The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 19 Unexpected Jealousy

Chapter 19: Unexpected Jealousy Hunter

As soon as I'm far enough away to get control of my desire, I turn back, making sure that Sophie gets inside the walls of the hideout.

F**k! That woman tastes better than she smells. I knew the mate bond was strong, but this...this is far beyond anything I could have anticipated. It's taking everything in me to hold Shaw at bay and keep from marking her. I want her agreement first. I want to know that she is choosing me as her mate.

I turn, running toward the front of the hideout.

'She hasn't rejected us again. Now that we know her real name, she could have and it would have been much more effective,' Shaw says.

'True. Hopefully, she'll use this time to think about what I've said. I feel like I was getting through to her,' I say as we make our way around the mountain.

I intend to cut straight across the forest and run home again, but I catch Kinsley's scent and pull up short. Shaw lifts our nose in the air and begins tracking her scent. I find her halfway between the parking lot and the hideout.

"Hey Alpha," she says, looking behind me. "Lucas said you came looking for someone. You've been gone all day, so I decided to bring the food out here, in case any new she-wolves arrive." Chapter 19: Unexpected Jealousy

I shift and stand, looking around and sniffing the air.

"You shouldn't be out here alone at night, Kinsley. Not all of these Alphas that are on the hunt will stop to see that you're already marked before trying to take you." 288 Wouchers

"I know. Lucas wasn't thrilled about me coming out here, so he's waiting by the car. I told him I'd howl if I needed help. So...did you find who you were looking for?"

"I did. She's in the hideout. We've...talked. I'm hoping she'll let me mark her."

She looks at me a moment, a slow smile spreading across her face. "You found your mate?"

I nod.

"You're a good man, Alpha Hunter."

"Come on, I'll introduce you," I say.

She raises an eyebrow. "You want to introduce me to your mate?"

"Yeah. I told her about you. Maybe you can put in a good word for me," I say.

She smiles at that and nods. "Anything I can do to help."

I take the food and follow her to the entrance. We both stop and lift our noses in the air, making sure there aren't any Alphas or other ranked wolves in the area before she ducks inside.

I carefully make my way through the narrow walls behind her. Having done this several times already, I have a better idea of

V. Unexpected Jealousy

how to get through.

"Hey, I'm not going to hurt you," I hear Kinsley say.

I push faster, stepping up behind her.

288 Vouchers

the water, her eyes tracking from Kinsley to me and back before she growls, not at me, but at Kinsley. It's a possessive growl and while

and putting my hands up. "Sophie, this is Kinsley. I ran into her on my way back to my pack. She's my Beta female, the one I

shakes her head as if clearing it.

It's the mate bond,"

Meyers?" Kinsley

"Yeah," Sophie says, frowning.

mate is

hadn't quite gotten that far

you talking about? I'm not

you are! You didn't know? EVERYONE

Chapter 19: Unexpected Jealousy

288 Vouchers

the entire revolution!

mate. "She's been away from the packs for two years. I haven't had a chance to talk to her about the impact that her runhing had on the

but I thought she had

I can feel the nervousness coming off of her

talk about it over dinner. Kinsley, what did you bring tonight?" I ask

and green beans. They might still be

home tonight. Can you plan to bring more

Alpha," she says and

I go," she says, turning back. "I want you to know, Sophie, that our Alpha is as genuine as he seems. He's not the kind of man who lies to get what he wants. In my experience, he's always truthful,

by my mate. Alpha Hunter was there, and I watched

kind of man he is. He gives every woman the

288 Vouchers.

that, he's had my loyalty from the moment I became his Beta female. My relationship with him has always been easier than my relationship with my own mate because of it. Because I trust him to protect

that you can too. Give him

say, touched by her

you," Sophie says, looking back

make sure

hideout before I turn back

to eat?" I ask

like to get dressed first," she says, pointing to

didn't make it to the pack, so..." I gesture

me over her shoulder as she crouches down to open her bag. I can see a smile twitching at her lips. "Want to wear something of mine?" "You're a wee bit smaller than I am. I'm not sure you have anything that will fit me. But if

bag, but not

Chapter 19: Unexpected Jealousy

288 Vouchers

in front.

since you know that I'm your mate, you know that I'm attracted to you and as hard as I'm trying not to drool over your gorgeous

a laugh. It's unexpected, but it makes heart soar that I was able to make her laugh. Rather than grabbing clothes, she stands and turns to me.

I'll be able to hide my excitement at being here with her and if she's naked, that will only make

worse.

any more uncomfortable," I say, gesturing at the evidence

she means to or not, she