Epilogue

-New Devil- Asking Alexandria Maria Brink

Grace-

We’ve managed to keep the packs safe by warning them about the no shift zone. Over a dozen rogues have been culled by the locals and they have no clue how much they are helping us.

The grand council meeting went off without a hitch and the integration of the packs has gone smoother than expected.

“Grace, are you ready?” Barrett pokes his head into my room.

Rolling my eyes, I look back at him and sigh. “You know I hate this idea, right?” I take his offered hand and allow him to escort me from my room.

“I know, but we have to silence the masses. The last thing we need is for them to get the council to rule against what you want.” He kisses my cheek as we move through the house and out onto the porch.

Male wolves, as far as the eye can see, are scattered all over my yard. “Sausagefest…” I mutter under my breath as I force myself to smile and wave at everyone as we pass.

Ethan prepares to join me and I shake my head no. For the moment, I’m okay, and no one is trying to get too close. The sea of betas parts allowing me to walk to the pack house without issue.

I chose Barrett to walk with me because he’s not a threat to anyone present. The betas will see a male omega at my side and that he is cherished by me. Unlike other packs, I do not force my omega mate into servitude. I hold him equal to my Alpha mates and that throws a lot of people off.

Using my Luna gifts, I reach out and blanket the masses with a sense of calm and peace. “Please join us tonight. All are welcome within the pack house.” My voice carries across the yard. I wait a few moments, then turn and enter the hall.

This is the part of this farce I will not enjoy. I need to meet and greet any that feel they have a chance.

-Two hours later-

“Are you okay?” Nic’s voice catches me off guard and I jump as I finish shaking hands with yet another beta.

I spin into his arms and nuzzle him affectionately. “I want to go home.” Whining I know full well his daddy dom drive will want to take care of me immediately.

He shudders in my arms and growls low. “Little girl…” His voice holds a warning and a dark promise.

“Yes, daddy…” I purr low next to his ear. The edge of my lips touching his earlobe as I speak. I’m playing with fire and if the tension in his muscles tells me anything. I am damn close to getting what I want.

“Grace…” Large hands grip my hips and drag me back. Ethan’s warning makes me throw my head back to look up at him upside down.

“Yes Wolfie?” I smile immediately.

“Behave…” He leans down and bites my shoulder hard, making me squirm. He pushes his influence over me and I lose the ability to think.

Well, to think with anything other than my fully awakened sex drive. I wonder what these two would be like in the bedroom. One rough, the other gentle. Both are dominant in their own way. “Later … you two…” I pant out as Griff grabs my hand and pulls me away from Ethan and Nic.

“It’s almost over. Two more hours. Make sure you mingle with everyone.” Griff kisses my temple, then smacks me on my ass, sending me on my way.

The next hour feels like it’s moving in reverse. Every minute that ticks by feels like twenty. To make matters worse, I have Ethan and Nic tracking me through the hall. It’s like they are waiting for the clock to hit eleven and snatch me up.

Each male that approaches makes me want to wretch. The idea of touching so many males is making my skin crawl. Touching me is not important, scent and sight are how we know our mates. Sight more than anything forges the connection.

All four alphas phone go off and my head whips up as I feel panic ripping through my pack. “Something’s happened.” I run over to my guys and see them talking with Ambrose and an alpha I haven’t met yet. “What happening?”

“Someone set fire to our new construction.” Nic says and I see pure rage burning in his eyes. “Those that stayed behind are working on putting the fire out.”

Griffin paces as he talks to someone on the phone, and I look at Ethan. “I’m going to the children to make sure they’re safe.” He kisses me and runs out the door, shifting as it opens.

“Griff, Barrett and I will take Grace and Shamus home with us,” Conrad says as he pulls me to his side.

I tilt my head, looking at the man standing with us. Apparently he’s Shamus. “Shamus, this is our mate, Grace. My love, this is Shamus Callaghan he’s our cousin’s ally from Ireland. His pack is located in the highlands and is one of the bigger packs over there.” Conrad says with pride.

“Nice to meet you, Shamus.” I extend my hand out to him and he kisses my knuckles.

“The pleasure is all mine.” He tilts his head towards the door. “Let’s get you home and collect my brother along the way.”

