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.

impressive. I got to see what it would have been like for if I were

should talk about that," I

nods. "You're worried that killing him will kill me because hasn't accepted my

while Lucas gets food and goes to check on those in the

"You don't need

how it works, Margot, not in my

III

dored L

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my protection. I

day today, when she whipped this pack into shape after the battle. But now, I'm also starting to see

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, it's a good thing, Alpha, a very good thing. You're giving women like me a chance to find a

with me,

"That's why you're an Alpha worthy of the Legend. But if you hesitate and he gets away

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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

for everything," she says 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

her walk away for a moment, then leave the dining hall, noticing that there are still some folks just waking and that the patrols are

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

okay. It's my first report. I just wanted you to have all the information when you

proud of my mate. I quickly

the land of the living,"

and I'm back to fighting

got the report of

say, knowing he'll be feeling the loss of his two

as well," he says

16:58

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

It sounds like Allison just came to sit

to thank you again and see if

haven't heard anything new,

do. Thank you

do the same for me, Hunter, and there may come a

be there," I say,

I call Carter but instead of him

looking

asleep, dear. He had a long day, refused to come home until everything

your mate told you, but she did an

heard. Between you and me, Alpha, she gets that from me,"

Will you let Alpha Carter know that I called and to give me a call when he wakes if there's anything I