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.”

worth it every day,”

by reminding me of how much you love me,”

able to take as much time as I want because of the competition starting this morning, but by the time

me

Since I have a little bit of time before my first competition,

has their own

we expect that it will take two full days before one of us wins our pack. Today will be easier because the rounds will take so long, and we’ll have plenty of time to rest

expected, these rounds go more quickly and 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

when the first rounds are complete, leaving one hundred and ten of us to compete in the afternoon. I’m farther back this time, competing against one

already competed once and won. It’s well past dark when the last

go. We expect tomorrow’s competitions to last even

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

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

fighting approach. He’s a smart fighter, willing to take a hit to win the battle. I’m the same way, so if I end up

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

those on. 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

different referee. I get a couple of hours rest, before 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

notice the other Betas come to watch my match, apparently taking in

is. However, he doesn’t want to give in, even after I’ve obviously defeated him. I take him down two more times before Alpha Robin calls it. Caleb becomes irate, screaming that Robin is cheating and that the entire thing is

the poor loser he is, he doesn’t shake hands with me,

I’m closer to the end of the competition because I battled twice. I still feel good, but now that we’re down to

watching his matches, after mine is done, I realize that Miles and

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