The One He Claimed by Cooper

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Chapter 16: Questions

Sophie

I wake slowly, warm and comfortable, with the scent of pine surrounding me. I love the scent of pine. It reminds me of the pine trees surrounding my home.

My hand moves over something hard. It's not a rock, it's..... frown, running my hands over the hard surface.

When I hear a man's groan of pleasure I shoot up, or I try to. I realize I'm in the arms of a man and not just any man, Alpha Hunter. My mate.

"Let go of me! What are you doing?" I scream, pushing away from him and landing on my butt.

"What? Huh?" he says, shaking his head as if shaking the sleep away. I make the mistake of looking down and I can see that he's very much aroused.

"Oh no! No, no, no!" I yell, scooting away from him on my butt, ready to turn and shift into Hedda.

"Wait! Don't go! I'm..." he jumps up, then looks down at his erection. "I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do about that. I was laying with you, you're my mate, you were running your hands over my chest, and it felt so good..." He holds his arms out to the side, shrugging. "I'm a man, it's not like I can hide it. I'm attracted to you, aroused by you. But I'm not going to hurt you. I would never force myself on you. "No, you'd just force your mark on me, and then force yourself on me," I say, still scooting back.

"Look," he says, putting his hands on his hips and as much as I don't want to, I can't help but appreciate how utterly gorgeous this man is. He has thick, sandy blond hair, still mussed from sleeping. His body....I have to press my legs together as I look over his body. There isn't an ounce of fat on this man. I know from touching him a moment ago, that his muscles are solid and rock hard, and they cover his entire body. Every inch of him is muscular and powerful. Hedda begins purring and I quickly cut her off.

I see his nostrils flare. Da**it, he can smell my arousal. Well, arousal or no, I'm not going to let him mate me in front of goddess knows how many people.

"Look," he says again, this time crouching down. "If I was going to force my mate mark on you, I could have done it at any point last night."

"There's no one here to witness it, what would be the point?"

He growls at that, and I watch his hands turn into fists. "No one will ever see you like that. I told you before. I'm a possessive man. I do not share. Ever. You are mine. You will only ever be mine. I refuse to mark and mate you in front of anyone. If you want to kiss me in public, or let me kiss you in public, fine. If you want to sit in my lap in public, I'd love that. But I will never parade you naked, never put you in any state of undress or partial undress where anyone can see you. You. Are. Mine," he snarls the last part, standing again.

I scramble to my feet, not wanting to be at a disadvantage of being on my a** in front of this man. But, I have to admit, his

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words send shivers down my spine.

"Now, can we start by you telling me your name?" he asks.

I open my mouth, but he cuts me off. "You're real name, this time."

I shake my head at him.

"I already know you're an Alpha. I can smell it. Hell, even a**hole Owen could smell it."

"No, he didn't. He just realized that his Alpha command didn't work on me," I tell him.

to know he's as s**d as I thought," he says, which makes me chuckle before I slap my hand over my mouth. It's too late, he heard it. When he looks back up at me, his

I had to guess, I'd go way, way out on a limb. Someone who I thought I would never see again," he says, his voice

of jealousy flow through me. Who is this woman who he thought he'd never see again, the woman he obviously hopes to

I ask, not sure I really want

Sophie Meyers." My heart **ips a

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truly is desperate

anymore," I

so excited the night I met you," he says

well, two years on my own, on the run, and a big dose of reality will wipe that right out of a girl," I say

says it so gently, with so much concern in his voice, that it brings tears to my

turn so I can wipe the s**d tears

have you been all

hiding in

why did you

my eyes at him. He puts his hand up in front of him and then slowly sits down. "Please," he says, gesturing for me to sit with him.

'I like him.'

can we trust that this isn't a

pushes forward, looking at him. He never once looks away. 'Yes, I think we can

smiles,

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Chapter 16: Questions

288 Vouchers

you. Where did you go? Why

I

just as naked as he is.

but he puts his hands up

his feet.

turn and then turns back. "Don't run.

nod: I'm pretty sure I've never heard an Alpha say 'please' as many times as Alpha Hunter has said it to

in a few minutes. I'm shocked when he hands me branches with leaves and

you could use these to cover yourself, I got myself one too, so you don't have to see how excited I am to be talking to you," he says, giving

stare at the branches for a moment, feeling my heart melting just

I say, covering myself. I feel better

welcome. Now, you had a question for me. You can ask me anything," he says, covering himself and settling in like we're in an office or sitting room somewhere, catching up like old

Chapter 16 Questions

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moment, trying to understand him. I can't, so I decide I've got nothing to lose by asking him my question, or

remember that night, the night we met?" I

sister's 18th birthday

I say, looking down at my hands. "Why....why did you. hover around me that night? Why did

idea what was going to happen. It didn't matter that Alpha Calvin is a good guy and I knew he'd do whatever he could to make the night easier for your sister. There are always some people, like Alpha- Owen for example, who get out of hand. You were underage, but you were also quite naïve. I warned your father about only letting you dance with