The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 185: Beta to Alpha

Lucas

Today is the day. Well, the next two days are the days where I will truly see if I have what it takes to become an Alpha. Hunter has faith in me. Sophie has faith in me. And my mate has faith in me. I can’t let any of them down.

When I’d first walked Alaric’s pack lands, I hadn’t seen the devastation or the amount of time it would take to rebuild what was broken in the pack. What I’d seen was opportunity. The opportunity to make something great out of what Alaric left.

Based on what I’d seen in Owen’s lands, this pack is in better shape overall, but it’s nothing like Hunter’s and Sophie’s pack. And while these pack lands are smaller than Hunter’s, I think I can make something great out of this area. No, I KNOW I can make something great here. A place that is better for the people who used to live here and a place that is better for my son to take over one day when it’s his turn to become an Alpha.

An Alpha. I never thought I’d say that about my son, but once the idea took hold in my head, I couldn’t let it go. If Kins hadn’t agreed with me, if she hadn’t been one hundred percent engaged in this process, I would have walked away. She is too important to me to risk our relationship. I’ve worked way too hard to build what we now have together for me to throw it away for a title. I’m happy as Hunter’s Beta. Hunter’s a good Alpha and I’m a good Beta. The pack respects both of us and it shows.

“You’ve got this, my love. Especially today. Today is the easy day,” Kinsley says, looking at me over her shoulder. I’m wrapped around her in bed, lost in my thoughts, not realizing that she was awake yet.

I kiss her shoulder before taking a deep breath.

“You won’t,” she says, watching me.

“Won’t what?” I ask her, knowing that she must feel it through the bond.

“You won’t disappoint me. You never have.”

“That’s not exactly true,” I say referencing how I claimed her.

“That was different, Lucas. Times were different. This is a chance for us, for our children to be better, to be a part of something better. And that wasn’t disappointment. You, my love, have never disappointed me. You’ve done everything in your power to make this bond between us what it is now.”

continue to be worth it

reminding

as much time as I want because of the competition starting this morning, but by the time we’re showered and headed to breakfast,

see Hunter across the room. He gives me an assessing look, then nods, apparently liking what

Kinsley some food, then get in line to find out where I fall in the order for the first round of competitions. I’m fourth in line to compete with Dutton as my referee. I’ll be taking on one of Kayce’s warriors. Since I have a little bit of time before my first competition, I grab some food and join my mate. Unlike at Jake’ s new pack where there was no other pack adjacent to it, we have access to Amelia’s packhouse and kitchens, so while breakfast is an outdoor affair, it’s hot food with all the normal

Each referee has their own space where the competitors assigned to them will have their battles. There isn’t a time limit, but once

warrior that I’ll be battling. There are more fighters this time, so we expect that it will take two full days before one of us wins our pack. Today will be easier because the

easily even though there are more of them, with those of us who are ranked members eliminating the omegas and warriors that we compete against. The warrior that competed against me was good, but not nearly good enough to become an

hundred and ten of us to compete in the afternoon. I’m farther back this time,

It’s well past dark when the last group finishes

you know where to go. We expect tomorrow’s competitions to last even longer, so even though we have fewer of them, we still expect a full day with the battles taking longer with

into bed, mentally exhausted. I watched other competitions, wanting to see the skill that others had. The Betas, Alpha Calvin, and some

an old school way. I’m not sure if it’s because his pack is segregated from the

win the battle. I’m the same way,

of us are ready to begin battles. Apparently, they offered to let someone compete twice in case there is a tie at the end of the competition. Then the person with the most points wins. I put my name in for an extra battle and I notice that Miles does as well. Alpha Calvin

I’m chosen to have an extra fight during the first round this morning, with Miles getting one later in the day. I’m thankful mine is earlier. Because I’ll be fighting twice, my first battle is moved up, so I have my initial fight

my next competition, going around and watching some of the other battles, keeping an eye on my biggest competitors. Alpha Calvin, Beta Miles, and both Robin’s and Kayce’s Betas move to the next round. Then it’s time for me to

to watch my match, apparently taking

luck. It turns out that I didn’t need it. Caleb is another one that isn’t as good as he thinks he is. However, he doesn’t want to

Alphas’ presence to finally get him to calm down and accept defeat. Like the poor loser he is,

I’m closer to the end of the competition because I battled twice. I still feel good, but now that we’re down to twenty-seven, the battles are definitely lasting

both won twice in our rounds, we’re still at odd numbers and Kayce’s Beta wins the toss for the next person to take an extra battle. While I’m interested in watching his matches, after mine is done, I realize that Miles and Calvin are fighting and most everyone who isn’t fighting is

been going?” I ask her, noticing that Hunter is refereeing