The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 15: Comfort Hunter

When my mate rejected me, I instinctively clutched at my heart, expecting the horrific pain of rejection. My heart felt the sting of her words, but not the debilitating pain of her rejection. And then I'd realized something very important - she hadn't given her name in the rejection which just confirmed to me that her name isn't Josephine. Every wolf, especially an Alpha wolf, knows how to properly reject their mate. Not that it matters much in these times, but it matters to me.

I made my way out of the hidden space and was debating on whether or not I should chase after her when I heard the howl of the hunt go up. There was no way that I was going to risk my mate getting caught and claimed by anyone else.

Shaw pulled the shift and began racing in the direction the howls had come from. When we hear the yipping excitement of the pack closing in, Shaw snarls and pushes harder.

I hear her vicious snarl and as terrified as I am for her, I smile internally at her willingness to fight. I know they'll have her surrounded, but she's refusing to go down without a fight. That gives me enough time to get to her.

When I finally lay eyes on her though, fear unlike anything I've ever felt before runs icy in my veins and I see red. I knew from his scent that it was Alpha Owen, and he has my mate pinned to the ground in wolf form trying to force his mark on her so he can force her shift.

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Shaw swipes at his Ga** before leaping and grabbing Hegir by the back of his neck and ripping him off of my mate. Shaw doesn't take the time needed to snap his neck, but his bite is deep and I feel his teeth touch bone.

We place ourselves between our mate and Owen's pack members. His Beta immediately runs to help him while his Ga**a is still trying to stand with the gaping wounds I left. running down his side. The fourth wolf, however, looks like he's going to leap at me. He obviously doesn't know who I am.

Before he can make his move, I pull the shift, staying in my crouch and turn to my mate, telling her to run. Just as the wolf leaps at me, Shaw pulls the shift back into our wolf form. He jumps up and our jaws sink into the wolf's soft, fleshy throat.

When I don't hear my mate's retreating paws, I turn and see her gaping at the scene in front of her. Shaw barks sharply, getting her attention and she turns and runs as Alpha Owen regains his feet.

Since neither his Beta or Ga**a look ready to attack me, I shift as well, standing to face him.

"Alpha Hunter, I should have f**k**g known. What the F**k are you doing? I'm within my rights to claim that she-wolf," he says, rubbing the wounds on the back of his neck.

"She's my mate. I will kill you, all of you, before I'll allow you to touch her," I snarl, Shaw's voice overlaying with mine.

Alpha Owen stops, looking at me. "You just want her because she's an Alpha."

"I want her because she's mine."

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because if I

and you die," I

the fourth man, lying dead on the ground and realizes my threat isn't idle. I didn't rip his throat

your mate?" he asks, licking his lips lasciviously. He's a disgusting man and I would never let him see my mate in any form

"No. I'm good."

but in my

your mate yet? Even when she's outnumbered four to one?" I growl at him. "Remind me, how long have you been trying

day when I can knock you off that

I retort. "Now, are you going to turn around and run off in the direction you came from, or am I taking out one of your ranked

says, nodding at the

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the g**s*es gave him, but he turns and takes off running. His

Owen gives me one final glare before leaping, shifting, and following his pack members. I guess the dead guy doesn't matter, since they left

follow her erratic trail, turning at strange points, shifting left

salt of tears. Shaw is slow to step out of the woods and I see her in the water, scrubbing her body

ready to pull the shift, but he stops

her human form. If you shift, she might run. She's in shock. She's shaking. Let me see if she'll let me close to her. I can't mark her in her human form,' he says as her

is right. My mate is in shock. Shaw lays down, watching her and she resumes

and begins to belly crawl toward her. She

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nose in the air, continuing to

to

scare her

need to talk

shift. As expected, she turns,

to run.

your body. I'm going to shift back into Shaw. Let him lay with you, let him warm you. Your teeth are chattering. I don't have any clothes, or I'd offer them to you. Please. I know you're afraid. I promise, my word as an Alpha, this isn't a trick to try and mark you.

what I want, what ask for, or what I demand. But this is different.

she says, her teeth chattering, her arms wrapped tightly around her body. She's still in the water. I have no idea if it's cold, but I know she is. I can see her lips turning blue from here. Shaw pulls the shift and immediately lays down on his belly again, whining at her. We watch as her eyes

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trust you. She d-d-doesn't feel any ill intent fr-fr-from you. Don't p-p- prove her wrong," she says, her teeth chattering as she walks. out of the water. I feel a tightness I didn't know I was carrying in my chest

step toward her. She looks around. "Maybe we can find a place that isn't

the forest. "I need to th-th-thank you for coming to my rescue. Alpha Owen is d-d-disgusting. I can't image being b-b- bound to him for the rest of my life. I'm beginning to understand why some sh-sh-she-wolves prefer to take their lives instead of living with the Alphas who