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

of them aren't. Usually, if I catch

any differently about you than Alpha Hunter does about Luna Sophie. Don't YOU get it, Kinsley? I won't tolerate it. That's why it

buttons on my polo shirt. "Does it help that I've started to believe that?" she asks me

I say gently. "Please. I'll never gain your trust

nods and looks at her hands again. "Honestly, I feel like I should stand up for myself, punch them in the face when

"Why don't you?"

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 message

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

want to take her mouth, to 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, I step back, quickly rearranging my now hard length in my pants before reaching

hesitation, and I get to walk back

Hunter POV

in the kiss. I nearly did as well, but I need to make sure that I maintain the trust that she is giving me. I feel like a f**g king after what she said about me and our mating night. I will never do anything to make her

I say, extending my hand as Kinsley and Lucas drag Koden to the pack border. "I'll give you a quick tour of the packhouse and

of the packhouse. "Is this where we'll

that okay with you?" I ask, wanting her

288 Voucher

everything.

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

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

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

"Thank you," she whispers.

nothing to thank me for," I say, leaning in to kiss her again. I feel

the offices where Lucas and I work, the office that will become hers and next to that, Kinsley's office.

additional staff for

at me. "We mind linked Beta Kinsley. We're down about four kitchen omegas, Alpha, and several more of the packhouse

can handle it, but if there is a problem putting together a feast for our Luna ceremony tonight, please let me

all of you decided to stay?" she

all duck their heads. "Yes,

all she- wolves and helping Alpha Hunter 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

as

forgotten that. But beyond that, they are taking a risk staying with us. If there is a war, their lives become

you do as well."

I