Shamus leads the way out of the pack house, and the scent of fire is on the air. I stifle a whine, thinking about our new home going up in flames. As we walk down the stairs, I turn and look in the direction the smoke is coming from.

“Lor? Where are you, man?” Shamus yells and I keep rubbing my nose from the smell of smoke.

“Over here, you daft bastard. Right where you left me.” I thought Shamus’s accent was thick, the one called Lor is thicker.

As we turn the corner, I stop dead in my tracks. My breath catches in my chest as I stare at the most beautiful red hair I have ever seen. It’s long and curly and is a brilliant auburn color. The light dancing through the curls makes it appear that it’s on fire. Broad shoulders stick out from the sides and as he turns, I can see a long, thick red beard to match.

“Oh, fuck…” I feel my heart pounding a million miles an hour as I stare at this beautiful freckled redhead.

“Grace?” Conrad calls my name, and he sounds under water.

He’s not reacting to us.My wolf says to me.

My eyes dart from the man called Lor to Conrad, then over to Shamus. I look back at Lor and step closer. The wind shifts and I know the moment my scent hits him. “Shamus, where is she?”

“Who Lor?” Shamus says as he steps closer to me.

“I smell my mate.” He is looking in my direction, but he doesn’t see me.

Shamus lowers his head to be even with my ear. “He’s been blind since birth. He never thought he would find you.” Gently, he nudges me forward and I take the hit.

“Hi?” I am within arm’s reach of him.

“Lass?” His hand comes out and I guide it to my face. He gasps and his eyes move in the general direction that I am in.

Reaching up, I put my hand on his cheek. The coarseness of his beard under my hand is an interesting contrast to the softness of his cheek.

“Grace!” I hear Ethan shout, and I release Lor to face Ethan, shoving him behind me.

I feel the pull from Ethan, and I fight it. “He’s mine…” I lower my head to Ethan and I feel him calm down.

He steps into my field of vision, and he gently raises my head to face him. “Be the gentle, loving woman I know you are. I’ll watch the children.” Ethan moves past me and I see him hug his friend and say something to him close to his ear.

“Grace, this is Lorcan. Lor, this is Grace, our mate, and this generations Lunar Wolf.” Ethan puts my hand in Lorcan’s and nods at us. Uncharacteristically, he turns and leaves me holding hands with another man.

Standing this close to Lorcan, I can see gray ghost like haze in his pupils. His hand engulfs mine and oddly enough, I feel safe with him. “Lass mind leading us to your home.” He says softly, there’s a roughness to his brogue, and it hits tones my body is reacting to.

I slip my hand from his and rest mine on his forearm. The way I loop my arm with his, it looks as if he’s leading me. Gently, I push forward, using my biceps against the back of his arm to guide him. For all intents and purposes, he looks to be leading us home.

“There’s four steps, about six inches tall each. We will get to them in four steps.” I speak low, giving him instructions so he doesn’t fall. Gently, I squeeze his forearm when we get to the stairs and he goes up them effortlessly.

“Thanks Lass.” He whispers. He moves me forward when Conrad opens the front door and I guide Lorcan in. Once inside, I take ahold of him like I had earlier and guide him to the couch.

“It’s a low couch. The arm of the chair is to your left just below your hip.” He reaches down and back, then sits himself down. He smiles gratefully at me when I release him. “I’ll be right back.”

The men start talking about the fire at the construction site as I head to the kitchen. Andrea is standing there gawking at me. “Another mate? Not just any mate. That’s Lorcan. He’s a renown healer in Ireland.” Andrea says, looking into the living room through the crack in the door.

“What have I done…” My face falls into my hands and I sigh.

“You don’t have to worry about any more mates. And the best news is the packs are satisfied that you are not being hidden from them to keep from taking another mate.” Andrea supplies as she makes snacks.

“My new house is on fire. I have a new mate and three pups, and supposedly I have dominion over all the packs.” My gaze locks on Andrea.

“It could be worse.” She shrugs her shoulders.

“I don’t even want to know.” Rolling my eyes, I try to draw in a deep breath. I have six mates and a crazy ex baby daddy to deal with. Honestly, I don’t think I can handle anything else at this point.

The house phone rings and I stare at it. Dread pools deep in my gut as I stare at it. Andrea answers and the look on her face screams that it’s horrible. I’m afraid to find out what happened now.

To be continued:

Coveted by the Alpha Pack