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.”

and continue to be worth it every

Lucas, by reminding me of how much you love

I want because of the competition starting this morning, but by

see Hunter across the room. He gives me an

get 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

announcement that the battles will begin in thirty minutes, everyone begins making their way over to the vacant pack. Each referee has their own space where the competitors

one of us wins

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

one hundred and ten of us to compete in the afternoon. I’m farther back this time, competing against one of Robin’s warriors with Ezra

take longer as everyone in this round has already competed once and won. It’s well past dark when the last

tomorrow morning. Get your assignments and your refs so you know where to go. We expect tomorrow’s competitions to last even longer, so even though we have fewer

Calvin, and some Gammas will be my biggest

strongest competition. Normally, I’d think it would be an Alpha, but Calvin fights in an old school way. I’m not sure if it’s because his pack is segregated from the others and he hasn’t had a chance to learn other fighting techniques, but he seems limited and consistent in his fighting. He’s strong which is to his benefit, but his technique isn’t as varied as some of the

smart fighter, willing to take a hit to win the battle. I’m the same way, so

of the competition. Then the person with the most points

and Miles and I both get chosen to take 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 twice, my first battle

Amelia’s Gamma, I’ll have to shift to a 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 come to watch my

he thinks he 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

down and accept defeat. Like the poor loser he is, he doesn’t shake hands with

able to start the next round before lunch. This time, 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 longer. This round, Miles takes the extra match, and he wins

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

long have they been going?” I ask her,