The One He Claimed by cooper (Sophie and Hunter) novel Chapter 168

Chapter 168

I spent a sleepless, restless night tossing and turning. I heard what Beta Kinsley says about Alpha Ezra, and I’ve seen him in the Committee of Alpha meetings. He’s always been very reserved and very quiet, but when he does speak, he seems to have valuable insights.

His scent of cedar and eucalyptus had been intoxicating, but I can’t risk it. I can’t be bound to a man who will mistreat me again. I won’t do it. I need to reject him. I don’t know if another rejection so soon will kill me, if he doesn’t accept it, maybe it won’t. If he does…well then, maybe Joshua will be too weak to attack if I die since he didn’t accept my rejection either. Maybe it’s for the best.

Because I have so much restless energy this morning, I get up for warrior training. Alpha Hunter hasn’t let me spar yet, saying I’m still recovering from my rejection, but I need to work off some of this energy today.

I get dressed and head downstairs. Alpha Hunter isn’t out here yet, so I jog up to Beta Lucas.

“Beta, I’d like to spar today,” I say to him.

“Have you spoken to Alpha Hunter?” he asks me.

“I was hoping I’d see him this morning.”

“He’s been running late since he found his mate,” he says, smiling. I

Chapter 168

give him a fake smile. I know that that means, and I know it’s not the same for Sophie as it was for me, but I don’t want to think about that. My mind is already all over the place.

“You can warm up with us, but it will be up him if you can spar, Margot.”

“I understand,” I say, and I put myself in the back of the group. I know I’m out of shape, I haven’t sparred in years, but I really just need to hit something or someone this morning. If I can’t, I’ll settle for burning off this nervous energy.

We go through the warm–up with Alpha Hunter jogging up about ten minutes late. I watch as Lucas smirks at him and Alpha Hunter just smiles before joining in.

I catch the scent of cedar and eucalyptus and I know that Alpha Ezra has joined the training session too. I should have thought of that. He’s an Alpha. Most Alphas spar at least once, sometimes twice a day, to keep up their strength and keep their packs strong. I subtly move away from the scent and when the warm–up is over, I head straight to Alpha

Hunter.

“Margot, what are you doing here?”

“Alpha, I’d like to spar today.”

“Margot, I don’t think you’re ready yet. It’s only been a week…”

“Please, Alpha. I need to…”

“I’ll spar

with her.” His voice sends waves of pleasure rolling down my

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Chapter 168

spine and I turn, seeing Alpha Ezra watching me.

I turn back to Alpha Hunter. I want to spar, but I’m not sure it’s worth it to spar with my second chance mate.

“It’s up to you,” Hunter says.

I hesitate, warring with myself over my wolf’s desire to be close to him and my fear of him.

“Come on, Luna. I know you want the chance to hit an Alpha,” Ezra

says.

I turn and look at him now. It’s a challenge, a smart one. He may not know me, but I’m not the type of woman who backs down from a challenge.

“And you’re offering yourself as my punching bag?” I ask mockingly.

“You’d have to actually land a punch, but sure,” he says. It’s teasing and challenging at the same time.

I lift my chin. “Then I accept your offer.”

I hear Alpha Hunter turn and leave us. “Try not to kill him,” he mumbles as he walks away. When we’re alone, I look at Alpha Ezra.

“You should know…”

He holds up a finger. “I can guess what you’re about to say. All I’m asking is that before you make any drastic decisions, you give me a chance. I’ve lost one mate in this lifetime. I did a lot of things wrong in that relationship. Now, I’m being given a chance to make that right.

Chapter 168

Please don’t take that away from me without getting to know me first.”

He’s so sincere, the pain in his eyes so apparent, that I can do nothing

but nod.

“Good. Now, as I’m sure you know, sparring means that we’re going to get really close. Before we begin, I want you to know that I have my wolf under control and I will not mark you, so you don’t need to worry about that. I wouldn’t anyway, but I have the utmost respect for Alpha Hunter, and I wouldn’t go against the rules of his pack.”

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