The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 139: Checking In Sophie

We had an early G**a ceremony, earlier than usual as something like that would usually have a celebration that would extend well into the night and early morning. However, since we all have to leave around 2am, Penny and Jaime's G**a ceremony was a bit muted. Hunter promised that we could have a real celebration after Alaric had been dealt with.

I was proud of our pack. As stressed as everyone is, they embraced Penny as their G**a, knowing that she's underage. They also embraced Jaime and when I asked Hunter about it, he said it was his fighting skill.

"He's really good, Soph. Like, really good. I can see why his previous Alpha felt intimidated by him. If he is anything like Aiden or Owen, Jaime would have had no problem defeating him for their Alpha title." "How do Alphas like that stay in power? If they aren't strong, if they can't defeat every member of their pack, how to they remain the leaders?"

"The short answer is that they kill their competitors or threaten their families. Fear and intimidation don't make a strong pack, but it makes a dutiful one."

"Dutiful. What a c**y word. Do you think anyone in our pack feels like it's their duty to submit to any of us?" I ask him.

Chapter 139 Checking in.

He smiles at me. "Why don't ask them?"

And I did. I got up on the stage where Penny and Jaime had so recently taken their vows as our G**as, I stopped the party and asked our pack if they felt that their allegiance to me and Hunter was because of duty rather than choice.

"Um, excuse me, Luna, but what are you asking? It is our duty to submit to you. I think I speak for the entire pack when I say that we all willingly fulfill that duty, but it is a duty. That's how a pack runs. There's a hierarchy and we all have our place, a duty to the pack," Lucas says, frowning at me.

told her it was based on fear and intimidation, and she was worried that some or all of you might feel that way about us," Hunter explained, much better than I did. Immediately the entire pack, even the ones who hadn't chosen to join our pack yet, began to speak at once about how different our pack was and how happy they were to be a part of our pack. "It's our choice, Luna. And I won't lie and say that choice was always easy. You and Alpha Hunter keep us on our toes by constantly pushing the old ways out and by protecting those who are running from the mistreatment of other packs. But that just makes me prouder to be a part of this pack. I respect every one of you as

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as a

only made you stronger together, and I'm proud to have been able to accept all of yr as my leaders tonight" Dr Caspian says The others murmur their agreement, making me feel more settled. "I know it hasn't always been easy, and i want all of you to know how much your love and support means to me and to Hunter. Thank you for being such an

our pack 'in dready so amazing, but everyone was up

make sure Sophie gets to Amelia's pack lands. You two suppo her pack members in the push from the

back. Amelia will do what she feels she must, but you have nothing to prove, Soph. The only reason you're going is so you

I'm putting my entire life into your hands, I don't have to tell you how important that is,” he

two of them concerned that this

won't let you down," they both

Chapter 139: Checking In

when he shifted, I got on his back, and he howled our exit from the pack. Our warriors had

his arms. "Sophie, I know you'll want to fight, but please, for me, don't. Let me do this. I need you safe. I need our pup safe. I know it goes against everything inside of you to stand in the

my mate. I know that he won't be able to focus on getting Alaric if he's worried about me. I can't lose him any more. than he can lose me, so I wrap my arms around him and give him

Not unless I have to.

me hard and fast. "Take