The One He Claimed by cooper (Sophie and Hunter) novel Chapter 48

It only took me a moment to realize that those are old fears, fears that I don’t need to have with Hunter. He would never hurt me. Ever.

So, after a split second’s hesitation, one where he stopped and let me decide if I was willing to kiss him. I closed the distance between us.

The moment our lips touched, I forgot everyone and everything around us. I don’t know how Hunter has this effect on me, but it’s like he’s the only one in the room. I lean into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and tilting my head to the side, letting him take the kiss deeper. His arms come around my waist, holding me in a way that feels safe and protective. There’s a possessiveness there as well, but I like that. I like that he wants everyone to know that I’m his and only his.

A throat clearing distracts me and I feel Hunter smile against my lips. I open my eyes and his are smiling down at me.

“Perhaps we should let your father continue with his announcement,” he says softly.

“Oh!” I say, jumping out of his arms and blushing a deep shade of crimson as I realize that I just kissed my mate in front of my previous pack. The entire pack!

“I’m so sorry,” I say, not knowing what else to say. The room is exceptionally quiet.

Hunter takes my hand and strokes his knuckles across my flaming cheeks. “Never apologize for loving me, Sophie.”

“Uh, right. So, that’s all my announcements,” my father says from behind me. I smile at him, completely embarrassed by my very public display of affection for my mate, before sitting down and trying to make myself as small as possible.

Hunter however, puts his arm around my shoulders and leans in to kiss the side of my head. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about, my love,” he whispers in my ear.

“Hunter, I completely forgot we were in a room full of people. People who have known me since I was a pup,” I whisper yell, glancing around and seeing that people are starting to talk amongst themselves again, but many are still stealing glances our way.

“About that,” Alpha Dutton says from beside me. “Is it really just that Alpha Hunter didn’t claim you publicly that your interactions with him are different than every other Luna or ranked she-

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Chapter 48

wolf I’ve ever seen? Or is it something about Alpha Hunter himself?”

1288 (Vouchers

“I’d be interested in knowing the answer to that as well.” Alpha Calvin says, leaning forward.

I turn and look at Hunter. He just watches me, letting me answer the question.

“It is about him not claiming me publicly,” I say, turning back to Alpha Dutton. “But it’s more than that. I know that he respects me, that he will protect me, that he would take on the world for me. A man like that deserves to be trusted enough for me to give myself to him completely. I know that Hunter would never do anything to embarrass me or hurt me, so I know that I can give myself to him freely, no matter where we are.”

I can feel Hunter preening at my praise through the bond, and I’m glad. I mean what I say. He’s a man who deserves for me to trust him wholeheartedly.

Alpha Dutton turns back to his food, eating quietly and looking thoughtful.

Alpha Calvin, however, isn’t done. “But Amelia knows that I would never hurt her, that I respect her. The only difference is that I did claim her publicly,” he says.

I look at my sister, not sure I should be the one to say anything.

“Calvin, you know that I love you and I’ve learned over time that you respect me. We’ve built trust in the last two years, enough that I’m carrying your pup. But it’s wasn’t always like that. That trust had to be earned, rebuilt, if you will. Whereas Sophie and Alpha Hunter don’t have those problems in their mate bond.”

“So, it is about the public claiming? Even though Alpha Calvin did everything he possibly could to make that night as positive for you as possible, it wasn’t enough? Not enough to make your relationship as easy and basically carefree like what Luna Sophie and Alpha Hunter have,” Dutton pushes.

Amelia looks at her mate whose lips are pressed tightly together, before looking back at Alpha

Dutton.

“I was mated in a room full of men cheering the act, my first time, the first time I’d ever been with a man, and it was in public. Yes, Calvin did his best, but even that…. When you’re rushing a woman her first time, it’s not pleasant.”

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