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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is gone every day now. I'd hate to think that somebody's going

go in the mornings?"

That's why I was wondering if maybe it would be Lucas

I'd 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 that the Alphas have started staking the place out. I don't want us to inadvertently leave a trap for these, she-wolves," I

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

you where the place is, where I leave the food. How I hide it,"

after lunch. You usually drive

if there's anything left behind and then I can

We

Chapter 10: Scent

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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

to Lucas, giving him the opportunity to

Alpha," he says before turning to his mate: "I'll take lunch in

blushes again. "I have time,"

then," he says,

door. Before he steps out, he turns and winks at her making her

mate. I want a relationship with someone, someone who I can grow old with, someone who I can love and dote on, someone who loves me in return. I get angry all over again about the process that we have for claiming ranked she-wolves which is impacting my ability to

Kinsley asks and my

did you ask me something?" I ask, not

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her if she did.

were growling Alpha. Is everything

I'm 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

I have no doubt that you would make a great mate. But speaking from experience, no matter how good your mate

why I'm working hard to try and change it. I want to find my mate, but I don't want to

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 expected. Many others aren't

"Come get me when you're ready to

the car driving

to be smaller than an Alpha. It's going to be hard

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"I'll manage."

the supplies and begin following Kinsley up an unmarked trail. I make note of where we are, breathing in the

surprised that I don't smell any Alphas or other

a place that's in bear

out here on their own anyway. The bears

wanting to risk an attack. Being a hunting party, they would