The One He Claimed

The One 27

Chapter 27: Return to the Pack Hunter Now that our bond is complete, I can feel Sophie’s emotions, I can feel the weight of what she is taking on as her responsibility. It’s not her responsibility to bear, and the responsibility that we will be taking on isn’t hers alone. We are in this together. But we will have a steep, difficult mountain to climb. I stare into her eyes, pouring my strength and my determination. into her until she finally nods. I know she’s been away for two years, and a lot has happened and changed since that time. Her being the face, or at least the name, of the revolution is going to make those who are against the change in the claiming process push that much harder against us. “We will fight,” she says. “Yes. WE will,” I confirm. I hold her face in my hands until I feel her calm, until she takes a deep breath, and her body relaxes. “You are not alone anymore, Sophie. And while we do have our work cut out for us, there will be positives,” I say, stroking my hands down her arms. “Like seeing my family again,” she says. “Yes. And now, we’ll make our stand. Anyone who doesn’t agree can leave our pack. Once it’s cleared and only those who agree 1651 Chapter 27: Return to the Pack with eliminating public claimings remain, we can open our borders to all the she-wolves who are running.” She gasps, grabbing onto my arm. “But Hunter, don’t you think. that means that the packs will join together and fight against us? We’d never be able to withstand that type of attack.” “Yes, there will be battles. Yes, there will be fighting. But the first thing we are going to do, before we announce that our borders are open to all she-wolves on the run, is to find out who is on our side

and who will stand with us. Like I said, many packs stood beside your father. I believe that some good Alphas, Alphas like Alpha Kayce and Alpha Dutton who haven’t found their mates yet, may have lost their fated mates to the Alphas who are hunting the she-wolves. I think, once we explain to them that we could potentially provide a safe refuge for their mates, fated, second-chance, or chosen, that they will side with us. I don’t think it has occurred to them that some of these Alphas hunting their mates have taken more than one mate. Even if the first was their fated mate, the second one surely wasn’t.” “You’ve thought a lot about this,” she says, leaning into me. I can feel her respect and admiration for me through the bond. It makes me feel proud to be her mate. I lean forward and nuzzle my nose against hers. “I know we need to head back. I know we need to leave this place. But I’m also resistant. I know once we leave, reality will set in and like you said, we’ll have battle after battle on our hands. I’ve loved every minute of our time here together and I hope, someday, we can come back here,and remember our night together. Until then, will you stand with me, beside me, as my Luna and partner in life?” 16 51 M Chapter 27: Return to the Pack 288 doumers Now it’s her turn to take my face in her hands. “I’m not sure I could love you any more than I already do, Hunter Reynolds. I will be proud to stand beside you to call you my Alpha, and my mate.” I take her mouth in a passionate kiss, one that provides the promise of a life to come, a life where we are happy together. A new beginning for the mating of ranked wolves. She begins whimpering, pressing against me. I reach down and grab her thighs wrapping her legs around me. I can smell her arousal and I sit her on the edge of the stone table, pulling back just enough to look at her. “Once more before we go. I need to be inside you,” I say to her. “Yes,” she breathes, guiding me to her entrance, as greedy for me as I am for her. It’s beautiful the way she wants me, her confidence that I want her and that she is safe with me. I watch her beautiful face as I thrust into her, watching her come undone for me once, twice, and then

a third time before I empty myself inside her. I kiss her again, letting her feel my love for her in the kiss, opening my mind and heart to her. When I smell her arousal s**e again, I pull away from her. “No more, witch. At least not for now,” I say laughing and pulling. away from her before I do take her again. “Does Shaw agree with that?” she asks, her voice deeper. I’m about to answer when Shaw pushes forward. “Absolutely not. We have an hours run back to the pack. I’m 16.51 Chapter 27 Return to the Pack pretty sure I can catch my little mate several times on that run, and when I do, I’ll make you mine.” Sophie, or maybe it’s Hedda, shivers in anticipation. I quickly look around, cleaning up the dishes from last night, knowing Kinsley will be by here today to clean it up. Once that’s done, I walk out the front entrance, ahead of Sophie, making sure there are no Alphas lingering in the area. When I ensure that the coast. is clear and my mate is safe, I step aside and watch while she shifts. This time, I take my time looking over Hedda’s body. I stroke my fingers through her fur, feeling her body shiver at my touch. “You are beautiful, Hedda,” Shaw says to her. She preens at the praise. After we’ve circled her body, looking her over, he returns to stand in front of her. “The pack is that direction. Now, run. Escape me if you think you can my little mate,” he says, and she yips excitedly, taking off toward the pack. ‘You’re giving her a head start?’ I ask Shaw. ‘I’ll catch her,’ he says confidently pulling the shift and howling his hunt of his mate. I’m thankful that no answering howls go up around us. I’d be concerned if there were other Alphas out hunting nearby. However, Owen is the first I’ve seen in this area. Shaw catches up to Hedda quickly, whether it’s his speed or her willingness to be caught I’m not sure. Either way, he leaps onto her back, careful not to hurt her, while pinning her to the ground and mating her, marking her in wolf form, and sealing their

