The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 148: Friends Hunter

My announcement that the Alphas are opening up the four available packs for competition has spread like wildflower through the pack. I can barely go three steps now without someone asking me questions about it. I'm glad they're excited and I hope they won't be disappointed if they don't win. It's good to be excited in the competition itself.

"So, what about Beta and Ga***a positions?" one of the warriors asks me after training. Lucas was right about Jaime. He's a powerhouse when it comes to training and pushing our pack members to fight hard. With the upcoming competitions, everyone has shut their mouth about how hard training is and they're all pushing themselves and each other harder.

"That will be up to the new Alphas, but it makes sense to me that they'd want to open those positions as well," I say.

Even Lucas has been sparring with me every day. It's fine because Sophie agreed that she's too far along to spar, thankfully, so I can spend my time with Lucas and anyone else that wants to try and go against an Alpha. Of course, if they can't defeat Penny or Jaime, they usually don't try to spar against Lucas or I. He and I spend an extra 30 minutes every day focusing solely on his training with Jaime watching and directing him, and sometimes me as well. Most of the warriors stay to watch and everyone can see that Lucas is getting stronger and faster. Each day it becomes harder and harder for me to defeat my Beta, which only solidifies to me that he'll win

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his pack. I don't know what the other Alphas are doing to strengthen their pack members for the competition, but here, all of my warriors are getting stronger, and Lucas is fighting at Alpha strength now. Today, as we walk inside, everyone congratulates Lucas on getting a draw. Neither of us could pin the other.

"Nice job, Lucas," I say as we walk inside. "I do want to talk to you about something after breakfast, though."

"Aren't the other Alphas and Lunas coming today?" he asks.

"They are and once Zahn and Jocelyn arrive tomorrow, I doubt I'll have much time to discuss things like I want to discuss today."

We find our mates, and both pull them into our laps, one hand resting on our mates' stomachs and the other eating while they chatter happily about seeing Allison and Nikki again. "What time are they arriving again, Hunter?" Sophie asks me. She's asked me several times and I'm not sure if it's her

excitement, her focus and nervousness because of Jocelyn coming, or possibly her pregnancy that's keeping her from being able to focus.

"Lunchtime. So eat up, in case they're running late," I tell her.

"No way they'll be running late. Both of those Alphas will want their mates to eat too," Kinsley says knowingly.

"Very true. Kayce seems exceptionally overbearing, at least by Allison's response to him," Sophie says.

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"You don't think I'm overbearing? I ask her.

"You, my love, find ways to be overbearing that don't FEEL overbearing. It's not that I don't know what you're doing but you do it in a way to make it easier for me to deal with."

I smile at that. It's true that I'm constantly in her head now, more present than I was before. The closer she gets to her delivery, the more I'll do that, but I'm glad that she doesn't find it suffocating. Much like Kayce, I'm not sure I could stop.

When we finish breakfast, I meet with Lucas in my office. "What do you think of me promoting Penny and Jaime to Betas when you win your pack?" I ask him with no preamble.

He stops, staring at me. "You think I'm going to win a pack?"

"I know you are and if you don't, then I'm doing something wrong."

"It's just..." he frowns, sitting down. "It feels so final when you start talking about my replacement."

I smile and go to sit next to my Beta. "I do hope you'll choose a pack closer to us. I'd like our sons to grow up together and be friends," I tell him. "Did you and Kinsley talk about Sophie's idea?" "Yeah. Honestly, I like the idea of Alaric's pack. I like knowing that I'll be close to this pack, but also close to Amelia and Dutton, two people I feel strongly that I can trust."

so Jaime and

his face. "Is Jaime not competing

Chapter 148: Friends

He'd be great. He's a

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if that's coming from him or from Penny. But if they decide not to compete, I want to make

anyone taking my place as your Beta, but if

still be at my side, Lucas, just as my ally, not my

first alliance agreement

we don't have to worry about it for a while. Owen's pack is going up first, but Alaric's will probably be second. Watch Penny and Jaime over the next few weeks and let me know your thoughts." "I already know. If you don't promote them, I will once I'm Alpha," he

announcement that our guests have arrived. I go to Sophie's office to get her and together

my mate's excited energy pinging through

to explode,

can't help it, I'm so excited

Robin's car comes to a stop,

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Chapter 148: Friends

in warning. Nikki ignores him and Sophie. rushes down the stairs to hug her

Sophie. Look at your cute little baby bump!" Nikki says, as they hug

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bump isn't as pronounced as Sophie's but it's there,

little girl?" Allison asks,

Sophie says as I go to say hello to Robin and Kayce. "Maybe he was just

having a girl?"

pretty sure I'll be

words and smiles lovingly at her mate. He purrs at her as we watch the three of them

have times set up to see your doctor today?" Robin

after lunch," I

joined the group of females who are saying hello

It's like a second home," Nikki

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smiling back at us.

pack feels even stronger than it did

the overall pack, but we brought on Penny as our Ga***a and her mate Jaime who helped Sophie while she was on the run. Penny isn't yet 18, she's got a couple more weeks to go, but she and Jaime have already taken over

anticipate losing Lucas and Kinsley?" Robin

go for Alaric's pack, so I

is going to compete,"

Letti is going

haven't seen her

and yours but didn't find them in either place. I know she was hoping, like we all do, to find her mate right away, but who knows, maybe being part of this

our mates together more often," I say, watching how they keep hugging, wiping their eyes, and smiling so broadly.

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them set up play dates or something. It would be good for our pups to grow up together," Robin says "Yeah, we're all close enough to stay in touch. And whoever takes over Owen's pack, if they're decent, can be included in that," Kayce

mountain. Open it up to Dutton and Amelia's packs as well

know our mates will too. So, do we get to test your Beta while we're here?" Robin