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.

Lucas this morning,” I say, kissing the top

nods. “How did

like he was made to be an Alpha,” I say, not sure if Sophie’s emotions

know we’ll see them again

having our pups checked. It won’t be the same, but we will

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

the bathroom, and we shower together. I wash her hair

by pack members all wanting to speak with them before they leave. I can tell that Kinsley is struggling

she and Kinsley talk to the pack members.

that Lucas needs help loading their things. It’s late morning before

much,

looks like the start of a new life,”

and I see the same emotion in his eyes that I feel

to miss you brother,” he says, and

going to miss you

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

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

didn’t realize it

helps that Brooklyn will be there soon for Luna Kinsley’s

“You too, Leah,” I

sure I’ll want to come back a lot to see

“You’re always welcome.”

Chloe. “This is a whole new opportunity for you Beth. Are you ready

I’m terrified. What if I screw up?”

up and you’ll do it more than once. Just make sure your screw ups don’t cost anyone their life or put the pack at risk. Then

“Thank you, Alpha!

both still crying. Lucas and I walk up to them, wrapping our arms around our mates much like we did when