The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 10: Scent Hunter

Lucas and I head to my office after morning warrior training. We walk in, ready to look over the patrols and everything else that we need to tackle today. I sit down at my desk, and he sits across from me. I noticed something different about him this morning, A spring in his step, but didn't want to ask in front of everyone. Now, however, it's just the two of us.

"Something's different. What's going on with you?" I ask.

He gives me a smug smile. "Why would you say something's different?"

"Besides the fact that you're my Beta and my best friend, I've known you for a long time. What's up?"

"Kinsley invited me to sleep in the bed with her last night."

I look at him a moment, not exactly sure how impactful this is. They've been together over a year. "Was that..."

"After I marked her, I told her she could have the bed and I would sleep on the couch until she invited me to sleep with her. Last night was the first night that she finally invited me. Nothing happened and I'm okay with that, but she let me hold her all night. I haven't felt this calm since I met her."

"Congratulations, Lucas. Seriously, I'm happy for you."

"I think you were right about giving her choices. It seems the

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more that I'm giving her options, the more open she is to including me in her life. We still have a long way to go but we took a step in the right direction last night."

"Good. I'm glad to hear it. And I hope you continue to make steps in the right direction."

We begin going through the work for the day, making sure our patrols are scheduled properly, making sure we account for our she-wolves who are no longer able to shift because of pregnancies. Unlike ranked members, the warriors and the omegas don't claim their mates publicly. So, generally speaking, once they're mated, they begin having pups right away.

It's getting close to lunchtime when Kinsley knocks on the door. I'm about to tell her to come in, but Lucas is up and heading to the door before I have a chance to. He opens the door, smiling at his mate.

"Hey Kins, come on in."

She returns the smile, and a soft blush flushes her cheeks. She

looks down a ment before looking back up at Lucas. "I needed to speak with you and Alpha Hunter for a moment," she says, stepping into my office.

"Hey Kinsley, what do you need?" I ask.

"I need to go into town tomorrow. I usually go once a month, just to make sure that our grocery bill is paid and there aren't any problems. It's never been an issue before, however, now it means I won't be able to leave food for the she-wolves because I'll be in town. I was wondering if one of you would be willing to go and leave the food and water for the she-wolves. I don't know if word has gotten out or if perhaps it's the same person

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back multiple times, but the food is gone every day now. I'd hate to think that somebody's going hungry just because I had to go into town," she

normally go in

do, and I know that that won't be possible for you. That's why I was wondering if maybe it

also like to check to make sure that there are no Alphas around. If we're just getting the word out to she-wolves on the run, I would hate to think

same thing, wondering if we shouldn't change the spot where we're putting the food. My only concern with that is will they know how to find it if we move?" "Let me check it out tomorrow and see. I won't be able to go in the morning, but I'll go in the afternoon. Hopefully

can take you this afternoon, show you where the place is, where I leave the food. How

after lunch. You usually

if there's anything left behind and

let's go this afternoon then. We may

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food since we're going anyway. That way if someone does come in the morning, it won't be as fresh as when you leave it, but there will be food and water there for them. "That's a great idea, Alpha. I'll have another food basket put together and then I'll have lunch sent up for

Lucas, giving him the opportunity to invite Kinsley to have lunch

mate: "I'll take lunch in my office, Kins. If

looks down and blushes again. "I

he says, gently kissing

head and watches as he walks out the door. Before he steps out, he turns and winks at her

old with, someone who I can love and dote on, someone who loves me in return. I get angry all over again

and my

sorry, did you ask me something?"

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her if she did.

growling Alpha. Is

happy for you, but it frustrates me that our process has caused the problems in your relationship that it has and that it's impacting my own ability to take a mate. Sometimes I feel it more strongly than others. My apologies.

that you would make a great mate. But speaking from experience, no matter how

I want to find my mate, but I don't

in this environment. To know that she would have to go through what I went through... And I was lucky enough to be mated to Lucas. He's been more patient with me than I ever

nod, knowing she's right. "Come get me when you're

we're in the car driving up into the

be smaller than an Alpha.

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"I'll manage."

unmarked trail. I make note of where we are, breathing in the air around me, making sure

I sniff the air, happy and a little surprised that I don't smell any Alphas or other ranked werewolves

place that's in

anyway. The bears

area once they smelled the bears, not wanting to risk an attack. Being a hunting party, they would be in small groups and bears have been. known to take on up to ten wolves at a time, even