The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 29: Names Lucas

"I can't believe you broke his nose and who knows how many ribs, Kinsley," I say, equally shocked and impressed by my mate.

She stares down at his unconscious, bl**dy body with her hands on her hips, her chest expanding and contracting with the effort of dragging his dead weight past the pack's borders.

"He was a lascivious, arrogant p**k. He knew better than to look at me like that in front of you, but that didn't mean that he didn't look at me like he was remembering seeing my naked body every chance he got.

I step up to her, taking her face in my hand, gritting my teeth. when she flinches away from my touch. "Why didn't you tell me?"

She turns away from me, wrapping her arms around her body. "You want the truth?"

"Yes," I say softly, knowing I won't like whatever it is she has to

say.

"I didn't trust you to do anything about it."

put my hands on my hips, looking down at the ground and regretting our mating night for the thousandth time.

"Hunter was right. About us taking too long to make a stand. I should have listened to him before I met you. I should have

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taken a stand like he did. But I can't change the past, Kinsley. All I can do is try to make it better in the future."

I stand there, staring at the ground. "Do you know how hard it was to see our new Luna accepting Hunter so easily, knowing that I may never have that level of trust with you?" I stop, my throat closing. I turn, looking at Koden lying unconscious on the ground. I walk over to him and stomp on his hand, smashing it to bits.

"Lucas!" Kinsley says, rushing over and pushing me back.

I know I have tears in my eyes when I look at her. "You can't even trust me to protect you? Even now? What the f**k kind of mate does that make me, Kins? A sh**ty one. Is there anyone else? Anyone else that looks at you like that? Because I swear to the goddess Kinsley, I will make sure that it never, ever happens again. This is your home. Our home. And I will not allow anyone to make you feel uncomfortable in your home. You are a Beta female. They should fall at your feet and submit to you, not make you feel...."

I stop, taking a deep breath. "If not me, why didn't you go to Hunter? I know you trust him."

"I can't go to him every time someone looks at me in a way that makes me uncomfortable, like I know they are remembering that night, remembering me in that position, Goddess, Lucas, don't you get it? I'd be in his office every day! We're a huge pack. Lots of our warriors were invited to my birthday party."

"I want names, Kinsley," I growl at her.

"It's not their fault they remember Lucas. Not all of them are

283 Vouchers

it like Koden was. Most of them aren't. Usually, if I catch

than Alpha Hunter does about Luna Sophie. Don't YOU get it, Kinsley? I won't tolerate it. That's why it doesn't happen in front of me. The

hands, fiddling with the buttons on my polo shirt. "Does it help that I've started to believe

prove it to you," I say gently. "Please. I'll never gain your trust if you don't give me

nods and looks at her hands again. "Honestly, I feel like I should stand

"Why don't you?"

wouldn't believe you? Support you? Did you think. that Hunter wouldn't believe you? You're a Beta. Both of us know that you're an honest, incredible woman. If you put a pack member in their place, I may ask what happened. Hunter would do the same. But that doesn't mean that we wouldn't stand behind you and support you. I still want names. But

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me, lifting up on her toes and placing her lips against mine. "Okay," she

But, I know it's too soon for that: I need to go at Kinsley's pace. So, instead, I step back, quickly rearranging my now hard length in my

get to walk back to the packhouse hand-in-hand with my

Hunter POV

pack, but I could tell that she lost herself in the kiss. I nearly did as well, but I need to make sure that

hand as Kinsley and Lucas drag Koden to the pack border. "I'll give you a quick tour of the packhouse and then we need to figure

the back of the packhouse.

okay with you?" I ask, wanting her to have a say

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everything.

looks at me. “I'll have to trust you on this. I don't know anything about your pack lands

love to say you'll have time tomorrow to look around, but I intend to call your father tonight and see

overwhelmed she is at the idea of seeing her parents again. A stray tear falls down her cheek

"Thank you," she whispers.

thank me for," I say, leaning in to kiss her again. I feel like I can't

the office that will become hers and next to

find additional staff for tonight?"

Kinsley. We're down about four kitchen omegas, Alpha, and several more of the

putting together a feast for our Luna ceremony tonight, please

decided

their heads.

better future for everyone," she says, and I watch the omegas smile with her praise but also the thought that they now have a role to play in the

say as we step out of the

haven't been gone so long that I've forgotten that. But beyond that, they are taking a risk staying with us. If there is a war, their lives

you do as well."

I