The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 54: Lotus Flowers Robin

The more | get to know about that little Alpha, the more I like her. I've always wanted a mate who would

challenge me, keep.on my toes, and givea run for my money. I've got an entire pack of wolves who

defer to me, obey me, and follow my lead. That's not what | want in a mate.

Yes, | want someone who can balance me. Yes, | want someone who can calmwhen the Alpha inbecomes

too overwhelming for those around me. But | want a challenge, | want the passion and excitement that comes

from someone who can push my buttons and rock my world. And something tellsthat little Alpha is just the

one to do it.

Unfortunately, she's underage so | won't know if she's my mate until after her birthday, the date of which she

refused to give me, which makesthink it's soon. All night at the party, she challenged me, challenged my

beliefs in the public claimings and truly, more than anything else, helpedto see that this isn't a rebellion on

the part of our she-wolves. They really, truly don't want this. It tears them down in a way that a mate should

never tear down the one they love.

| had an opportunity to speak to Beta Lucas during the evening as well. He confirmed forwhat he felt from

his mate and the struggles that they have had to ctogether.

"Honestly, it was Sophie that | think has made the difference. My mate didn't trust me. She'd take Hunter's word

before mine,

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her own mate. | think, between the two of us, Hunter and | could have helped rebuild Kinsley's inner strength,

but it was Sophie coming here that changed her. She's seen what our mate bond could be, what it should have

been from the very beginning. And I'll tell you this. If I could go back and do it over, I'd take the stance that

Hunter did every time. | would choose my mate of our laws every time, because our she- wolves are right, and

our laws are wrong."

I'd had a restless night, not only because | have to decide how | will vote at the Committee, but a certain brown-

haired, green-eyed little Alpha kept popping into my head. | smile as | get ready for Hunter's warrior training this

morning. I'd noticed the little Alpha, Nikki, watchingthroughout the night. She tried to be subtle, but she

hasn't had as much practice at it as | have. When | get outside, I'm not surprised to see the Beta, Allison,

covered in Kayce's hickeys and his scent. That tellsexactly how he plans to vote. He's siding with Hunter.

"Planning to exercise your eyeballs the entire training session, big Alpha?" Nikki says, passing me. Her crutches

from yesterday are gone and she looks like she's planning to spar today.

| quickly fall into step beside her. "Are you cleared for sparring?” | ask, secretly pleased that her antagonistic

behavior is continuing this morning. | hope that means she's enjoying it as much as | am. She turns and gives me

a look that's all Alpha. "I don't need a doctor to tellthat I'm healed enough to spar."

"Actually, you do," Hunter says, putting himself in front of her and blocking her path. "My doctors didn't operate

on you for hours just so you could mess up your leg again because you're

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pushing too hard."

"Why don't | go with you, Nikki. We can go see the doctor now, have them take a quick x-ray of your leg and if

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they give the all- clear, you can cback for the second half of training," Luna Sophie says, putting her hand

on her mate's arm and more or less pushing him out of the way.

The gesture doesn't go unnoticed by her mate, who raises an eyebrow at her, but she just ignores him.

"Why don't | take you, little Alpha. We can talk more about all the reasons that our laws are wrong," | say, hoping

for smore twith her before | leave today. As much as | want to stay, my pack borders Alpha Aiden's on

the side not bordered by Kayce. | don't trust Aiden so | don't like being gone for long periods of twhen | know

he's in his pack. He's too power hungry. However, most of the tthese days, he's out hunting she-wolves.

‘She smells really good," Derric, my wolf, says, breathing in her scent deeply. For someone so thorny on the

outside, she smells floral, like a lotus flower. Beautiful and delicate, but also resilient and strong, just like Nikki.

"I'm perfectly capable of getting myself to and from the pack hospital, thank you, big Alpha," she says, giving me

a fake smile before turning away from me.

'Be right back," I mouth to Hunter, who shakes his head at me. | see Sophie give him a worried look, but he

shakes his head. Even if Nikki was of age, which she isn't, | wouldn't disrespect Hunter or Nikki by claiming her

against her will, here or anywhere.

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I quickly catch up, scooping her into my arms. Derric begins. purring at having our scent on her.

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"What are you doing? Putdown!" she insists as | carry her off.

"Where is the pack hospital," | ask, looking around and ignoring her. | already know where it is, but I'm using this

tto hold her close.

