The One He Claimed

The One 133

: Next Steps

Hunter

We watch as Penny leaves, hearing her tell Jaime about being asked to be our Gamma.

“That went well,” Lucas says as the door closes.

“It did. I hope that means that we’ll soon have a Gamma couple.”

“Do you intend to open it for a challenge?” Lucas asks.

“Yes, we’ll have to, but I don’t think any of our warriors can defeat her, do you?” I ask.

“No. She’s tough, nearly as strong as I am in a fight.”

“And she’s a smart fighter. I’ve been watching her since Lucas said you were both interested in her as our Gamma. She’s small, but she uses that to her advantage in her sparring,” Kinsley

says.

“Did you notice the hickey on her marking spot?” Sophie asks Kinsley, smiling.

“And Jaime’s scent all over her,” Kinsley says, smiling back.

“Yeah, that’s why I said she needed to think about it. He’s new here, his sisters are here, and she’ll want to stay with him if he decides to leave. They have a lot to talk about. Hopefully, he’ll see that this is a pack worth staying in and it will be a non-

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: Next Steps

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issue,” Lucas says.

“Hopefully,” I agree.

“What do you have going on today?” Lucas asks me as our mates snuggle against us.

“I need to contact Dutton, make sure he’s willing to join our fight against Alaric and then we need to include Amelia and come up with a plan. Alaric needs to die, and it needs to happen before Zahn gets here, just in case he’s planning to go against us.”

“Do you think he is?” Kinsley asks.

I look at Sophie. “It’s hard to know for sure. He seemed like he legitimately wanted to bring Jocelyn here to help her, but you never know. It could all be a ruse,” she says.

“What’s your plan when he’s here?” Lucas asks.

“He agreed to have 24–hour surveillance on him, so that’s what I m going to do. He goes nowhere that one of us hasn’t approved.”

“How long are they staying?” Kinsley asks.

“According to Alpha Zahn, as long as it takes,” Sophie says.

“Takes for what?” Kinsely asks, frowning.

“For his mate to accept him, I guess,” Sophie says.

“So, he’s moving in permanently then?” Lucas asks sarcastically. “Fuck no. I’ll kick him out eventually, with or without his mate.”

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: Next Steps

“How is she?” Kinsley asks, directing her question to Sophie.

“Not good. I’ll probably have you spend a lot of time with her when she’s here. You understand what she’s going through more than I do,” Sophie says, and I see Lucas‘ lips press tightly together, before Kinsley tightens her arms around him.

She nuzzles him as he pulls her closer. “It’s not the same, Lucas. Zahn was violent with Jocelyn, but it was still public, so from that perspective, I understand. Honestly, Brooklyn might be better to have her spend time with,” Kinsley says, rubbing her face over Lucas‘ and helping to calm him. He still carries a lot of guilt for publicly claiming Kinsley.

“I was thinking that too. I have no idea what state she’s in, but a medical work–up seems appropriate.”

There’s a knock at the door.

“Come in,” I say, smelling Ezra before he opens the door. He takes a step in and stops.

“Am I interrupting something?” he asks, and I see the flash of envy on his face that our mates are sitting in our laps.

“No, come in. We were just going over next steps in planning for our attack on Alaric and for Zahn’s visit,” I tell him.

“So, Zahn is coming?” he asks, sitting down.

“Yes.”

He nods. “Then I’m glad Margot has agreed to leave with me. I don’t want him anywhere near her, triggering her again.”

“She agreed?” Sophie asks, sitting forward.

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Ezra smiles, one of his rare smiles that I’ve started to see more often on his face.

“Yes. She and her mother will be returning with me. I can offer. you warriors to assist with the battle if you need them,” he says looking at me. “But I’ve been away too long from my pack, and I need to return.”

“Thank you for the offer, but hopefully we’ll have Dutton and won’t need any additional warriors. Perhaps between taking out Alaric and having Zahn arrive, we can have an Alpha meeting about what to do with these pack lands,” I say.

Ezra raises his eyebrow at me. “Squeezing a lot in at one time, aren’t you?”

Sophie snorts. “It’s always like this around here, Alpha Ezra.”

“So, I’ve noticed, Luna. I did want to thank you, all of you, for allowing me to stay so long.”

“We appreciate your assistance in the war against Joshua,” I

say.

“He needed to die,” Ezra growls.

“Agreed. When are you leaving?” ask.

“Later today. Margot wants to say goodbye to the friends she’s made here. I hope that you and Sophie will come visit some time and that we can come visit again so she can see her friends.”

“Any time,” Sophie says. “And I would love to come see your pack, Alpha Ezra. Perhaps after our pup is born.”

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Next Steps

Ezra looks thoughtful for a moment. “Are you planning to include Calvin in that Alpha meeting?”

Sophie turns and looks at me. “He’s still an Alpha and so far, he‘ s still on our side,” I say, looking at Sophie. “What happened between him and your sister doesn’t change that, it just means that she’ll also be on the call representing her own pack.”

I stroke my hand over her side, easing the words because I know they are worrying her.

“If he becomes inappropriate, we’ll disconnect the call and exclude him,” Ezra says to Sophie.

She looks at me and I nod in agreement. I won’t let Calvin use those calls to harass his mate. She relaxes and leans back against me.

“That was all. I just wanted to let you know that I’m leaving with Margot and Luna June,” Ezra says standing.

“Have lunch with us. I know Sophie and Margot have grown close, and Kinsley too. That still gives you plenty of time to get home before sundown,” I say, knowing that Sophie wants to say goodbye to her friend.

“I’ll let Margot know. I think that will make her happy. And please, if you would…” he stops, looking uncomfortable. “Margot is stubborn, she’s not the type of woman to reach out if she’s feeling uncomfortable or lonely. She’ll have her mother, but I know being in my pack is going to make her uneasy…”

“I’ll call her. We’ll keep in touch,” Sophie says, smiling.

“We both will,” Kinsley says.

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“Thank you. And thank you, all of you, for showing me what my pack should be like and how it should feel. Hopefully, someday, Margot will agree to being my Luna and she and I can build something similar to what you’re creating here, because this is amazing. It says a lot about all of you as leaders that your pack is this strong, this cohesive.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” Sophie says, and I can feel how pleased she is at his words.

“Yes, thank you, Ezra. Do you need any help getting packed up?” I ask.

“No, we’re good, thank you. I’ll see you at lunch,” he says before leaving the office.

“We should get going to,” Lucas says, standing and putting Kinsley on her feet.

I look at Sophie. “Want to call Dutton with me?”

She smiles and nods. “Maybe I can say hi to the twins.”

I kiss her before calling Dutton and putting it on speaker.

“Alpha Dutton,” he answers, his voice a deep purr.

“Really Alpha, I know you like me, but you’re embarrassing me with this level of lust,” I say, smiling as Sophie chuckles on my lap.

“Alpha Hunter. My mates just gave me some good news. I’m a happy man. It’s hard to hold that in.”

“I know exactly what you mean. Perhaps this conversation can wait,” I say, knowing that I hate when something distracts me

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from being with Sophie.

“No, it’s fine. This celebration won’t be ending any time soon, since it appears I’m going to be a father.”

“Congratulations! Which mate is pregnant?” Sophie asks.

“Both of us,” the twins respond.