The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 190: Saying Goodbye

Hunter

Last night was bittersweet. I’m truly happy for my friends and what they’ve accomplished, but **n it hurts to know that I won’t have Lucas by my side every day any longer.

I convinced Lucas to join me for one more training session. I get up early, letting Sophie sleep. I know today is going to be a difficult day for her too. She and Kinsley have gotten very close, but hopefully, the bonds we created here will continue. And while we’ll see them less, the times we do see them will be that much more special.

When I walk out onto the training field, Jaime is already at the front of the group, Lucas standing beside him.

“Get used to Hunter being late to training,” Lucas says good naturedly to Jaime, making the warriors chuckle.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. In the last two days since you’ve been gone, he’s beat me to training,” Jaime says, giving it right back.

“Spoken like my new Beta!” I say. “Come on, Lucas. You’re with me today.” I say as my warriors grumble that they don’t get a last chance to spar with him.

It’s a great sparring match and I know that Lucas is ready to take his place as an Alpha. When we’re done, he rubs his side and smirks at me. “D**n, you really are upset that I’m taking a handful of your pack members, aren’t you?”

“You could have given me some warning,” I grumble.

“Where’s the fun in that?” he says, chuckling as we walk inside. I refocus my attention on Sophie, and I feel her overwhelmed with her emotions.

“I need to go find my mate,” I say, all joking gone.

“So do I. Today will be…”

“Tough. Yeah, it will,” I say before jogging upstairs to find Sophie in the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, crying.

When I walk in, she looks up at me with tears streaming down her face. “I’m going to miss them so much.”

I scoop her up, and gently carry her into the room, sitting on our loveseat and snuggling my mate against me.

was sparring with Lucas this morning,”

“How did

emotions are getting

we’ll see them again

hospital as we’re having our pups checked. It won’t be the same, but we will see them and once the community area

scent as I hold her in my lap, rubbing my hands over

she’s settled, I carry her into the bathroom, and we shower together. I wash her hair

surrounded by pack members all wanting to speak with them before they leave. I can tell that Kinsley is struggling just as much as Sophie is, maybe more since she’ll be leaving most of these people behind to start their

while she and Kinsley talk to the pack members. I can feel Sophie struggling not to cry, mingled with laughter as the pack continues to reminisce about funny things that have

go, knowing that Lucas needs help loading their things. It’s

like much, does

looks like the start of a new life,” I

turns and looks at me, and I see the same emotion

going to miss you brother,” he says,

going to

inside and get our mates, Sophie and I standing aside while they say goodbye

walk over to Brutus and shake his hand. “I know you’ll be a great Beta for Lucas but

didn’t…I didn’t realize it would

helps that Brooklyn will be there soon for Luna Kinsley’s delivery, but…I’ll

always come visit,” I tell him. “You too, Leah,” I say as she walks up, having said goodbye to her

Alpha. I’m sure I’ll want to come back a

“You’re always welcome.”

a whole

terrified. What if I screw

you’ll do it more than once. Just make sure your screw ups don’t cost anyone their

“Thank you, Alpha!

to say their goodbyes, both still crying. Lucas and I walk