"Alpha Robin, | insist that you putdown this instant!" she says, crossing her arms over her chest. | notice that

she's not actually fighting me, or squirming in my arms to get down, so | ignore her again. Her heartbeat hasn't

increased, well it did, but if the increased scent of lotus flowers is any indication, it's not because she's scared of

me.

'l can almost taste her floral scent. | bet she tastes delicious," Derric says. Since Derric has never shown this

much interest in

woman before, | look at Nikki more closely.

a

"Are you going to pointin the direction of the hospital or am I going to carry you around the entire pack. |

mean, | am an Alpha, honey, but this is a lot of weight to be carrying all over," | say, exaggeratedly lifting her

body in my arms, "you aren't exactly light."

Her eyes go wide and fire flashes in her eyes. "You did NOT just imply that I'm heavy?"

I shrug. "I mean..."

She narrows her eyes at me, leaning back against my arm.

"Hmmm, you must be one of those weak Alphas, if I'm so heavy

- to you. Maybe you should head back to training and work on 47.161

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that muscle strength, Alpha. | guess I shouldn't even call you big Alpha anymore, If you're going to be such a

wimp."

Oh, my little Alpha, how | love playing these games with you.

"Or maybe," | say, putting my mouth near her ear, "you're so desperate to be in my arms that you're hoping |

get lost and have to carry you around for hours," | say, murmuring in her ear.

| have to hide my smile when her body shivers in my arms.

"It's over there," she says snarkily pointing in the direction of the pack hospital.

"Would you prefer it if | walk you around the pack carrying you smore first?" | ask, smirking at her.

"Trying to get out of warrior training so the other Alphas don't embarrass you?" she retorts.

F**k, this woman has gotso turned on right now. | hope to hell she's my mate because if she isn't, | may

have to fight whoever is so | can make her mine.

| carry her into the pack hospital, refusing to put her down even once we're inside.

"We're here to have Alpha Nikki checked to see if her leg is. healed enough to participate in warrior training," |

tell the person at the front desk.

"Of course, giveone moment," she says.

| stand there, waiting.

"You can putdown now," she says quietly.

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"You could put your arm around my neck. It would be more comfortable for both of us and maybe then you

wouldn't keep jabbingwith your elbow when | say something that annoys you." "Are you trying to annoy

me?" she asks, narrowing her eyes. again.

"| like your spirit. | like the way you stand up to me," | say, looking her in the eye. Whether it's my gaze or my

honesty, Nikki is at a loss for words.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple of times before she's saved from responding by us being called back. | wait

while they take her x-rays and then until the doctor comes in and tells her that she needs to take it easy one

more day.

"What does take it easy mean? | can't attend warrior training? Doc, there's a war coming, | need to be prepared

to fight," she says seriously.

"How about punching? Can she work on her punches? That way she's not kicking and spinning," | say,

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recognizing how

important this is to her.

She looks atand | can see how surprised she is that I'm trying to find a way to help her.

"If she's punching only, I'll allow it. No contact from her opponent that could knock her off balance and make her

fall or try to spin out of the way."

She sighs. "Thanks, Doc. So, tomorrow | can spar?"

"Yes, tomorrow you can get back to regular training."

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Cafe 54:1-alue Flowers

JAB Nachers

She nods and 1 go to pick her up, but she hops down quickly and points her finger at me. "No!"

"You sure?" | ask, smiling at her.

"es."

When we step outside, | can see she's focused on her own thoughts.

"What's going on in that head of yours? | thought you'd be happy that you could at least punch."

She looks at me. "Who's going to give up their training to help the near-invalid practice her punching? No one."

I grab her arm and pull her to a stop. "Uh, | thought it was obvious that | was going to do that. Hunter has pads.

I'll put them on, and you can practice your punches."

"You would do that for me?" She looks surprised again. I'm. hoping it's because no other Alpha has ever treated

her like this and not because she thinks that I'm an a**hole. "Yeah, and besides, | wouldn't want the other Alphas

to embarrassin training. So, you're really doinga favor here," | say.

| get the smile | was hoping for and when she looks away, | scoop her back into my arms.

"Hey!"

"Hey, nothing. If we're going to convince the others that I'm doing you a favor, it has to look real," | say,

beginning to walk to where | know Hunter keeps his sparring pads. 96.67%

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Chapter 51 Lotus Flowers

"Fine," she says, and I'm rewarded by her putting her arm around my neck.

"Two weeks," she says.

"What's two weeks."

"My birthday."

Hot d**n!