The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 38: Dinner Sophie

When Hunter leaned in to kiss me, I could see in his eyes, feel through our bond, that something sparked a strong emotion, a flash of love for me. So, while I wasn't surprised that he leaned in to kiss me, my immediate reaction was concern that others would see us.

It only took me a moment to realize that those are old fears, fears that I don't need to have with Hunter. He would never hurt me. Ever.

So, after a split second's hesitation, one where he stopped and let me decide if I was willing to kiss him, I closed the distance between us.

The moment our lips touched, I forgot everyone and everything around us. I don't know how Hunter has this effect on me, but it's like he's the only one in the room. I lean into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and tilting my head to the side, letting him. take the kiss deeper. His arms come around my waist, holding me in a way that feels safe and protective. There's a

possessiveness there as well, but I like that. I like that he wants everyone to know that I'm his and only his.

A throat clearing distracts me and I feel Hunter smile against my lips. I open my eyes and his are smiling down at me.

"Perhaps we should let your father continue with his announcement," he says softly.

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"Oh!" I say, jumping out of his arms and blushing a deep shade of crimson as I realize that I just kissed my mate in front of my previous pack. The entire pack! "I'm so sorry," I say, not knowing what else to say. The room is exceptionally quiet.

Hunter takes my hand and strokes his knuckles across my flaming cheeks. "Never apologize for loving me, Sophie."

"Uh, right. So, that's all my announcements," my father says from behind me. I smile at him, completely embarrassed by my very public display of affection for my mate, before sitting down and trying to make myself as small as possible.

Hunter however, puts his arm around my shoulders and leans in to kiss the side of my head. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about, my love," he whispers in my ear.

"Hunter, I completely forgot we were in a room full of people. People who have known me since I was a pup," I whisper yell, glancing around and seeing that people are starting to talk amongst themselves again, but many are still stealing glances

our way.

"About that," Alpha Dutton says from beside me. "Is it really just that Alpha Hunter didn't claim you publicly that your interactions with him are different than every other Luna or ranked she-wolf I've ever seen? Or is it something about Alpha Hunter himself?"

“I'd be interested in knowing the answer to that as well," Alpha Calvin says, leaning forward.

I turn and look at Hunter. He just watches me, letting me answer the question. 1288 (ouchers

Il Is about him not claiming me publicly," I say, turning back to Alpha Dutton. "But it's more than that. I know that he me, that he will protect me, that he would take on the world for respects me. A man like that deserves to be trusted enough for me to give myself to him completely. I know that Hunter would never do anything to embarrass me or hurt me, so I know that I can give myself to him freely, no matter where we are."

I can feel Hunter preening at my praise through the bond, and I'm glad. I mean what I say. He's a man who deserves for me to trust him wholeheartedly.

Dutton turns back to his food, eating quietly and

Amelia knows that I would never hurt her, that I respect her. The only difference

look at my sister, not sure I should be the one

love you and I've learned over time that you respect me. We've built trust in the last two years, enough that I'm carrying your pup. But it's wasn't always like that. That trust had to be earned, rebuilt, if you will. Whereas Sophie and Alpha Hunter don't have those

the public claiming? Even though Alpha Calvin did everything he possibly could to make that night as positive for you as possible, it wasn't

pressed

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first time I'd ever been with a man, and it was in public. Yes, Calvin

I'll tell you Dutton, the worst feeling in the world is when you sink your canines into their neck, and you feel every goddess-awful emotion that you are causing them, your mate, the one should love above all others. I don't know how some of the other Alphas do it,

mates,"

for you, though, was it?" he asks,

Amelia says, putting her hand

it, Hunter?" he

it wasn't," Hunter

Hunter. If what Hunter felt was anything close to what I felt, it was

him, he takes her hand, kissing the top of it gently, before releasing it and quickly walking away. We all watch as

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don't mean to be meddlesome or obtuse, but, is it really that terrible? Even when your mate tries his best?" "Yes,"

hunted down in the woods, her mate growling at her to never run from him again before he slammed his canines into her. She was already sobbing from being mated roughly and he didn't even try to make the marking gentle. It's not a risk that I was willing to take and not a risk that many she-wolves are willing to take. From what I understand, many

guess...I guess I never considered what it would be like, for the woman. I assumed, st**ly apparently, that if I did my best, like Alpha Calvin did, that it would be okay," he says, looking between me

away from where her mate went. "We've found our way, but it took nearly two years." She turns and looks at me. "And I still don't find accepting my mate's touch as easy as Sophie does, especially not in public. Excuse me, I need to check on my

from the table and follows in the

Dutton looks up at Hunter.

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to, yes. They'll come for Sophie, the other Alphas. They' II try to force me to mark her publicly, try to strip her of her title when I refuse. I won't allow it. She's my mate, she's my Luna, and I shouldn't

from Alpha Dutton and take Hunter's hand. "And this, Alpha Dutton, is why I trust my mate implicitly. Because I know that

"Always," he says.

Calvin POV

run my fingers through my hair, again, and take a deep

it's not his fault that his mate responds in the

teeth sank into

thinking, I pull her into my embrace,