The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 183: Talking to Amelia

Hunter

Sophie is trying very hard to manage her jealousy and she’s doing an amazing job at it. I’m reinforcing her positive behavior with her sister because I know she’s struggling. I can’t hide my admiration for Amelia. I cannot imagine that if I was a new Alpha and a new mother or even a new father, that I would be able to balance everything the way that she is. But as I told Sophie, I can admire the woman and not want her in my bed. What I am realizing is that Amelia is more like Sophie than thought. And apparently, Jocelyn has picked up on that as well.

The two of them hit it quickly. I haven’t spent a ton of time with Jocelyn, letting Sophie take the lead there, but the difference in her from when she arrived in our pack to now is significant. There’s a confidence there that I wasn’t there before, and I don’t think it’s solely because she’s getting her body and her mobility back. I think it’s because she’s away from Zahn. I’ll never understand a man who thinks that keeping his mate down makes him stronger. I know from experience that the stronger my mate is, the stronger I am as a man and as an Alpha.

I feel a wave of desire roll through Sophie and I turn to look at my mate. She’s looking at me assessingly and I smile at her.

“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

“I’d never thought that seeing a man holding a baby would be sexy. But seeing MY man holding a baby and thinking about him holding MY pup in the near future…”

I growl softly as her thoughts move to us making more babies.

“You’re right, it’s a good thing we have space on that wall Hunter. You may have to build me another packhouse before I’ m done having your pups,” she purrs, loudly enough that others glance our way.

We’re sitting in the general area of the packhouse, holding Athena while Amelia gives Jocelyn a tour of the pack. Today is a relaxed day for us before the chaos of tomorrow begins. I’m also planning to take some time to talk to Amelia about the trial and what she can expect. But before that, I need to calm my mate so she doesn’t go scenting the entire packhouse.

I take her chin in my hand and lean in, taking her mouth in a dominating, possessive kiss, she responds instantly, but I don’t let up until I feel her body relax into submission. It’s not something I do often with my mate, not wanting or needing her submission, but right now, her emotions are all over the place.

When I pull back, I look at her. “Better?”

“Better.”

“We need to reconsider you coming back here next week, Sophie. You’re getting very close to delivering our pup and you know there will be a lot of she-wolves in the competition. You can’t go off on them because you’re feeling jealous.”

“I want to be there, Hunter. You’ll help me, right? What if I go into labor and you’re not there?” she asks, and I feel the worry that she’d be alone during our son’s birth flow through the bond.

“You’re not delivering our pup without me by your side. Let’s see how things go this week,” I tell her. Maybe I can talk to Nikki and Allison, even ask Margot to keep an eye on her. I don’t want to leave her overnight when she’s this far along any more than she wants me gone, but with Lucas competing and Calvin apparently planning to compete, it’s going to be a weird competition.

return, Dr. Caspian and Brooklyn are with them. Amelia takes a now fussy Athena and once again begins nursing her as she continues to go about her

my pup is ready

sure that one of us is in your

with a baby in her arms. While I know that I look forward to the day when I can hold my son and carry him around the pack with me, I also know there will be times that I’ll be glad to pass him off to Sophie so I can focus. Amelia doesn’t have that option,

right Sophie, she does look like a warrior Alpha, like the Amazons of old. Your sister is as impressive as you are.

were,” Sophie says

Jocelyn does the same as she’s still recovering from her surgeries. While they rest, I spend time working with Amelia, talking about what to expect with the trial, that we have Jake presiding as our newest Alpha, and that we’d like her, as one of the

here and rather than having everyone go somewhere else, we could have Zahn brought here,” she

stare at her a moment. “That’s

“When you’re as busy and overwhelmed as I am, you

going for you?”

and I see the tears welling in

than others,”

worth, I think

up at me. “Thank you. Jocelyn basically said

this pack, unexpectedly taking over, become a leader, separated from your mate, had a pup, created alliances, and the overall feel of the : pack is settled. Although, you know you have a problem with your Gamma,

him out of mine. On the other, I prefer him in a position where I can strip his rank

is great, but he’s past retirement age. Caleb is a festering sore that’s going to explode at some point in the future and cause nothing but problems for you. You need people around you that you can trust and that are strong enough to support

not sure how long these competitions will continue, but let’s just say it’s three months. No one is going to accept a Beta or Gamma position while they have

have no doubt that you’d be able to defeat him, but I’d

the warning. I’ll

out back and watch the pups play while she sips her tea. That night, I remind

been together so much recently. And Nikki, being Nikki,

Make the rest of us look bad why don’t

you mean?” Amelia asks, once again nursing Athena while she greets her

here you are, toting your newborn around, nursing her while you

have been here to greet you,” Amelia tells