26. Nicolai

- Burn it to the Ground–Nickelback-

Watching Grace shift and bear her pregnant body to the three packs has my hackles standing on end. I’ve seen her scars, but for whatever reason, they look worse in this light. Even the elder cringed, looking at her body. Barrett helps her with the robe, then she shows us how Ethan turned her. She must have been within a breath of dying to endure the bite from his wolf.

The size of his maw compared to her shoulder is mind blowing. I had wondered how she acquired that scar. When we bit her, the scars are small half moons because only our canines were used. He used his entire wolven mouth. Watching my pack, several members look pissed. Others are in awe of Grace.

“Whose pup is she carrying?” Someone yelled from the back and I shake my head.

“It doesn’t matter whose it is. It is all of ours.” I growl out, staring at the back of the pack. I know who asked the question and I will be damned if I’m going to allow a one-night stand to mess with my mate.

“Is that it? We have a Luna and now four Alphas?” Jason one of my betas questions. Double blinking, I stare at my beta shocked by his question.

Grace smiles up at me and steps forward. “No. You have one alpha and one Luna. Nicolai is still be Alpha of this pack.” Her voice carries through the pack and she raises her hands and a soothing feeling washes over everyone. “Griffin will remain in control of the Murphy Pack and Conrad will assume control over what was the Gratus Pack.” She looks over at the elder and he nods.

“With joining the three packs, a joint name is needed. I chose to register us as the Wolf Creek Pack since Wolf Creek runs through all three lands. It seemed fitting.” Grace keeps her head held high as she looks at everyone gathered.

Murmurs move through the crowd, some agreeing with the name, others complaining they want things to remain how they are. “Things are not changing.” My voice booms and my pack silences immediately. I rarely raise my voice and they know I’m pissed when I do. “I have a Luna now, that is the big change. We are part of a bigger pack now.” I motion to the Murphy and Gratus packs behind me.

“This union of the packs ensures safety in numbers with the increasing rogue issues.” Reaching back, I grab a hold of Grace’s hand and give it a squeeze. Ethan moves to her opposite side and holds her other hand. “We have allies within our joined packs. No more having to call and HOPE for help. Through Grace, I can summon the full might of the Murphy and Gratus packs to come to our aid. Through Grace, they can do the same when they need us.”

Out of the corner of my eye I watch Grace close hers and she hums softly and a soothing feeling like a warm blanket washes over me. As I look around, the others are feeling it, too. “I don’t like using my gifts.” Grace says as she releases both of our hands. “Our families will be safer with the packs joined like this.” She smiles as she looks back and me, then over at Ethan. “All four of my alphas have their own prowess in battle and will work diligently to make sure the safety of all is maintained.” Grace yet again defers power back to us. She amazes me when she does that.

“You are the Lunar Wolf. You are supposed to rule all of us,” Althea calls from the sidelines. She is one of the oldest wolves in the pack.

“You’re right I am. My choice to keep the Alphas in power is what is best for everyone. I don’t know everyone’s names here, do I?” She tilts her head then looks over at me. “Nicolai knows your name and probably your birthday and family tree. All things I will learn in time.” Althea seems pleased with Grace’s answer and lowers her head to her. Grace does the same and I feel the minute their bond snaps in place.

“Althea has acknowledged Grace as her Luna. What of the rest of you?” I move to stand behind Grace and wrap my arms around her and rest my hands on her stomach, waiting.

The hesitation in the pack makes me uneasy. One by one, they lower their heads in deference to Grace. Only one wolf refuses to lower her head and I don’t recognize her. “Fuck! Get her!” Griffin yells and his betas take off chasing after the woman I don’t know.

Grace is shaking and lowers her head to my pack, snapping the bonds in place. “What’s happening?” I say, looking at Griffin.

“That’s Roxy. We’ve been hunting her for months. She’s with Grace’s ex hell bent on killing our Luna.” Griffin looks over at Ethan, then back at me. “Get Grace back to my house. I’ll beef up security. Barrett, don’t leave Grace’s side,” Griffin says before shifting to join in the hunt.

“Con?” Grace says softly and to hear her this broken makes my heart ache.

“Yes?”

“Go with our new pack to their lands and make sure they are safe and have everything they need. Nicolai and Ethan will be with Barrett and I.” Grace’s face contorts and her brows furrow. The acrid scent of fear fills the air as she looks panicked between Ethan and I. “I can’t shift.” Her words make my chest constrict. Grace is completely helpless until the baby is born.

Signaling my beta, he brings the car around and we usher Grace into the back seat and huddle up around her. Barrett takes the wheel and we drive home. “What are we going to do? I can’t shift…” Grace’s voice wobbles as her bottom lip quivers. She’s terrified of what may happen.

“Easy. One of us stays with you at all times. We will make a rotation so at least one of your alphas is with you, so you”re never alone.” Ethan says as he squeezes her hand.

Grace nods her head and looks down. She draws in a deep breath and I feel her anxiety kicking in. She’s trying to be strong for all of us. Her fear of failure far out weighs her fear of being killed. Ever since the pups were abducted, she sleeps with them in the bed with her and whichever of us she allows to join her. Lately it’s just been her and the pups due to how uncomfortable she’s been.

