The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 8: Promise Me Hunter

I'm not surprised that Kinsley had some great ideas about how we could help these she-wolves. While we know we can't take them in, she did have a great idea to find ways to make sure that they had food and water. Many of these girls are young, still underage pups, who may have little to no way of feeding themselves.

I put Kinsley in charge of finding a place where we could leave food and water for the females on the run who might be travelling through the area, a place that would be safe from scavengers and the animals of the forest. We all agreed that the she-wolves who are running won't come too close to the pack, but there are areas where they could skirt around the local packs, including ours, if they were passing through.

The first time she left food and water, she went back the next day and was disappointed to find that no one had come through. She left a note letting them know that if they were passing through, that the food and water was for them, that they could take it, and to be safe,

It was two more days before she finally found the food and water missing with a simple note saying thank you.

Now she goes nearly every day to check to see if she needs to put more food and water out and to continue to leave notes about anything that we know, any warnings that we can give to the she-wolves who are on the run.

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I'm at my desk going through the latest list of casualties within the packs. More and more, the ranked she-wolves are putting themselves at risk in order to get away, sometimes resulting in their death. Because of this, the Alphas and ranked members are putting restrictions on the ranked she-wolves, locking them into the pack houses, refusing to let them leave or not allowing them to go anywhere alone. There are some she-wolves who have accepted their fate, some who are not fighting the system, but they're becoming more and more rare. It won't be too long before we're going to have a real problem on our hands, and I won't be the only Alpha unable to find a Luna or to provide an heir for my pack.

As I'm reading through the list, becoming more and more agitated, the door to my office swings open and Lucas comes in looking distraught. He closes the door and throws himself in a chair in front of me. "What is it?" I asked without preamble.

"Alpha Zahn caught his mate. He hunted her down, found her, claimed her in front of the warriors that he had taken with him. Then as he was bringing her home, she jumped off the mountain pass they were on." He puts his face in his hands, his fingers sliding into his hair and grabbing hold..

"Is she dead?"

her body is broken. But she's alive. I doubt that she'll be happy about it when she finally

with haunted eyes. "That could have

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had tried to kill herself like that, Hunter. What

the fear for his mate. I've just stood up to walk around my desk and console him when there's a quick knock at my door and it

looking at me, then at her mate.

he stands and in two steps, he has pulled her into his arms and buried his

for and caught his mate. He marked and mated her, and then on the way

neck. I turn around, giving them a little bit

ever think about taking your life, if you ever would rather die than be with me, then you reject me, Kinsley. I will accept it. I would rather be a broken man than to have you not in this life. This world is a better place with you in it, and it would be worth it to me to live like that, as long as I know that you're alive. I know you don't love me as much as I love you. I know that you may never love me as much

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But the thought of not being able to see you, of you not

to collect himself. "Please Kinsley, promise me. Promise me that you won't do that,"

won't do that Lucas. I've never tried

to

hard for me to eat. And sometimes, when I remember that night.... Sometimes it's hard for me to eat even now. But I'm not trying to kill myself, Lucas. It wouldn't do that. Not to you, not to Alpha Hunter, and not

him, holding her tightly. Her arms go around him, and even for me, I can see that it's uncomfortable for her, something she's not used to. But whether it's the mate bond or it's just the kind of

says softly into her hair before stepping

back. "If you're not too busy, I could have lunch with you today," she says

busy, Kins. And even if I was, I would make time." He

having lunch with me and Alpha Hunter, or would you prefer it just be the two of us?"