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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food is gone every day now. I'd hate to think that somebody's going hungry just because I had to go

you normally go in the mornings?" I

that won't be possible for you. That's why I was wondering if maybe it would be Lucas

to see how you have it set up, and I'd also like to check to make sure that there are no Alphas around. If we're just getting the word out to

the 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 if it's a new person every day, the time of day won't matter.

this afternoon, show you where the place is, where I leave the food. How I hide it," Kindley

plan to go after lunch. You usually

way I can clean up if there's anything left behind and then I

then. We

Chapter 10: Scent

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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 both of you?" she asks, looking back and forth between

say to Lucas, giving him the opportunity to invite Kinsley to

says before turning to his mate: "I'll take lunch in my office, Kins. If you have time, you're welcome

down and blushes again. "I

I'll see you in a few then," he says,

door. Before he steps out, he turns and winks

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

asks and my head snaps

did you ask me something?" I ask, not having

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her if she did.

Alpha.

you, but it frustrates me that our process has caused the problems in your relationship that it has and that it's impacting

a great mate. But speaking from experience, no matter how good your mate is, that initial claiming makes everything so

want to

I have no desire to raise a daughter 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.

knowing she's right. "Come get me when

in the car driving up into

be smaller than

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"I'll manage."

park, I grab the supplies and begin following Kinsley up an unmarked trail. I make note of where we are, breathing in the air around me, making sure I can find this

and a little surprised that I don't smell

a place that's in bear territory?" I

It's a risk for the she-wolves, but they're out here on their own anyway. The bears are at least a

wanting to risk an attack. Being a hunting party, they would be in small groups and bears have been. known to