“Grace, someone needs to be in the room with you. Especially since Roxy was bold enough to appear in broad daylight.” Barrett’s tone is even as he looks back at her using the rearview mirror. It’s odd for the pack omega to make such a comment out of the blue.

“I know.” She sniffles a little. “I’m right back where I was, defenseless.” We can feel her anger flair and then deflate just as quickly.

Before Ethan can react, I reach out to lightly touch her under her chin, encouraging her to turn and face me. When she does, I see the faint glow of her wolf in her eyes. “You have five mates that will lay down their lives to protect you. You are not defenseless, you are pregnant with our pup. Out of all of us, you are doing the hardest job out of all of us. You are growing an entire being in your body. Everything that you are is going into the life you are sustaining.” I reach out and touch her stomach and rub it gently. “I was blessed getting to watch this once before, and I know how much it takes out of you. The Murphy boys are just learning how much effort and how draining it is for you.”

Ethan reaches out and gets Grace to turn to him. “We will do whatever it is you need us to do. Just name it and it will be done.” Grace nods and looks between the two of us.

“When we get home, I want to go to Ruby’s house for a while. You two need to blow off some steam.” Grace reaches forward and gives Barrett’s shoulder a squeeze. “Take care of our alphas, will you?” Her smile is beautiful as she looks up at Barrett.

“Of course Gracie.” Barrett reaches over his shoulder and touches Grace’s hand as he turns towards the old Luna’s house.

We drop Grace off at Ethan’s mom’s house and Barrett turns to head back to the Alpha house. His pheromones flood the car, making it hard to ignore the straining of my cock against the fabric of my shorts. Ethan’s deep, hearty chuckle pulls me out of my haze.

“His pheromones are almost as bad as Grace going into heat.” Ethan chuckles again, then looks up at Barrett fondly. “Be a good boy and show Nicolai exactly what you can do. I’ll wait for my turn.” We park in front of the Alpha house and Ethan gets out and heads inside.

Barrett comes around and opens my door and looks up at me. There’s a raw hunger in his eyes as he reaches out and runs his hands over my bare abs. “What does my Alpha desire?” His tone is low and sultry as his fingers slide down till they sink into the edge of my boxers.

“Show me what you’ve got, Barrett. Don’t hold back. Treat me like you would, Griffin or Ethan.”

His eyes light up and he winks at me. “I’ll be guessing since you haven’t marked me. I’ll do my best.” Barrett takes my hand and leads me into the house and straight to his room. It’s an honest to goddess omega nest. Pillows everywhere and only the softest materials as far as the eye can see. “Shower Alpha.” He motions to his private ensuite and I follow him in.

Barrett strips me bare and turns on the shower. When it’s reached a temperature, he’s happy with he motions for me to enter. Normally, I would fight tooth and nail about being told what to do. My curiosity is getting the better of me, so I’m letting him lead. “Don’t go thinking you will always be in charge, Barrett.” I remind him as I watch him lather up his loofa.

“I’m following my Luna’s orders Alpha. She does out rank everyone in the house.” He gets a wicked grin to him and winks at me before he runs his hands all over my body. His loofa glides over my skin, making me painfully hard in seconds. Barrett moves closer and starts to lick and nip at my skin. “If my Alpha would be so kind, please reach above you and hold on to the rail. Don’t touch.”

He pouts his bottom lip at me, and I shake my head at him. “Only because Grace wants it.” Reaching up, I stretch my body to grip the rail above the shower.

A low whistle of appreciation escapes Barrett’s lips as he looks me over. “Damn, we are lucky to have you.” He licks his lips, then kisses a trail down my chest to the head of my engorged cock. His tongue swirls around the tip before he opens his lips a little and slowly slides my shaft into his hot, wet mouth. Moaning, my abs tense as I try to thrust up into his mouth. Slender hands grip my hips as his thumbs rub over my hip bones, stilling my motions.

I watch as his blonde head bobs up and down, sliding his tongue along my length before he sucks me back down. The moment the head of my cock passes the ring of muscle at the back of his throat, I damn near cum. His hand slides across my lower abdomen until he’s got one hand on my balls and the other pulsing his grip around my swollen knot. Never in my life have I experienced a blowjob like this before. He’s an expert in every sense of the word.

The hand that was on my balls suddenly disappears and I can hear the wet slaps of his hand as he jerks himself off in time with his head bobs. The combined sounds have my balls drawing up, tightening. “I’m gonna cum…” I warn him and at the last second he deep throats me and I cum hard. His hand locks tightly around my knot. I feel like my heart damn near stopped. He groans around my cock as the last of my seed spills down his throat. I release the bar and run my fingers through his hair. “Good boy Barrett.” He slowly slides my cock out of his mouth and draws in a deep breath.

I help him stand, then kiss his shoulder and I bite him. Barrett gasps as his hands fly to my hips to steady himself. He cums again, this time spraying my abdomen with his seed. Gently, I lick his shoulder, cleaning the wound I created. “Be a good boy and bring our Grace home and get her to take a nap. It’s been a very trying day.” I slap his ass as he turns to leave.

“As you wish Alpha.” The broad smile on his lips tells me that me marking him meant everything to him. The Murphy boys did a good thing choosing such a dedicated and loving omega. I finish my shower, taking my time cleaning every inch of me. Barrett is phenomenal, but he’s no Grace. I can’t wait until I can make love to my mate again. For now, Barrett will have to do.