The One 48

THE ONE 48

Chapter 48: Unexpected Sophie I’m not sure what got into me, except when Hunter talked about Owen, I started thinking about what my life could have been like if Owen had marked me, if Hunter hadn’t gotten there in time. The thought of being that man’s mate, of being bound to him, set me off. Then, to hear my mate tell me how incredible he thinks I am, to feel his pride in being my mate through our bond, well, it just made me throw caution to the wind. What I hadn’t expected was the feeling of happiness from the pack. They seem to like seeing the two of us being close, seeing how strong our relationship is and how much trust we have in each other. It once again makes me proud to be Hunter’s mate. It also makes me wonder how much stronger our bond will be over time. Our relationship has such a strong foundation, I can’t imagine how our love and trust will grow in the future. And Hunter didn’t let me down. I wrapped myself around him, kissed him with utter abandon and he answered my kiss until I was ready to stop. He didn’t push for me to continue, pressure me for more, or make our kiss feel unseemly or seedy. It just felt like a woman kissing the man she loves with all her heart, which is exactly what it was. Well, that and Hedda might have been staking her claim in front of our visiting ranked members and the female warriors in the pack. ‘He’s mine. Everyone needs to know that,’ she says. 0.00% 11.56 289 Wouchers “Everyone does. We wear Hunter’s and Shaw’s marks, and they wear ours. No one can claim that we aren’t mates.’ The moment I say it, I know that’s EXACTLY what the Alphas are going to try and say. Or at least say that our marks aren’t valid in their eyes because they didn’t watch Hunter mark me. ‘Which is why we have to win. Not just because they are wrong, but because we are right. Look at the difference in our relationship with Hunter. Your sister and her mate may never have what we

have in less than a week.” ‘I know, Hedda. And I know that we have to do this for the others, for Allison, Letti, and Nikki, for Penny and all the others on the run. I just don’t understand why it’s so hard, why the Alphas in particular are fighting so hard against this.’ ‘Because this isn’t their reason for fighting. It’s not about the mate bond,’ she says, making me stop. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘I don’t know what their real intentions are, but if this was about the mate bond, they wouldn’t be fighting so hard to keep things as they are. They’d be fighting to make the change. So, it’s not about the mate bond itself. It has to do with something else. around the public claiming process,’ she says. I’ll have to think about that. What Hedda is saying makes sense. The Alphas are literally out hunting for a mate instead of running their packs. They want a mate, so it’s not about that. Changing the laws would change the she-wolves desire to run and leave the pack, making it easier for the Alphas to claim. them. So then, what is it? 12.19% 11:56 My thoughts are distracted by the discussion over breakfast. Today, I want to go see Nikki and after hearing Allison say that Nikki wants to be here when our visiting Alphas arrive, I know that I need to make sure that she’s well enough to be released from the hospital. I don’t want her injuring herself further to protect her friends. Hunter and I will do that, if needed. When we finish eating, I kiss my mate again, taking an extra moment to deepen the kiss and also holding his hand against my face. I know he’ll release me the moment I end the kiss, but I want him to know that trust him. So, when I pull back, I hold his hand against my face, feeling his thumb caressing my skin while he stares into my eyes. “I’ll see you soon,” I say shyly. “Not soon enough,” he says, leaning forward to peck my lips again before I release his hand. I feel like I’m floating as I lead the girls to our pack hospital.

