The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 35: Another Surprise Hunter

When Sophie and her mother leave, Carter looks at me. "I know it's early, but I could use a drink. Want one?"

"Sure. I'm sorry for the secrecy..."

"No. You were right not to tell me ahead of time. And you've done right by my daughter. I'm not sure I can ever repay you for that," he says, handing me a glass of bourbon before clinking his glass against mine and downing his in one go.

It's a bit early for me, but I follow suit and take the shot. I watch as Carter takes a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment.

"I was so worried when I first saw her..." he says quietly.

"I know. That's why I wanted you to hear it from her that I marked her in private."

He nods his head and takes another deep breath. "Alright, let's get my Beta in here so we can reinforce your borders. You said your Gamma left?"

"Well, technically, I kicked him out for ogling my mate in front of me and assuming that I was going to mark and mate her again in front of him and the pack. So, I cut off his airways until he passed out then threw him off my pack lands."

He looks at me a moment. "You might have been better off if you had killed him."

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I sigh. I know he's right. "I'd just brought Sophie home, had literally just introduced her to the pack. I didn't want to mar that by killing my G**a."

He nods and his eyes go unfocused. A moment later there's a knock at his door.

"Matthew, this is Alpha Hunter. Hunter, this is my Beta, Matthew."

"Nice to meet you," I say.

"Same."

"Alpha Hunter has mated my daughter, Sophie, and brought her home to see her family."

I watch the Beta press his lips together before he forces a smile. "Congratulations." Then he turns to Carter. "I didn't realize little Sophie was here. I can't wait to see her. My mate will be thrilled as well." Carter watches his Beta as he delivers the news. "My new son-in-law marked and mated my little girl in private, Matthew."

Matthew turns and looks at me, his gaze intent. "In private?"

"That's correct," I say.

looking back at

Hunter is going to take a stand against our laws, Matthew, and I intend to join him. I need to know now if you're with

been and will always be

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you have my respect for what you did, but you do realize

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that your Alpha would support me in this fight. I'll be looking at other Alphas as well," I say and the three of us sit down as I go

us look at their patrols and evaluate how many of their warriors they can send to

we can afford to send thirty, but we can make do with sending twenty, especially knowing that the heat we've been under

don't want you putting your pack at risk for me. But I also believe I'll be able to give you most of your warriors back once I have she- wolves

with you," Carter says, and his

they refocus, he looks at me. "We may as well tell that girl that was on the

"Penny?"

you,

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her to me. After she told me that she'd been with Sophie,

Alpha. She did beg," Beta

underage," I say,

she's sixteen,"

she was practically starving. I've never seen a wolf eat that

stuffed herself the night before. I'm guessing she hadn't eaten for a long

daughter of Alpha

fight against the public claimings. It was as if she had been trained to understand her fate and she accepted it. However, to my knowledge, she's been mated for several years

if Sophie will be carrying my pup soon. I wasn't joking when I

tell Sophie. She'll be thrilled to know that her

let her know. Perhaps we should

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Amelia and her mate

warn him that we had some of Carter's warriors come to assist with protecting

out of his office and follow our mates' scents to the kitchens where

mate's happiness that

of my voice, her stunning smile sending shockwaves through my heart yet again. I have a moment to wonder

Penny, the one I told you about. Penny, this is Hunter,

clearly distressed at what

like the others," Sophie says, releasing her friend and walking toward me. If she wasn't talking to her friend, I might forget that there was anyone in the room but

mine as she walks into my arms. I wrap my arms around her and