The One He Claimed by cooper (Sophie and Hunter) novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

“We’re going to be okay, Brooklyn,” I say, hearing the sounds of fighting moving into our pack lands. Michael will be hunting for us. I’m hoping that he’ll start in the packhouse, not realizing that Brooklyn can’t take loud noises. When he doesn’t find us there, he’ll start searching the pack lands for us. He used to patrol these lands, so he knows where every house is. It won’t take him long, but I only need enough time to get Brooklyn settled.

“Here you are, honey. Where are your weapons?” I ask her.

“Right here. Mom…” she says, tears streaking down her face.

“It’s okay. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

life “I can’t do this without you, mom. I know you. I know you’d give your for me. Please don’t. You’re the only thing that’s kept me going. I need you, mom. Please.

I take my child’s face in my hands, holding her gaze as I keep an ear on the fighting outside. I send up a prayer to the Moon Goddess that I’m not about to lie to my daughter.

“I’m not leaving you. I’m going to fight beside you and when this is over, you and I will walk out of this room together,” I tell her. “I need you to be brave, Brooklyn. Can you do that for me?” I ask her.

She nods, pressing her lips together and fighting against her tears and her fear. The scent is permeating this room, adding to my own.

I step away from her, grabbing the gun that’s already loaded. I’ve never

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shot a gun before, never had to. First, as a wolf, I can fight in my wolf form. But I’ve lived in a pack all my life. Omegas are not fighters, we’re the ones who keep the pack running, and my mate was a warrior. If anyone was going to fight to protect the family, it was him.

But now, that role falls to me. I hear paws pounding on the ground, coming in our direction and I know that Michael has found us.

I turn and look at my daughter again. “Ready?” I ask her.

She nods, a determined look on her face. “Ready.”

I move, taking a stance in front of the room where Brooklyn is. She has multiple weapons beside her in case anyone gets past me. Hopefully the silver bullets will be enough.

I hear Michael’s wolf sniffing at the door before I hear the snapping of bones as he shifts back to his human form before grabbing the front door and ripping it off its hinges. When he comes in, I aim the gun at his chest. He’s heaving, whether from anger or from running to find us, I’m not sure.

“What are you doing, Leah?” he growls at me.

“I will not let you hurt our daughter again.” I tell him, taking a stand.

“What are you going to do? Shoot me?” he sneers, taking a step toward me. I fire off a shot, just grazing his hip. I was aiming for his heart, shit.

“What the fuck? What the hell’s gotten into you?” he snarls looking at his hip like he can’t believe I shot him. “Silver bullets?”

“I will not let you hurt our child again, Michael!” I say, standing my ground. It would probably sound stronger if my hands weren’t shaking violently.

“You are mine, Leah,” he snarls.

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“I was yours, until you let that monster tear my baby apart in front of everyone!” I scream. “No man worthy of being a mate or a father would allow that.”

He growls at me again, but he’s watching the gun as he takes another step. I fire again, this time shooting him in the shoulder.

He snarls as he leaps at me, tackling me to the ground. The gun goes again, but I have no idea if it hit him.

He pins me to the floor, ripping the gun from my hand and tossing it aside. “You forget your place, Leah.”

off

“At your feet? Isn’t that where you’ve always wanted me?” I growl back at him. I can see the surprise in his eyes. I’ve never fought my mate before, never challenged him in any way. Not until he allowed our daughter to get hurt. I had trusted him to protect her and me, and he had betrayed us both.

“When I re–mark you, all of this will be done. I won’t allow you to reject me again. It’s time our family was back together,” he growls.

I struggle underneath him. “I will never accept you as my mate.”

“You don’t have a choice,” he says, ripping my head to the side, pinning my head down with his uninjured arm.