The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 27: Return to the Pack Hunter

Now that our bond is complete, I can feel Sophie's emotions, I can feel the weight of what she is taking on as her

responsibility. It's not her responsibility to bear, and the responsibility that we will be taking on isn't hers alone. We are in this together. But we will have a steep, difficult mountain to climb.

I stare into her eyes, pouring my strength and my determination. into her until she finally nods. I know she's been away for two years, and a lot has happened and changed since that time. Her being the face, or at least the name, of the revolution is going to make those who are against the change in the claiming process push that much harder against us.

"We will fight," she says.

"Yes. WE will," I confirm.

I hold her face in my hands until I feel her calm, until she takes a deep breath, and her body relaxes.

"You are not alone anymore, Sophie. And while we do have our work cut out for us, there will be positives," I say, stroking my hands down her arms. "Like seeing my family again," she says.

"Yes. And now, we'll make our stand. Anyone who doesn't agree can leave our pack. Once it's cleared and only those who agree

1651

Chapter 27: Return to the Pack

with eliminating public claimings remain, we can open our borders to all the she-wolves who are running."

She gasps, grabbing onto my arm. "But Hunter, don't you think. that means that the packs will join together and fight against us? We'd never be able to withstand that type of attack." "Yes, there will be battles. Yes, there will be fighting. But the first thing we are going to do, before we announce that our borders are open to all she-wolves on the run, is to find out who is on our side and who will stand with us. Like I said, many packs stood beside your father. I believe that some good Alphas, Alphas like Alpha Kayce and Alpha Dutton who haven't found their mates yet, may have lost their fated mates to the Alphas who are hunting the she-wolves. I think, once we explain to them that we could potentially provide a safe refuge for their mates, fated, second-chance, or chosen, that they will side with us. I don't think it has occurred to them that some of these Alphas hunting their mates have taken more than one mate. Even if the first was their fated mate, the second one surely wasn't." "You've thought a lot about this," she says, leaning into me. I can feel her respect and admiration for me through the bond. It makes me feel proud to be her mate.

I lean forward and nuzzle my nose against hers. "I know we need to head back. I know we need to leave this place. But I'm also resistant. I know once we leave, reality will set in and like you said, we'll have battle after battle on our hands. I've loved every minute of our time here together and I hope, someday, we can come back here, and remember our night together. Until then, will you stand with me, beside me, as my Luna and partner in life?"

16 51 M

Chapter 27: Return to the Pack 288 doumers

Now it's her turn to take my face in her hands. "I'm not sure I could love you any more than I already do, Hunter Reynolds. I will be proud to stand beside you to call you my Alpha, and my mate." I take her mouth in a passionate kiss, one that provides the promise of a life to come, a life where we are happy together. A new beginning for the mating of ranked wolves.

She begins whimpering, pressing against me. I reach down and grab her thighs wrapping her legs around me. I can smell her arousal and I sit her on the edge of the stone table, pulling back just enough to look at her.

"Once more before we go. I need to be inside you," I say to her.

"Yes," she breathes, guiding me to her entrance, as greedy for me as I am for her.

It's beautiful the way she wants me, her confidence that I want her and that she is safe with me. I watch her beautiful face as I thrust into her, watching her come undone for me once, twice, and then a third time before I empty myself inside her.

the kiss, opening my mind and heart to her. When I smell

more, witch. At least not for now," I say laughing and

asks, her voice deeper. I'm about to answer when Shaw pushes forward. "Absolutely not. We have an

16.51

Return to

several times on that run, and when I

Once that's done, I walk out the front

looking over Hedda's body. I stroke my fingers through her fur, feeling her body

to her.

over, he returns to stand in front of her. "The pack is that direction. Now, run. Escape me if you

giving her a head start?'

says confidently pulling the shift and howling his hunt of his

there were other Alphas out

or her willingness to be caught I'm not sure. Either way, he leaps onto her back, careful not to hurt her, while pinning her to the ground

1651

pleasure while they mate and when he lets her up, she races off again, only to be

nearly two hours to reach the pack, and as we get close, I shift back, letting Sophie know that we need to

one of my shirts and two pairs of shorts

there, Alpha,'

patrols to Sophie, showing

is the packhouse

see it from here. We'll have to secure these borders now, but from here, I can see where we

as we talk and look over our

our pack, Luna," she says, showing Sophie her

and I becoming good friends. From what

to the Pack

to make the changes that we need to

link Lucas to join us. I want

really going to do it? You're going up against all the

I will not tolerate any disrespect to her, and I refuse to claim her publicly and share her. It's time to make our stand Kinsley, not just by giving food to those on the run but providing them

before

you,

like that, but I'm

just as her mate

Sophie Meyers?"

"She's