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

Hunter is going to take a stand against our laws, Matthew, and I intend

been and will always

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

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your Alpha would support me

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

make do with sending twenty, especially knowing

most of your warriors back once I have she- wolves entering my pack. They'll all be ranked members, and

you," Carter says, and his eyes go unfocused

at me. "We may as well tell that girl that was on the run with Sophie? She's here. We brought her

"Penny?"

you,

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

no practically about it, Alpha. She

said she's underage," I say, looking

she's sixteen,"

starving. I've never seen

the night before. I'm guessing she hadn't eaten for a long time before that. Do you know what pack she's

of Alpha

who believes strongly in the old ways. His daughter is one that didn't put up a fight against the public claimings. It was as

my pup soon. I wasn't joking when

be thrilled to know that

to let her know. Perhaps we should

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see them. My daughter Amelia and her mate should

the patrols," Matthew says. I had already called Lucas to warn him that

walk out of his office and follow our mates' scents to

feeling my mate's happiness that Penny

who is your friend?" I ask from the doorway. She turns quickly at the sound of my voice, her stunning smile sending shockwaves through my heart yet again. I have a moment to wonder if that

told you about. Penny, this is

says, clearly distressed at what she

and walking toward me. If she wasn't talking to her friend,

two of us," she says, her eyes never leaving mine as she walks into my arms. I wrap my arms around her and she lifts up onto her toes, pressing