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

in the

won't be possible for you. That's why I was wondering

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

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

you where the place is,

after lunch. You

if there's anything left behind

go this afternoon then. We

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of 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 both of you?"

I say to Lucas, giving him the opportunity to

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

looks down and blushes again. "I have time," she says

few then," he says, gently kissing her cheek

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

I want a mate. I want a relationship with someone, someone who I can grow old with, someone who I can love and dote

and my

you ask me something?" I ask,

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her if she did.

Alpha.

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 it's impacting my own ability to take a mate. Sometimes I feel it more strongly than

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

is why I'm working hard to try and change it. I want to find

make changes to the process Alpha Hunter. Truly, 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

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

the car driving up into

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

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"I'll manage."

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

happy and a little surprised that I

that's in bear territory?" I ask

anyway. The bears are at least a deterrent for the ranked

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