy. What don’t I know?” I demand, my gaze flicking between Barrett and Ethan, a sense of unease settling over me like a heavy shroud.

“There’ve been multiple threats on our lives. They know if they kill you, the rest of us die. What they don’t know is what you are and that you are stronger than you appear,” Ethan declares with unwavering confidence, his words a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows.

“So, the short version is that I stay with you and Nic, and everything will be okay?” I chuckle softly, but there’s an edge of uncertainty in my voice. It’s not just about me anymore; my death could leave multiple packs without leadership. The elders’ sudden interest in the ongoing skirmishes adds another layer of complexity to the situation, one that could either tip the scales in our favor or plunge us into chaos.

Ethan steps forward, his presence comforting yet probing. He presses the tip of his finger between my eyebrows, a gentle gesture that draws my attention. “This tells me you have something brewing in that brilliant mind of yours. What’s not sitting right, darling?”

I sigh, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude for Ethan’s perceptiveness. “The elders still lingering concerns me. From what yours and Nic’s moms have said, they normally don’t take this much interest in pack squabbles,” I confess, seeking solace in Ethan’s embrace.

Sliding into his open arms, I bury my face against his chest, taking in the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the earthy undertones of the forest. It’s a comforting sensation, grounding me during uncertainty.

“They don’t usually get this involved,” Ethan murmurs against my hair as he kisses the crown of my head, his lips leaving a trail of warmth in their wake. I find solace in his embrace, even as his words send a shiver down my spine.

“We have two theories,” he continues, his voice low and measured. “The first is they want to be on your good side because they have bigger plans.” His arms tighten around me, sensing my tension. “The second is it’s a power play. If we take over the region, they can set their sights on another to conquer.”

I take in his words, feeling the weight of their implications settling over me like a heavy blanket. Before I can respond, Nic enters the room, his presence commanding attention. “I’m betting it’s a mix of the two. At least, that’s what I would do,” he says, his voice tinged with a hint of concern. There’s something more he wants to say, I can tell, but he leads us away to a different part of the house.

In the library, Nic locks the door behind us and closes the shutters, enveloping us in a cocoon of secrecy. The sudden change in atmosphere makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and I can’t shake the feeling of impending doom.

“Why do I think this is going to send me into a panic?” I whisper, my voice barely above a breath.

“Because it probably is,” Nic replies bluntly, earning a low growl of protest from Ethan. “I refuse to sugarcoat the problem. Grace deserves the full truth. She’s not a fragile human,” he adds, his words a rare acknowledgment of my strength. It’s a minor comfort in the midst of uncertainty, but it’s enough to bolster my resolve.

“I know she’s not human; I turned her,” Ethan bellows at Nic, the intensity of his voice reverberating through the room, stirring up a storm of emotions.

“Then stop treating her like she’s a thread of glass and treat her like an equal,” Nic retorts, his voice a low growl as he challenges Ethan’s overprotectiveness of me.

“She’s our Luna. Grace is the Moon Wolf. She has dominion over all of us, and yet you treat her like she’s less than she is,” Nicolai adds, his stance firm as he stands up against Ethan, his words carrying the weight of conviction.

“Please don’t fight,” I interject, feeling the tension between them like a tangible force. I push my way between the two of them, placing a hand on each of their chests in a feeble attempt to diffuse the escalating conflict.

Ethan’s hand covers mine, his touch grounding me even as his gaze shifts between Nic and me. “We’re just having a little bit of a disagreement, that’s all,” he assures me, his voice softer now, laced with a hint of apology.

“You have to understand, Grace. Alphas run their packs differently. I am more about brutal honesty than carefully curated narratives. I would rather give you all the unhindered facts than be selective about what I tell you,” Nic explains, his hand resting over mine on his chest, a gesture of solidarity despite their differences.

I look between the two of them, seeing the validity in both of their perspectives. “Can we agree to find a middle ground between both styles? I mean, if needed, we can have Conrad blend both tactics since he seems to be the most logical out of all of you,” I suggest, hoping to broker a compromise.

Reluctantly, Ethan and Nicolai agree, their tension easing like a storm cloud passing overhead. Thankfully, it didn’t come down to them battling it out like last time, leaving me with a sense of relief as we navigate the complexities of our pack dynamics.

There’s a soft knock at the door, and Ethan turns to open it. Griffin stands there, his son asleep on his chest. “You guys need to get going, or you’re going to be late to the meeting,” he reminds us, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency.

Leaning forward, I press a kiss to my son’s cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin against my lips, before turning to Griffin and planting a playful kiss on his lips. “Be good, Daddy. We’ll be home soon,” I tease, knowing the effect those words have on him. His eyes flash golden for a moment before returning to their usual color, a sign of his wolf’s arousal. It’s become our little code for intimacy, a playful way to ignite the passion between us.

As I move past Griffin, I notice Conrad and Barrett making their way through the house, their movements purposeful and efficient. “Where are you two going?” I quicken my pace down the hallway to catch up with them.

“We’re heading to the airport. Lorcan’s flight is due to arrive this afternoon. International flights can be unpredictable at times,” Conrad explains, his voice steady as he effortlessly picks up Ashina.

“We’re taking the girls with us so that Griff doesn’t lose his mind,” Barrett adds with a chuckle, sidestepping Griff’s attempt to grab him playfully.

“I’m not going to lose my mind,” Griff protests grumpily, but the teasing from his pack mates only earns him a knowing look.

“We all know that when Deacon naps, so do you,” Ethan says, his words punctuated by a shared laughter that fills the air. It’s moments like these, during the chaos of our lives, that remind me of the bond we share as a pack.

I make sure to kiss each of the kids as well as my mates before Ethan and Nic usher me towards Nic’s SUV. It’s a routine, yet each touch carries its own significance, a silent reassurance of our bond amidst the looming uncertainties.

Choosing to sit in the back, in the middle, I settle into the seat, craving the vantage point it offers. I need to see everything, to feel in control even as the world around us feels increasingly chaotic.

Nic slides behind the steering wheel and glances back at me, concern evident in his eyes. “Are you sure you want to sit back there?”

Memories flash through my mind, vivid recollections of the last time I rode in the front seat with Nic driving. My wolf chooses now to share the memory with Nic and Ethan, and the emotions it evokes are palpable.

Nic looks down at his hands before meeting my gaze with unwavering determination. “I would do it again in a heartbeat,” he declares, his words echoing with conviction. I reach out and squeeze his shoulder, finding solace in his steadfastness.

“All of us would sacrifice ourselves to save you, Grace,” Ethan chimes in, turning in his seat to look back at me, his eyes filled with unwavering love.

“I know,” I reply softly, the weight of the burden heavy on my shoulders. “It’s a burden knowing my life is the key to ending all of yours. Unless I sever the bond before my last breath.” The thought has consumed me, especially with the numerous attempts on my life. It’s a decision I’ve pondered endlessly, one that Ethan’s mom has shed light on, outlining the sacrifice it entails. My wolf and I agree: if it comes down to it, the bond must be severed to ensure our children have their fathers.

“No one is dying today. So let’s focus on the business at hand. Wolverton needs order. They need the Lunar Wolf to lay down the law,” Nicolai asserts, his tone brooking no argument. With that, the SUV roars to life, and we’re on our way to Wolverton, my heart heavy with anticipation and apprehension. I can only hope it’s not as dire as I suspect.