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.

you access to a computer so you can work. That’s what

his head. “I have

say, as Lucas and Kinsley step up behind me. “Penny, Jaime, the pack

Alpha,” the two

“Ready?” I ask Lucas

that Kinsley

do the same with 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

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 my clothes in the bag before letting Shaw pull the shift. As soon

fur. Hedda begins purring loudly as Shaw presses his nose against her belly, sniffing our pup. He rubs his face over her stomach, scenting her and

through Hedda’s loud purring. I can hear pack

on his back. Sometimes I forget that my wolf loves our mates as much as I

Hedda are as precious to me as they are to you. And our

face and feel Shaw m**lly shrug. I know my wolf is tough enough to take down anyone who attacks our pack,

his face to push Sophie up

“Finally! This is ridiculous!”

getting big, baby. It makes

grumbles in

‘Ready?’

out loud, looking over at

that hard for you,” she

behind you, Sophie. Second, I’m carrying a Beta pup, you’re carrying an Alpha

at a slow 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 too uncomfortable or starts to bounce too much. About halfway, we stop. We’re higher on the mountain, and it’s a

forget how beautiful it is up here,”

Sophie. It’s gorgeous. Once the packs around us are settled, we really need to start thinking of that community area where all the packs can bring their families to

Sophie says. She opens up the mind link to Lucas and Kinsley and we can all see her ideas. Kinsley

picnic benches or maybe some

through their minds

love that idea. I love that we’d have a place to bring our pups as they grow up. Once they get their wolves, they could

on cooler evenings with the family,’ Lucas adds, sending more

we want up here, since this mountain is centrally

something up,” Sophie

the backside of the mountain toward Owen’s pack. 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