The One He Claimed by cooper (Sophie and Hunter) novel Chapter 74

Chapter 74

I sigh. He’s right and I know he is. I don’t like it any more than he does. It’s been almost a year since there’s been a coming–of–age party for a ranked she–wolf. Any other females are gone long before they turn 18. I know many Alphas and other ranked members are out hunting down their mates, but I refuse to do that. I refuse to hunt her down, running her nearly to death or possibly to her death, like she’s nothing more to me than prey. Unlike some Alphas, I want a partner, not another pack member.

“Well, we’ve agreed to hear him out at least. Did he tell you anything about his mate?” I ask.

“No, just that he marked her in private, and he refuses and will continue to refuse to mark her in public.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much what he told me as well.”

“Did he tell you he’s received a summons to the Committee?” Robin asks me.

“Is that why we’re meeting next week?” I ask.

“That’s why.”

“Well fuck me sideways,” I say.

“Sorry, you’re not my type,” he says, smirking at me.

“Asshole,” I grumble. Robin laughs as we approach Hunter’s pack Borders. We let the border patrol know we’ve arrived, and we drive

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onto his pack lands.

“Pretty area,” I say, to make conversation.

“Yeah, there are several packs in the near vicinity and mountains in between them, giving them a natural separation.”

“How do you know so much about this area?” I ask.

“We went to Luna Amelia’s 18th birthday party two years ago, remember? After she was claimed, I spent the next day looking around the area before leaving. Dutton is their neighbor on the eastern border, and I spent a couple of days with him, working on an alliance with him.”

Something else that has caused problems with the public claimings in some instances, such as with Alpha Calvin, is that our alliances have become strained because their Lunas do not wish to see the men that witnessed their claiming. Some Alphas don’t care, but the good ones, like Calvin, do.

“That was smart,” I say, just as my wolf, Rodion, stands up in my head.

‘Rod, what’s going on?‘

He doesn’t answer me, but when I get out of the car, he lifts our nose in the air and takes a deep breath. Gingerbread, the scent of sweet gingerbread, like cookies that have just come out of the oven, warm, with maybe a hint of icing envelopes my senses.

‘Find that scent,‘ he growls at me, just as I hear a female voice welcoming me to the pack.

I jerk Rodion back and look at the woman who is holding hands with Hunter. Actually, holding hands, not him holding her, but her fingers

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are intertwined with his and…she’s smiling. I thought Hunter said that were just mated.

I’m annoyed when Hunter introduces his new mate and she’s none other than Sophie Meyers. I’m tempted to get in the car and leave. She’s the cause of all of our problems. But I drove with Robin, and he looks intrigued. Besides, Rodion won’t let me leave. He’s practically ready to pull a shift to find that scent.

I’ll admit my mouth is watering, but geez, we’ll get some damn cookies. ‘Chill Rod,‘ I growl at my wolf.

However, the moment we step inside, the scent surrounds me and Rodion pushes forward, moving toward her.

“Mate.” he growls, ready to claim her right here, right now.

I can see the terror on her face as she repeats the word to me. And then, my view of her is blocked by Hunter.

“Stand down, Kayce. I do not allow public claimings in my pack and this woman is under my protection.”

“She’s my mate. Get the fuck out of my way,” Rodion growls.

“No, and if you don’t want her to reject you, I suggest you get a hold of your wolf,” Hunter growls, and I can feel Shaw pushing forward, ready to shift if Rodion does.

“Get it together, Kayce. We came here to hear what Alpha Hunter and his Luna have to say. Let’s give them time. I’m sure Alpha Hunter can assure us that he won’t send your mate away while we’re busy, right Hunter?” Robin says, nearly stepping between us to keep our wolves from fighting.

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“She’s here, under my protection. I won’t send her away, but I won’t allow her to be claimed against her will either.

“Her will? She’s my mate!” Rodion growls, pushing past Hunter only to have his way blocked by Luna Sophic.

I feel the blast of her Alpha aura as her wolf pushes forward, her eyes flashing with the threat of violence. “Get a hold of yourself Alpha. Now,” she snarls.