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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now. I'd hate to

in the mornings?"

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

would like to go. I'd like 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 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 say

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. I hope,

you where the place is,

after lunch. You usually

left behind and then I can leave the food

go this afternoon then. We may as well bring another

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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

think we're done here," I say to Lucas, giving him the

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

again.

see you in a few then," he says, gently kissing

he steps out, he turns and winks at her making her blush an even deeper shade

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 find

asks and my head

you ask me something?" I ask,

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her if she did.

Alpha. Is

finding your way together. I'm happy for you, but it frustrates me that our process has caused the problems in your relationship that it has and that

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

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

have to go

right. "Come get

in the car driving up

to and requires someone to be smaller than an Alpha. It's going to be

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"I'll manage."

of where we are, breathing in the air around me,

that I don't smell any Alphas or other ranked werewolves

in bear territory?"

anyway. The

an appraising look. It was smart of her. She's right. The ranked wolves would b**s the 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