The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 165: Big Softy

Hunter

I’m so thankful that Sophie is willing to go with me to Owen’s pack. I would have left her here, knowing the pack would protect her if Zahn acted like a fool, but I prefer having her near me so that I can protect her and my pup

When she returns from seeing Jocelyn and lets me know that she’s willing to join me, I lead her into the dining hall where I know that Zahn is having breakfast.

“Alpha Zahn,” I say loudly. The room quiets and everyone looks over at us. Zahn stands up.

“Is something wrong, Alpha Hunter? Is it Jocelyn?”

“Jocelyn is fine and recovering well. Sophie just came from the hospital. I wanted to let you know that Sophie and I, along with my Betas, Lucas and Kinsley, will be leaving the pack overnight.”

“Where are you going?” he demands.

“That is not your concern.”

“I came here for you to help Jocelyn, not for you to leave the moment we arrived.”

“You arrived several days ago, Jocelyn has received her first surgery, and she is healing nicely. I wanted to let you know that my Ga**s are in charge, Penny and Jaime.”

Zahn snorts, no doubt because Penny is underage. “I also wanted to let you know, in front of my pack members, that if you go against my G**as, if you try to push yourself into Jocelyn’s space against her will, the pack has my permission to rip you to shreds.”

His face darkens in anger. Brutus and William made sure to leave Zahn bruised when they dragged him back to the packhouse last night.

“You have no right to keep me from my mate,” he growls.

“I have every right if that is her wish and so far, it is.”

“If your pack touches me, it will mean war,” he snarls, trying to threaten me. If his pack is as pitiful in a fight as he is, my pack will barely notice.

“You wouldn’t be the first Alpha to go against me and lose,” I growl, my hand in Sophie’s is the only thing keeping me from getting in Zahn’s face. I watch as the realization of my words hits him. He would know about Elias and Joshua. I’m not sure what he knows about Owen other than he’s dead.

“What the **k am I supposed to do around here if my mate won’t see me?” he asks frustratedly throwing his arms in the air.

can give you access to a computer so you

shaking his head. “I have a

Kinsley step up behind me. “Penny, Jaime, the

two say in

“Ready?” I ask Lucas

Kinsley can carry our bags while she’s on Dario’s

Sophie,” I tell him. Since Ezra is driving, I asked him to bring tents for us to sleep in, just in case the packhouse was destroyed by Joshua. However, I wanted Sophie to have something softer to sleep on, so I’ve rolled a thick blanket up into our bags. It isn’t

we get outside, I put the straps over her body, making sure nothing is pressing against our stomach too tightly and that everything is comfortable. Then I strip and put

presses his nose against her belly, sniffing our pup. He

too, big guy,” she says, through Hedda’s loud purring.

waits while Sophie gets on his back and gets settled. He turns his head to watch her, nuzzling her when she struggles to get on his back. Sometimes I forget that my wolf loves our mates as much as I do, but it’s moments like this that remind me that he

and Hedda are as precious to me as they are to you.

shrug. I know my wolf is tough enough to take down anyone who attacks our pack, but

I’ll manage,’ he purrs, using his face to push Sophie up just enough that she huffs

“Finally! This is ridiculous!”

pup is getting big, baby. It makes it harder for you to move

she grumbles in

‘Ready?’

loud, looking over at

hard for you,” she

Second, I’m carrying a Beta pup, you’re carrying

jog, moving as easily as they can so they don’t jostle our pups. I let Shaw focus on our surroundings, and I keep focused on Sophie, making sure she doesn’t seem

how beautiful it is up

the time to enjoy it, but you’re right, Sophie. It’s gorgeous. Once the packs around us are settled, we really need to start thinking of that community

Lucas and Kinsley and we can all see her ideas. Kinsley begins to

a park with some picnic benches or maybe some swings for

flash through their

to bring our pups as they grow up. Once they get their wolves, they could run around up here. We could cut some trails for them,’ I tell

star-gazing on cooler evenings with the family,’ Lucas adds, sending

with Nikki, Allison, the twins, and Amelia and really determine what we want up here, since this mountain is centrally located to

something up,”

I can see that we’re not the first ones here, which doesn’t surprise me. Some of our pack members who want to compete left earlier this morning so they could look around. Robin, Kayce, Ezra, and I are. planning to put stakes on the borders of the pack lands. Since this pack is like mine, not bordering any other packs, it will be