The One He Claimed by Cooper novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Introductions
Hunter
I’m so proud of my mate and our friends. I knew Sophie would be an amazing Luna, but having a strong partner at my side is truly making me and our pack stronger. And then, my friends not only listened to me about not claiming their mates publicly, but they went ahead and marked their mates privately, wanting the same kind of relationship that Sophie and I have.
Now, we’re back on the road, headed to the Committee of Alphas meeting where Owen will go on trial for what he did to Brooklyn. He’s crazy if he thinks that I would ever vote for him to keep his title after he hurt her so terribly, and that doesn’t even begin to cover the damage that was done m**ly because he did it so publicly.
It had taken Dutton a long time to calm down. He’d been afraid to go to his mates in the mood he was in, worried that he would scare them, so he and I had sparred for nearly two hours. He needed to hit someone, and he needed a challenge. It could have been any of us, but he was in my pack and Brooklyn is my pack member, so it was me that helped him deflate his anger.
In the end, it was his mates, who were worried about what they were feeling in the bond that helped him the most. They must have gone to Sophie who brought them to us. The moment he saw them, he’d pulled them against him, holding them tightly. They had wrapped their arms around him, concern etched on their faces.
Chapter 78: Introductions
“Come talk to us,” Tiffany had said, while Tammi had caressed his face, wiping away his frown lines with her thumbs.
He’d emerged later, smelling strongly of his mates, but looking better, calmer, and ready to fight at the committee meeting.
We’d taken separate cars, with Robin planning to take Nikki back home when they leave. I can tell she’s excited and nervous, but she and Robin already have a strong bond and that will show in the committee meeting. Dutton is also riding separately because Sophie and I are staying the night and he wanted to return quickly to get back to his mates.
When we arrive, Sophie and Nikki race over to where Kayce and Allison are waiting for us. We all smile as our mates hug tightly.
“Good thing we already had strong alliances, or we’d be in big trouble,” Kayce says, still smiling fondly at his mate.
“I’m pretty sure these women would have written up an alliance document and made us all sign it,” Robin says, his eyes shining with his happiness. It’s good to see the others looking as happy as I am. Not only will this make their packs stronger, but it will make our alliances stronger, making us a true force to be reckoned with if the others decide to go to war.
“Did you save any
save any of that love for me?” Luna Amy asks, walking up to the girls.
“Mom!” Sophie says, hugging her mother and introducing her to the others.
“That’s a lot of happiness. Happiness I’m not sure I’ve ever seen in newly mated Lunas,” Alpha Carter says walking up behind us, watching his mate and ours.
Chapter 78troductions
“Well, when you’re right, you’re right, and Hunter was right,” Dutton says, slapping me on the back. Sophie’s father turns and looks at him, his eyes going wide when he sees the marks that he’s proudly displaying.
“The twins?” Alpha Carter asks.
“Yes, they’re mine now,” Dutton says smugly.
“Are they here?” Carter asks.
“No, they are still too nervous after being hunted by Alpha Aiden.”
Carter nods as Alpha Calvin and Luna Amelia walk up. She is much more reserved, frowning at the interactions of the others.
“You should go say hi,” I say gently.
She looks at me, then at Calvin before walking over and joining the conversation. Sophie and her mother hug Amelia and then Sophie does introductions again.
“How are we sitting today?” Robin asks quietly as we begin to make our way towards are mates.
“The same, but our mates sit as far away from the others as possible,” I say.
I hadn’t realized it this morning when Sophie was getting ready, but as we approach them, and they turn, I can see that Allison, Nikki, and Sophie are all wearing dresses that proudly show off their mate marks. Amelia’s is showing but not so obvious, and the same with Amy’s. But our mates are proud to show off theirs, and it makes me feel honored to be mated to a woman
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who is so proud to show off my mark.
“Did they do that on purpose?” Kayce asks quietly.
“You know they did,” Robin says, with the same level of respect and admiration in his voice for his mate that I’m feeling for
mine.
“D**n,” Kayce says quietly. “I had no idea how right you were, Hunter.”
“You can’t until you find her, and she does simple things like this to honor you,” I say. Sophie looks over at me, tilting her head at me. I know my eyes are burning with my love and gratitude for this woman.
When I step up to her, I lean in, needing to show her how much she means to me and how appreciative I am of the woman that she is.
When I pull back, I realize that Kayce and Robin have done the same, both of their mates blushing softly. My mate, more used to my shows of affection, smiles up at me. “Shall we?”
“We shall,” I say, putting my arm out to her. I nod at Ezra, who once again is watching our interactions intently, his sadness and regret evident on his face.
When we walk inside, we see Luna Margot and her mother Luna
June.
“I’d like to meet them,” Sophie says softly.
“We can try. I doubt Elias or Joshua want their mates talking to you, especially.”
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We walk forward, catching both women’s’ gazes. Now that I know that my mate is proudly wearing her mark, I’m noticing that these two women actively try to hide theirs. They are not proud of them at all.
“Luna Margot, Luna June, I’m Luna Sophie.”
“Oh, we know who you are, Luna. You’ve made quite a ruckus around our packs,” Luna Margot says, not unkindly.
“Hopefully not anything that has caused you problems,” she
says.
Margot looks down, her lips pressing together so tightly they turn white. I have to wonder what kind of problems my mate bond is causing her. I’m hoping it’s not about becoming pregnant.
“We’ve lost some pack members. We’re hoping that maybe they’ ve made it to your pack?” Luna June asks quietly.
“Who are you looking for…” Sophie begins as Elias walks up.
“What is the meaning of this?” he barks, his Alpha aura coming out and I notice that both women’s necks raise in submission. Sophie notices it as well and I can feel that it makes her angry. She, of course, is immune to his Alpha aura.
“I’m just saying hello to my fellow Lunas, Alpha. Surely you can’t be concerned about that?” she asks, challenging him. I step closer to her as I feel his aura push out even more, trying to put my mate in line. Before I can push mine over him, I feel hers push out.
“There’s no need for a battle of wills, Alpha. I’m an equal partner
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in my pack, and an Alpha female by birth. You’d do well to remember that,” she says. Somehow, her aura pushes over Elias, but it releases the other two from their submissive stances. Interesting. It’s almost as if Sophie pushed his aura back, putting all of hers onto him, leaving the Lunas alone.
I can see that Elias is huffing with his anger. He snarls at his mate and daughter to take their seats, putting them as far from us as possible. Fine by me, I don’t want my mate anywhere near Elias or Joshua. They both disgust me.
When we turn, I can see that Robin and Kayce are quietly telling their mates who everyone is as they come in.
“Hello, Nicole. What are you doing here?” I hear just as Sophie sits down. Alaric’s voice is dripping with condescension.
She stands, facing her brother proudly. I look at Robin who also stands, but he’s focused on Alaric and his mate.
“It’s Luna Nikki now, or have you lost your eyesight, brother? Do you not see Robin’s mark on my neck?” she asks, challenging her brother. Robin steps up behind her, pressing his body against hers. She leans back against him, and the motion does not go unnoticed by Alaric.
“Camden will be very unhappy to hear this,” he snarls.
“Camden is not her mate, I am. He can go find his own. Make sure your Beta knows that if he ever comes for what’s mine, I’ll kill him.” Robin never raises his voice, but his wolf’s voice intermingles with his, making the threat low, gravelly, and very real.
“Everyone have a seat, this Committee meeting is hereby
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commenced,” Elias’ voice rings out and we all take our seats.