The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 88: Rendered Useless Hunter

My mate was dead on her feet when I finally woke, feeling. amazingly refreshed and ready to take on anything, including Joshua and another war. Now that I've had a moment to step. away from the battle, I can see that she was right. I needed to heal so I can be prepared to fight again, but when she first approached me, I had been very surprised at how insistent she was that I get some sleep. 'Lucas?' I reach out in the mind link as I leave my already sound asleep mate.

'Putting my mate to bed. I'll be right there,' he says and I'm sure Kinsley is in the same position that Sophie is, exhausted.

When I get downstairs, I see Penny working through the patrols with our Lead Warrior.

"How do things look?" I ask, walking up.

"Oh, Alpha. You look well rested," Penny says.

"So do you," I say, looking her over.

"Luna and Beta Kinsley had all of us rotating through a sleep schedule so she could let her father and his pack members get back home. We're just about to switch out the last round of patrols who are waking up and then we should be back to normal," Penny says.

"Well, that's great. Can I take a look?"

I look over what Kinsley must have put together for the day, slowly weeding out Carter's pack so that they could go home. Penny's right, this is the last shift with Carter's men.

"Are Alpha Carter and Alpha Kayce still here?" I ask as Lucas walks up. I hand the patrol schedule to him, knowing he'll be proud of what his mate has done.

"No, Alpha. Alpha Kayce left a while ago after getting the list of dead for Luna Sophie. I believe that report is on your desk. We've also set up pyres for the four that we lost and buried the ones that came from Owen's old pack," she reports.

"The mates of the ones we lost?" Lucas asks.

"Luna had Brooklyn checking in on them, since she's there with her mother. You should know too, that many of the warriors have commented on Brooklyn's steady hand and gentle touch when it came to stitching them up," my Lead Warrior says.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Alpha."

I look around, feeling completely unnecessary. Sophie and Kinsley have this pack nearly back to fighting strength in less. than twelve hours.

"If I may, Alpha, Luna Sophie and Beta Kinsley were incredible. They answered all our questions, listened to our advice, made sure everyone ate and was looked after...I don't want to say that they were better than you and Beta Lucas, but I don't think you'll find anyone in the pack who would say they felt the loss of your

time away," my Lead Warrior says, and Penny nods her head agreement.

"I'm starting to feel like I should retire," I mumble. "If you nee anything, your Luna and Beta female are asleep, you can com to me or Lucas now," I say louder

"Yes, Alpha."

I walk to the kitchens, seeing that there are easy grab and go foods available so that anyone coming in from patrols or wak up for their shift can get food. I see Margot getting food, looking like she just woke up. When she sees me, she walks over. "Oh good. Please tell me your mates are asleep."

"They are. They were exhausted," Lucas says.

went non-stop. I'm not sure either of them ever ate. It v very impressive. I got to see what it would have been like for if I

should talk about that," I

will kill me because hasn't

getting food and going to sit with Margot while Lucas gets food and goes to

plate. "You

it works, Margot, not in my pack

III

dored L

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protection.

She showed that, clear as day today, when she whipped this pack into shape after the battle. But now, I'm also starting to see why you are mated to a

love, I know I'm a better man and Alpha having her by my side. If I had stifled that in her, I would be no better off than I was before. She makes me a better person and I want to be a better person for her. I want her to always be proud of me and proud to be my mate," I say honestly. Margot looks around the room. "What you're doing here,

not okay with me, Margot,"

if you hesitate and he gets away and hurts anoth she-wolf, that will be on you. Alpha

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she says, standing. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the pack hospital. I'm helping the nurses there with some of the injured and with the women who lost their mates." "Thank

walking away. It feels so much like a goodbye that it takes everything in me to let her walk away. Instead, I make a m**I note to

leave the dining hall, noticing that there are still some folks just waking and that

head to my office and see the report that Kayce started, and Sophie finished for me,

report. I just wanted you to have all the information when you woke

mate. I quickly look over the report

you're back in the land of the living,"

I'm back to fighting strength.

the report

sorry for your loss," I say, knowing he'll be feeling the loss of

as well," he

16:58

so sorry to hear that," I say, and I hear movement

end of the phone. It sounds like Allison just came to sit on Kayce's

you again and see

heard anything new, but

Thank you

for me, Hunter, and there may come a time

I

of him answering, I get

looking

a long day, refused to come home until everything was settled in

I'm sure your mate told you, but she did an excellent job

and me, Alpha, she gets that from

me a call when he