1651 bond. She purrs her pleasure while they mate and when he lets her up, she races off again, only to be captured by Shaw again. and again. It takes us nearly two hours to reach the pack, and as we get close, I shift back, letting Sophie know that we need to slow down. Before we get to the borders, I mind link Kinsley. ‘Alpha?’ ‘Kinsley, can you bring one of my shirts and two pairs of shorts to the eastern border?’ ‘I’ll be right there, Alpha,’ she says. From where we’re standing, I point out the patrols to Sophie, showing her the borders on this side of our pack. “Where is the packhouse from here?” she asks. “More to the center of the pack. You can’t see it from here. We’ll have to secure these borders now, but from here, I can see where we have gaps that need to be filled.” I’m surprised when Sophie also identifies areas where we should increase our patrols. I pull her to me and keep my arms wrapped around her as we talk and look over our pack. When Kinsley arrives, she hands the shirt and a pair of shorts to Sophie, giving the second pair of shorts to me. “Welcome to our pack, Luna,” she says, showing Sophie her throat. “Beta Kinsley, I’m counting on you and I becoming good friends. From what Hunter has told me, we have a lot of work to do if to the Pack we’re going to make the changes that we need to make.” She looks over at me as I mind link Lucas to join us. I want to present a unified front. “You’re really going to do it? You’re going up against all the packs?” Kinsley asks. “I’m-hoping it’s not all of the packs, but yes. I have my mate. I will not tolerate any disrespect to her, and I refuse to claim her publicly and share her. It’s time to make our stand Kinsley, not just by giving food to those on the run but providing them a safe refuge from harm.” I watch as tears fill her eyes, and she huffs out a breath before -turning to Sophie. “I would be proud to stand by your side and

fight alongside you, Sophie Meyers.” “I would like that, but I’m Sophie Reynolds now.” She smiles, ducking her head, just as her mate joins us. “Yes, you are.” “So, your Little Sophie Meyers?” he says. I growl softly. “She’s Luna Sophie Reynolds now.” “Of course, my apologies Luna. I meant no disrespect,” he says, showing her his throat before turning to me. “Sophie, meet my Beta, Lucas, This is Kinsley’s mate.” “It’s nice to meet you, Beta, Lucas.” “How do you want to do this?” Lucas asks, turning back to me. 16:51 288 Wouchers. “This is my pack,” I say, reaching over to take Sophie’s hand. “This is my mate. This is the pack’s Luna. They accept it or they leave,” I tell him. He nods and I can feel his concern that most of the pack will leave. “We will present a unified front. You said you were with me. Have you changed your mind?” I ask him, and Kinsley frowns at him. “No, I haven’t. I just…..we’re going to lose a lot of pack members,” he says. “So be it. In the next few days, we’ll be opening our borders to all the she-wolves on the run. If we lose warriors and omegas, they will be replaced with ranked she-wolves. Our pack will only become stronger, not weaker.” He nods, taking a deep breath. “I notice that Kodan isn’t here.” “I don’t expect him to stay,” I say, watching as Kinsley ducks her head, hiding the flush on her cheeks. “Who is Kodan?” Sophie asks. “My G**a,” I say, reaching out to stroke her cheek. She leans into my touch, making me smile. From the corner of my eye, see Kinsley’s eyes widen at my touch and Sophie’s response. Lucas grits his teeth.

“Hunter, are you sure he won’t stand with us?” Sophie asks. Instead of answering her, I look at Kinsley and Lucas. “What do you two think?” Retum to the Pack “He won’t,” Kinsley answers immediately. “Believe me, he’s one of the ones that gets off on the public claimings.” I watch as Sophie takes in this information, then stands tall, lifting her chin. “Well, then he is no longer welcome in our pack.” I smile, leaning in to kiss my mate. I hear Kinsley’s gasp of surprise, but I don’t look at her. Sophie stiffens, but only for a moment. “Right you are, my mate,” I say, before touching my lips to hers. I take Sophie’s hand and stand up. “Ready?” “Ready.”