The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 51: Kayce Sophie

As the food is brought in, the omegas look at a loss for what to do with the two plates of food forand Hunter.

"You can set them both here," | tell them. Now that I'm in Hunter's lap, I'm comfortable and want to stay. "If

that's okay with you," I say to him.

"Is it okay if my mate wants to continue touching me? No question. I'll always be okay with that," he says,

leaning forward just to the point where our lips would touch, once again givingthe opportunity to close the

distance between us. | do, without hesitation. This time, I linger a little longer, knowing that he's lettingdrive

how long and how deep our kisses get. "They're always like this?" | hear Robin ask.

"Still mild," Letti says.

"Yeah, you should see them in training," Allison says. "I'm super curious about that wager."

"That wager is betweenand my mate," | say, pulling back. but staying close enough that | can still feel

Hunter's breath on my lips, our eyes locked on each other. "Yeah, it is. But it's a good one," he says.

"Yeah, it is," | repeat his words making him chuckle before pecking my lips. "Eat, you're still too thin."

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"Are we invited to join your sparring class tomorrow?" Kayce asks, he looks at Hunter, but | notice he's making

sure Allison has everything she needs before starting on his food. "Oh, | need a knife," she says.

"Here, take mine," he says Instantly, handing his to her. | see their fingers touch, watching both of their bodies

respond. | look at my mate, smiling a knowing smile. The mate bond is something else. Hunter gives Kayce his

knife and mind link the omegas that we need another one.

"You are absolutely invited, and | hope you will attend. Alpha Carter loaned us sof his warriors until we can

fill the void of the ones that left our pack," Hunter says, making Kayce and Robin look at each other.

"Perhaps you'd better continue your story while we eat," Kayce suggests, still making sure that Allison is

comfortable. He'd make a good mate, but he'd make a better mate if he marked and mated her privately. Hunter

tells them about our return, his statement that he has no plan to claimpublicly and anyone not in agreement

could leave.

"How many left?" Robin asks.

"About 50. My G**a was removed forcibly and then a mix of warriors and omegas."

"So, what's your plan to fortify your borders if you lost warriors and you're anticipating an attack."

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"Us," Nikki say's before Hunter can answer. "The three of us and anyone else who comes along. We'll fight to

maintain our freedom and no offense, but once my wolf heals me, I'm worth three to four warriors. Allison's a

beast in a fight and worth at least three warriors and Letti's right up there too. It won't take too many ranked

she-wolves, literally fighting for our lives, to make Alpha Hunter's patrols fortified and safe."

"You're that good, huh?" Kayce asks Allison.

"I can hold my own," she says, her chin lifting slightly.

her

"She battled my Beta this morning and he was singing praises toafterward," Hunter says, making Allison

smile and blush.

"Would you battle withtomorrow?" Kayce asks her.

"Do you think you can handle losing to a Beta, Alpha?" she asks, taunting him. For the first tsince he's

arrived, he smiles widely.

"I'll try to keep up," he says, and both turn back to their meals, smiling.

"Anyway, back to Carter's warriors, | have them leading my warriors, training us on their techniques, giving them

snew methods for fighting, hoping to give us another edge. If you decide to stay more than one night, which

you're welcto do, perhaps you'd consider running a class and teaching my warriors sof your

techniques," Hunter says.

He kisses my arm and looks up at me. | can tell he's pleased with the amount of food I'm eating. I think Kinsley

was right. | just needed more activity in my life to get my appetite going and 12:00

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since Hunter and | have that wager, I'm getting lots of exercise at night as well as during training

After dinner, | stand and help the omegas clear the platen before turning back to our guests, "I've set up a social

gathering for you to interact with our pack this evening. Nothing formal, just casual. Talk to our pack members,

ask them what they're. seeing with the Alpha and Luna. can tell you that Hunter and | both feel their happiness

with bond, | can tell you that they see the stark difference between our bond and the bond our Betas have which

followed the laws. Talk to our pack members, talk to Allison and Letti, and even Nikki, although she's spent most

of her tin the hospital unfortunately. Hear from them what they are seeing. I'd wager most of them will tell

you the ones who left were fools, but that remains to be seen," | tell them.

"I'm going to go to my room to change. Will you be at the gathering, Allison?" Kayce asks.

"1 will."

"Good, I'll find you," he says, turning to walk out. "Uh, | don't want to sound possessive, but my wolf won't like it

if | find you in another man's arms when | return."

Allison puts her hand on Kayce's arm and her wolf pushes. forward. "Rodion, you have nothing to worry about."

Kayce's hand covers hers and he growls low. "Good."

"How about you, little Alpha, and you little G**a. Are the two of you going to join us?"

"You know we have names, right?"

Chapim 51 Kayre

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"Sure do, little Alpha. So, will | see you out there?"

Nikki steps up into his face. "You sure will, big Alpha," she says, making Robin laugh. He's seems to be the more

easy going of the two Alphas, but he also seems to like Nikki's spirit a lot.

"I'll have someone show you to your rooms then," | say and call one of the omegas to lead them off. I'm just

about ready to go change myself when | get an alert from the border patrols. 'Luna, we have two more she-

wolves here, asking for refuge.’

I look at Hunter, making sure he got the message too.

"I'll take Nikki. You entertain our guests," | tell him.

"Where are you taking me?" she asks.

"The border. We have two new she-wolves who are requesting sanctuary and I'd like your support in getting

them to agree to cin."

