The One He Claimed by Cooper

. Time with Sephim

Chapter 94: Time with Sophie Hunter

I was surprised when Sophie told me that Brooklyn wanted to be at Owen's execution. It's yet another reminder that I should never underestimate anyone, not even my omegas. Brooklyn had found a way to awaken all the women who lost. their mates. After seeing that it worked for the first one, we started bringing the pups to see their mothers. Some woke faster than others, but now, they've all woken, including Leah. Sophie and I made a point to see them all, checking on them and making sure that they don't need anything from us or the pack. It's not uncommon for those who have lost their mates to want to leave the packhouse, finding the cheerful, boisterous atmosphere too much to bear, and these women were no different. I let Sophie and Kinsley handle the move for the families out of the packhouse and into their own homes. My mate, in all her intuitive genius, decided to move them all close together. It not only allows them to continue to have other pack members close, but it also gives them a sense of security. Now, Leah and Brooklyn aren't alone on the outskirts of the pack.

When Ezra arrived with Owen, I was thrilled that he asked about reaffirming our alliance. He's pulled away from me since my sister's death, but now, hopefully, he's coming back.

Of course, all that goes out the window when he realizes that Margot is his second chance mate. He's been waiting a long time for the possibility of a second chance mate, whereas Margot only rejected her mate a week ago. Understandably, her

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response to finding out that she has a second chance mate was considerably different than his.

When I pulled Ezra into my office, he sat down, putting his head in his hands. I'd given him glass of whiskey and he'd shot it back.

"Why now? Why her?" he asks me.

"I don't have those answers," I say refilling his glass and handing it to him. This time, he sips it, sitting back.

"She smells like jasmine," he says, as sit beside him. He turns and looks at me, his eyes haunted. "Your sister planted jasmine all over my pack lands. I'd never smelled it before then, but I've come to love that smell. And now Margot smells like jasmine."

He closes his eyes and I see the pain written all over his face. "I feel like your sister did this for me. I know that sounds crazy, but I'm here, in your pack, her old pack. Margot smells like the jasmine that Diana planted in my pack. It's too coincidental, don't you think?"

"It does sound that way. Who knows how these things work, or why some get a second chance mate, and some don't," I say, taking a sip of whiskey. "You know she'll try to reject you."

"I do. Joshua is an a**ole who never treated her well. Her father wasn't any better. All I can hope is that she gives me a chance."

"What are you going to do?" I ask him.

"I'm going to ask you if I can stay for a while and get to know my new mate, give her a chance to get to know me." 17:04

"You know you're always welcome here. But I will not allow you to forcibly mark her and definitely not publicly," I tell him.

He laughs humorlessly. "Trust me, I learned my lesson the first. time. I have no intention of losing another mate."

It isn't long before I hear a soft knocking on the door and smell Sophie's orchid scent.

As soon as he sees her, Ezra jumps up. "How

as I'm sure you

was mated to someone else. Now she's here, rejected her mate, and found her second chance mate,

but she didn't allow herself to show it for long. She's... she's quite a strong woman," Sophie says and something about the way she says it, has me pulling her into my

of her head, trying to understand the emotions. going on

you okay?" I

sighing and

Ezra probably won't want that, but my mate seems to need to be

you two talk. Margot has gone to her room. She's planning to

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17:04

bophi

Alpha Ezra," Sophie says to

she needs," he says, finishing off his drink. "I should probably go to my room. I could use a little

setting his empty glass on the

for letting me stay. I will not betray your trust by doing anything with Margot. I just want to get to know

have some time now that you'll be here a few

"I'll see you then."

I spend some time talking to Sophie about

to fall so easily, to transform her from a

He either expected her to hide her emotions or...he made it easier for her to hide them than suffer his response to them," I say carefully, wanting to shield my mate from the

when she got out

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17:04

her in one thinking that she would be

can't blame yourself. We were under

Margot. Something that she'll hopefully be able to work through with time and maybe, if she allows

rest of the afternoon off and spend it with my mate. We've been working hard, and the pack has been

taken time to just hear about her day. Over dinner, I stay quiet, letting

up with our pack?" she asks

here," I say, pushing the food aside and beginning to prowl toward

what does it say about you, Alpha, that you're mated to

her