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

like Koden was. Most of them aren't. Usually, if I catch them staring, they stop and turn

who looks at you like they want you, will die. I don't feel any differently about you than Alpha Hunter does about

my chest, but she doesn't push me away. I watch as she stares are her hands, fiddling with the buttons on my polo shirt. "Does it help that I've started to believe that?" she asks me quietly, looking up at me through her

"Please. I'll never gain your trust if you

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

"Why don't 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 next time it happens, punch the a**hole in the face. Break his f**g nose, like you did with Koden. That will send a stronger

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lifting up

devour her, taste her, explore her mouth until she's moaning and lost in the kiss, much like Luna Sophie was earlier. But, I know it's too soon for that: I need to go at Kinsley's pace. So, instead,

and I get to walk back to

Hunter POV

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

and Lucas drag Koden to the pack border. "I'll give you a quick tour of the

the back of the packhouse.

that okay with you?" I ask,

288 Voucher

everything.

looks at me. “I'll have to trust you on

I intend to call your father tonight and see if we can meet with him in the morning. Would you

overwhelmed she is at the idea of seeing her parents again. A stray tear falls down her cheek and I reach up to wipe

"Thank you," she whispers.

to thank me for," I say, leaning in to kiss her again. I feel

away, I give her a quick tour of the first floor, showing her the offices where Lucas and I work, the office that will become

additional staff for tonight?" I ask

each other, then back at me. "We mind linked Beta Kinsley. We're

together a feast for our Luna ceremony tonight, please let me know," I start

decided to

duck their

and I make a 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 future betterment

Luna," I say as we step out

they are taking a risk staying with us. If

you do as well."

I