'Uh, Luna, | didn't realize it at first, but these are two she-wolves who used to be part of our pack. They've

returned asking for sanctuary. One is injured,’ the guard says to me. "Scratch that, Nikki. These are returning

wolves," | say then turn to Hunter.

"I know, I'm coming with you."

We race to the border, finding Leah and her daughter, Brooklyn.

I could smell the blood before I could see her.

"What happened?" | ask as Hunter scoops the nearly unconscious Brooklyn into his arms.

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| told Michael we shouldn't leave | told him," Leah s***bs. "He claimed her publicly, then said she wasn't strong

enough and threw her aside."

"Who?" Hunter growls, but I'm pretty sure | already know the

answer.

"Alpha Owen."

Allison POV

| feel like a horde of butterflies have just taken up residence in my stomach. While Alpha Kayce is changing, | run

to the bathroom in my room and check my hair, making sure I look okay. | don't have many clothes, so | may as

well wear what | have on already. At least | wore a dress.

When | step out, Nikki and Letti are there. "I wasn't sure you were going to go to the party," Letti says.

"| just..." I blow out a huff of air. "I had no idea how strong the pull of the mate bond is. It's so powerful. |

wouldn't have believed it if | hadn't felt it for myself," | stop and look at them. "It makes what's happening so

much worse. | think | understand now why Luna Sophie wants to touch Alpha Hunter so much. It's so hard not to,

like your skin is uncomfortable until you feel their touch then everything feels right. It's so strange."

"What are you going to do?" Nikki asks me.

"I honestly don't know. Take it one step at a time. He listened, over dinner. They both did, so | have hope that

maybe...I don't know, maybe he'll agree, and | can have something like what 54.18%

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Alpha Hunter and Luna Sophie have."

"That would be wonderful, but you need to be careful. Follow your heart, but don't let it rule your mind. Don't let

him put you in a situation you aren't’ prepared for or don't want, okay?" Nikkil says.

"And we're here for you, no matter what," Letti says.

"Thank you both, so much," I say.

We walk downstairs together, and | look around, not seeing Alpha Kayce. | lift my nose in the air and just catch

his scent of mulled wine, the warm scent of red wine, oranges, c*on, a**nd cloves making my mouth water, just

as | feel heat at my back.

"Looking for someone?" he asks in my ear. His hands are on my hips, not holding me, but very clearly letting me

know he's here and most likely staking a claim on me.

| yip, jumping as | turn and inadvertently falling into him. My hands instinctively go to his chest to catch myself

and he takes advantage by sliding his hands around my waist.

"I was looking for you," | say, mesmerized by his amber eyes. They shine brighter when his wolf is at the surface

like he is now, almost changing to a light citrine color, yet they still have flecks of green and brown in them.

"Good answer," he says, leaning in and running his nose over mine. "I can already tell that tonight is going to be

difficult."

"Why is that?"

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"Because | want to mark you, and | know | can't."

| feel disappointment flow through me, and | push away from him.

"Because you can't publicly claimin Alpha Hunter's pack?" | ask and even | can hear the hurt in my voice.

He grabs my hips, pulling my body against his again. "No. Because | can't go into the Committee of Alphas with

your mark. on my neck. If I do, I'll be as much on trial as Hunter is and therefore, I'll be unable to vote and

support him and therefore, you."

"You're going to support us?" | ask, shocked that he's agreeing so quickly.

He looks around and seeing that we're in a very public area, he takes my hand and leads us to the edge of the

party.

"Letask you something. If | told you | was willing to claim you privately, would you acceptas your mate?"

"l....I don't really know anything about you, other than Alpha Hunter and Luna Sophie trust you."

"But let's say we met today, and there was no risk ofclaiming you publicly, would you cto my room

tonight? Would you letmark and mate you and make you mine forever?"

| want to say no. | want to say that | should know more about him, but the mate bond is so strong, the pull to him

is almost overwhelming.

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| would trust the Moon Goddess | say, making him smile.

Then trust the Moon Goddess and trust me. I'd like to spend tonight with you. If you agree, I'll ask Hunter if | can

stay until the Committee meeting. I'd like to spend that twith you. But | don't want to mark you, because |

can't accept your mark until the Committee meeting is done. Do you understand? It would put all the risk of this

bond on you. | don't want to do that to you," he says, his knuckles stroking my cheek.

His touch is the most incredible feeling I've ever had, like my skin is waking up and for the first tmy nerve

endings are coming to life so they can feel more of his touch.

"F**k, you smell good," he says, leaning in and kissing the side of my mouth. "I want to kiss you. Please tell|

can kiss you.

| nod, feeling intoxicated and unable to speak. His warm lips cover mine, soft and gentle, teasinginto my first

kiss. His tongue slides over my lips and | gasp, allowing him the entrance he was asking for. He tilts his head to

the side, taking the kiss deeper and | wrap my arms around him, clinging to his shirt as my body awakens with a

need and desire I've never felt before.

"Will you spend the night with me?" he asks. "I swear, we can talk, or we can do whatever you want. | won't do

anything you don't agree to. Please, | just want to get to know you, learn about your life, explore

your body, if you'll let me, and while I can't leave a true mark on your neck, if you'll allow it, I'll leave a

temporary one here, so everyone knows you're mine," he says, stroking my marking spot and making my entire

body shiver.

"Will you givetonight?" he asks me.

"Yes," | breathe softly and that's all the acceptance he needs to

. x

leadback to his room.