The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 188: New Position

Calvin

Zahn’s words continue to resonate with me. While our situations are very different, there are still some similarities. I’m separated from my mate, now by her own choice. She’s created alliances with every Alpha that was here for the competition and trial, even the new Alpha, Jake. Today, I’m pretty sure that she’s planning to create an alliance with Alpha Lucas. I know that he and his mate, Luna Kinsley are staying to talk to Alaric’s pack members for a few days before heading back to Hunter’s pack to collect their things. And I know that she’s offered the Beta position to Jocelyn. She continues to increase her position in the werewolf community, creating bonds that will make her, and therefore her pack, stronger.

I watch my mate as she carries my daughter, nursing her while she goes about her day. While I hate that she’s so exposed to others in the pack, I have to admit, she is s** as f***k. I notice that all of these pack members respect her and no one, with the possible exception of Caleb, looks at her lustfully. That guy is a problem that needs watching. It’s why I went to Owen’s pack competition. I wanted to make sure he didn’t try to undermine my mate while he was there.

As I look at Amelia, I realize that I don’t know who this woman is anymore. Being separated from her has made me feel lost, like I no longer know my place in this world. I hadn’t realized the impact she’d had on our pack until she was gone. Now, all that cohesiveness, the pack connection, seems to have followed her here. This pack feels united, and our pack back home feels…as lost as I do.

How did I never know that my mate had such strength in her? How had I never seen this side of her? The compassion, the love for her pack is still there, that has always been present. But this strength? I didn’t know my mate possessed this kind of strength.

It makes me wonder; am I more like Zahn than I realized? Was I holding my mate back, keeping her from being the incredible woman I see in front of me? It was never my intention. I was comfortable with how things were, settled, and, if I’m being honest, complaisant. Now, I see that what my mate needs is a man who shows the same strength and compassion that she does, someone who is willing to stand beside her and pave the way for a new future, a different life for our pups. My mate has changed, grown in the last couple of months, and if I intend to keep her, I’d better start making some changes too.

Hunter POV

It felt good to return to our pack, finally feeling settled. I know there are still many things that need to be done. Those things will always be there, but now, I’m not going anywhere until Sophie delivers our son.

Lucas and Kinsley stayed in Amelia’s pack for two more days, talking to the new pack members and discussing their plans for how they intend to run their pack. I’m proud of Lucas, but I’m really going to miss him. He’s been a fantastic Beta, always reliable, always at my side, always a good friend.

However, I need to move forward and right now, I need to meet with my Ga**as and offer them the Beta position.

When they knock on the door, I tell them to come in, moving from my desk to sit with them.

“Come in, have a seat,” I tell them. “How is everything going?”

“They both give me a report on patrols, warrior training, and other things that happened in the pack while I was gone.

I listen, recognizing that together, these two are quite the power couple. If they accept, they’ll make good Betas.

“You know that Lucas and Kinsley won their own pack. And while I’m very happy for them, and we’ll be having a celebration for them when they return tonight, it means our pack is now without a Beta couple.”

“Yes, Jaime and I have already been talking about that, Alpha. We have some ideas for you,” Penny says.

Interesting. I’m curious who they chose, so I ask them for the names. They give me a list of warriors, all strong fighters, all of them are competing for their own pack. It’s a good list though, other than leaving themselves off of it.

“Those are good names. Unfortunately, I, like the other Alphas, am struggling to offer lessor positions to warriors who are fighting for an Alpha position. And besides, I have someone else in mind.”

“Who?” Jaime asks. Both of them look curious as if the idea of me promoting them never occurred to either of them, and maybe it didn’t.

“You two,” I say, giving them a look like it should be obvious.

“Us?” Penny asks, turning to look at Jaime. “But…”

“I’m not even ranked,” Jaime says.

“Excuse me?” I ask, my brow arching indignantly. “Are you not my Gamma?”

“Well, I mean…” he backtracks.

“What we mean is, Alpha, we never thought that we’d be eligible given that I’m of Gamma blood and Jaime’s family comes from a group of warriors,” Penny says.

I tilt my head at them. “And what were the credentials of the group you just provided to me? Are any of them descended from Alphas or Betas?” I ask.

I watch as they open and close their mouths, looking at each other.

“Stop underestimating yourselves. If you’re going to be my Betas, I need to see more confidence in the two of you,” I say sternly, but it’s mostly to snap them out of their shock.

“Yes, Alpha. We’ll…” Penny looks at Jaime.

“We’ll talk to Beta Lucas and Beta Kinsley when they return, find out everything we need to know so that we can be the best Betas possible,” Jaime says.

“Alpha Lucas and Luna Kinsley, now. And they were incredible Betas, and I have no doubt that you’ll be just as good as they were. So, is that a yes?” I ask them.

They look at each other again. “Yes,” Penny says laughing.

“Good, we’ll have to make it official, but not until after tonight. I want the pack to be able to celebrate Lucas and Kinsley first, then we’ll make the announcement.

“Thank you, Alpha!” they say, standing up to leave.

“Don’t thank me. If you thought you worked hard for me before, you’re about to see that there’s more work for you when you become a Beta and until our Gamma position is filled, we’ll all be working overtime.”

“We won’t disappoint you, Alpha,” Penny says.

“I know you won’t. Congratulations,” I say, walking them to the door. As I close-it, I hear Penny whoop with excitement and hear the two of them laughing as they walk down the hall.

I finish my work, keeping a mental connection with Sophie. She’ s back in the nursery today, probably overwhelmed with all of the she-wolves that were around for the competition. Margot was a great help, making sure that Soph didn’t attack anyone needlessly for talking to me. And now that we’re home, she’s settling in quickly. I feel her nod off in the early part of the afternoon, and I go up to find her in the rocking chair once again.

I pick her up and carry her to our bedroom, laying her in bed and kissing her stomach, purring softly as I feel my son bump against my lips before covering her and heading back downstairs to check on the party preparations for tonight.

When I get downstairs, I realize that Penny and Jaime have already made sure that everything is set for tonight and I feel something settle inside me. I hadn’t realized that I was nervous about losing Lucas, but he’s been at my side since I took over as Alpha. I couldn’t be prouder o like there was going to be a gapi with Sophie about to deliver our

However, I realize that I was righ and Jaime. They may not do thin Lucas and Kinsley did them, but this pack as Alpha. I couldn’t be prouder of him, but when he won, it felt like there was going to be a gaping hole in my pack, especially with Sophie about to deliver our pup.

However, I realize that I was right in my assessment of Penny and Jaime. They may not do things exactly the same way that Lucas and Kinsley did them, but they’ll be incredible Betas for this pack.