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.

got to see what it would have been like for

talk about that," I say

nods. "You're worried that killing him will kill me because

say, getting food and going to sit with Margot while Lucas gets food and

plate. "You don't

not in

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dored L

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for my protection. I take that

this pack into shape after the battle. But now, I'm also starting to see why you are mated to a woman such as that. The two of you are very strong, but you don't have to prove your strength, you can let

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

with me, Margot," I

Alpha worthy of the Legend. But if you hesitate and he gets away and

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need to get back to the pack hospital. I'm helping the nurses there with some of

Alpha, for everything," she says walking away. It feels so much like a goodbye that it takes everything in me to let her walk away.

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

Kayce started, and Sophie finished for me, with a little note

my first report. I just wanted you to

my mate. I quickly look

the land of the

back to fighting strength. What did I

report

loss of his two pack members

their mates as well," he

16:58

hear that," I say, and I hear movement

sounds like

won't keep you. I just wanted to thank you again and see if

heard anything new, but you

Thank you

me, Hunter, and there

be there," I

Carter but instead of him

was looking

come home until everything was settled

she did an

you and me, Alpha, she gets that from me," she says

called and to give me a call when he wakes