The One He Claimed by Cooper

Calvin

I've been miserable ever since the day I mentioned taking over Amelia's parents' pack. Why had said it out loud? It had just occurred to me that she is the heir and that the pack shouldn't go to someone else. If I'd been smarter, I'd have paid more attention to Hunter's response, but I hadn't been thinking. I'm not even sure what happened. One moment I was saying that Amelia is the rightful heir to the pack and the next moment she's renouncing me as her Alpha and taking over her pack.

If I'm being honest, I didn't think she'd last a day.

But then, she'd refused to take my calls, refused to answer my texts. I knew she was alive because our mate bond was still intact and I'd felt her struggles, even from the long distance. After a week, I couldn't take it any longer.

I intended to walk into the pack, tell her I was sorry, that we'd figure it out, and I'd take her home. I drove all night, anxious to see her, to be with her, to feel my daughter moving inside her stomach. But instead, I'd arrived, just as they were returning from killing Alaric. My mate, my sweet, gentle mate, had been walking back with armor on, holding Alaric's head in one hand and helping one of her injured warriors with the other. She'd looked so much like a f**ng Amazon returning from battle that I'd felt pride and lust flare inside me, followed very closely by terror that I could have lost her and my daughter, and I would

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have had no f***g clue what happened.

The moment she'd looked up at me, all that had wiped away. The hurt, the distrust, the anger was all right there in her eyes. The anger I expected. The distrust and hurt were painful to see. And if that wasn't enough, when I asked about her not

contacting me, her mate, to help her, she said she didn't need

me.

She didn't need me? Who the f****k is this woman?

I'm furious with Hunter and Dutton. Either one of them could have given me a courtesy call to let me know they were going to war with my mate. But they hadn't and that, more than anything, gives me pause. They hadn't contacted me because they knew that they would win. They knew that in the battle with the three of them, one a pregnant she-wolf, they would win. She was right, she hadn't needed me, not for the battle at least. But when I carried her to the shower, I realized that she's wrong. She does need me.

She's exhausted, the heavy responsibility of being an Alpha weighing on her. She wasn't raised to carry this burden, but she's taken it on completely, even after renouncing me, even while carrying my pup, and the toll of that weight comes crashing down on her when I pull her into my arms, telling her how sorry I

am.

I hold her as closely as our daughter will allow, rubbing her back in the way I know she likes and kissing the top of her head while she cries in the shower. Her stomach seems to have gotten larger in the short time that I've been gone. How could I have missed so much in such a short time?

'Maybe it's not the short-term that you've missed. Maybe you've

<

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Novak, my wolf says, mournfully watching our mate

she steps back, I feel her pulling

need sleep, Amelia," I say, as she

33

when the pack is settled. I still have

armies and signing alliance agreements is important. But so is your health and the

her eyes and looks at me. "If you

trying

a nap while others manage

that look, but it's never been directed at me. Now, I find that I don't like being on the receiving end of her stubbornness. "How long?" I ask, gritting my teeth. She

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swallow my frustration and my pride. This pack needs their Alpha, and if Amelia is determined to be as good an Alpha as she is a

off and gets dressed, looking every bit the powerful Alpha that I'm quickly learning that she is. She pulls her

in the mirror. "Just

always this strong, Amelia?" I ask her, in awe and also in shock at

me.

moment, before diverting her gaze while putting the makeup

choice. Losing or quitting wasn't an option. I couldn't do that to my parents, and I couldn't do it to

more like Sophie than you realize," I tell her, knowing

choices. She's always followed her own path. My choices were always forced upon me, but not anymore. Now I make my own decisions, and I'll decide

intend for that life to include me?" I ask, terrified

answer.

again before turning to look me in

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"I

until the birth of our daughter before she makes her decision. If she decides

thought to our

she says, as she begins

share?" I growl. I feel like she's pushing me completely out of her life, and I don't

didn't care what our daughter's name was going to be. Isn't that what you said? Didn't you basically imply

OUR pack and she's MY daughter too. Yes, I care, but I thought you might want to

she says, practically daring me

of Wisdom or the Queen

are powerful women in mythology. My daughter will be a strong, powerful woman. I will make sure of it," she insists,