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

and back before she growls, not at me, but at Kinsley. It's a possessive growl and while I want to smile

"Sophie, this is Kinsley. I ran into her on my way back to my pack. She's my Beta female, the one I told you about. She's the one who found this place and brings the

shakes her head as if clearing

It's the mate bond," I say, trying to reassure

Sophie Meyers?" Kinsley

"Yeah," Sophie says, frowning.

turns to me. "Your mate is Sophie

quite gotten that far in my discussion with

about? I'm not a

didn't know?

Chapter 19: Unexpected Jealousy

288 Vouchers

revolution! It's

had a chance to talk to her about the impact that her runhing had on the she-wolves." "Oh...so you didn't know?" Kinsley asks, her tone

said something, but I

feel the nervousness coming off of her in

talk about it over dinner. Kinsley, what did you

pork chops, mashed potatoes, and green beans. They might still be warm," she says, and I hear Sophie's stomach

home tonight. Can

says and

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, he's always respectful, and always kind. ...." she stops and

I watched him leave the room before Lucas claimed me. Chapter

is. He gives every woman the

288 Vouchers.

of 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

that I believe in and trust my Alpha. And I know that you can too. Give him a chance. You won't be disappointed," she says and

say, touched by her

says, looking

stay still, listening to make

away from the hideout before I turn back to

to eat?"

to get dressed first," she says, pointing to

dragging out the word. "I didn't make it to the pack, so..." I gesture down at

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 it will make you feel better, I'll take a shirt and lay

to her bag, but not before I see her blush.

Chapter 19: Unexpected Jealousy

288 Vouchers

to wearing clothing in front. of others," she

considering you were living in a human town. I also think it's understandable 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

Rather than grabbing clothes, she stands and turns to me. "Well then, perhaps I should

keep the growl from leaving my mouth. There's no way I'll be able to hide my excitement at being here

worse.

don't make you any more uncomfortable," I say, gesturing at the evidence of my arousal

whether she means to or not, she licks her lips, making