“What’s it like?” Letti asks me. “What?” I ask. “Feeling so safe, so comfortable with your mate.” I think about it for a moment. “I’m not sure how to describe it. It’ s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It’s like the best day of my life magnified by a hundred, no, a thousand. There’s so much love, so much…care and concern that I feel from Hunter, that it’s beyond my words to describe.” “I hope one day that I can have that,” Allison says. 25 99% 11-561 “Me too,” Letti’ngrees as we walk into the hospital I see our doctor walking out of a room, and i stop him. “How is our patient?” “Our patient is Impatient to leave, I’ve told her that she can do so, but only if she’s willing to walk on crutches. Her rays show that her wolf is healing her, but her bones aren’t completely set yet.” “I’ll talk to her, I don’t want her doing anything to aggravate her Injury, but being outside may be beneficial to her wolf and her healing,” I say, When we walk in, I see Nikki sitting on the edge of her bed, looking like she’s ready to get up “Going somewhere?” I ask her as Allison and Letti rush to her sides. “I’m sure your mate told you I’m an Alpha. I have no intention of staying in this bed another minute, especially after hearing that there will be two visiting Alphas in this pack today,” she says snarkily. “Yes, my mate did tell me that. And the doctor told me that you are only allowed to leave if you use your crutches. So, where are they?” I say, looking around the room. “He’s coming back with them,” she grumbles. I move to stand in front of her. “Do not risk further injury by doing anything s**d, Nikki.” “I will not stand by and allow my friends to be marked and Chapter 48: Unexpected mated publicly,” she growls. I put my hands on either side of her body, leaning into her space and letting my Alpha aura push hers back. Because she’s weak, it’s no contest, but I imagine that when she’s healthy, Nikki will

have a much stronger aura. “And do you think that I’ve brought you into my pack, given my word as an Alpha to keep you all safe, and will stand by if one of our visitors attempts to take any one of you as a mate against your will?” I watch as her face becomes contrite. “My apologies, Luna. I did not mean to offend you. I…It’s in my nature to protect,” she says, as if this changes things. I just raise my eyebrow at her.. “Okay, you’re an Alpha wolf too, I get it. It’s just….the three of us have been through a lot together. That’s makes a difference, you know?” I think about my short time with Penny, and I do know what she means. I stand up, getting out of her face. “I understand, but you, Nikki, are also under my protection. I know that doesn’t sit well with an Alpha wolf, but this is my pack, I am the Luna, and I gave my word as an Alpha to keep you safe, even if that means I’m keeping your safe from yourself,” I say, gesturing down to her ankle. She fights the smile, but in the end, she gives in and smiles widely. “Yes, Luna. I promise that I’ll use the crutches.” “Perfect. Then, let’s get you back over to the packhouse, settled into a room, and get some clothes ordered for you,” I say as a nurse comes in with the crutches. She adjusts them so that 47 79% Nikki is comfortable and then we head back to the packhouse. I stay quiet as I lead them, letting Allison and Letti tell her about what they’ve seen in the pack so far. “You should have seen Luna Sophie going after Alpha Hunter in training this morning, Nik. It was incredible.” “Yeah, it made me wonder if all Alphas are that strong.” Letti says. “Strong and fast,” Allison says. “I would have thought you’d be out of practice, Luna,” Nikki says. “Hunter knew what to say to get me out of my head and into the fight,’ I say. “We heard him mention Alpha Owen,” Letti says, a question in her voice. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“Yes. Owen and his ranked members caught me. He realized I was an Alpha when I didn’t shift after he commanded me. He shifted, intending to mark me in wolf form, then command me to shift into my human form. He had me pinned. He almost had me…” I say, my heart rate s**g as I remember. “But he didn’t, and he never will,” Hunter’s voice rings out across the courtyard we’ve just entered. “No, he never will,” I say, walking into Hunter’s arms and letting him bring the peace that only he can give me. “Is that new?” I hear Nikki ask. 60.70% Nope, and it’s mild. She kisses tem,” Allison says “A lot,” Letti sayı “Not nearly enough,” Hunter says smaling down at me. “Better? “Yes. What are you doing out here?” “I felt you becoming distressed. I had already felt your initation, so I tuned into your emotions. I don’t like you feeling distressed. Neither does Shaw,” he says gently, caressing my cheek. “Thank you,” I say, lifting up on my toes to kiss him. Because! know we have an audience of ranked she-wolves, I slide my hand into his hair and deepen the kiss. He chuckles and wraps his arms around me before pulling back. “I have work to do, no distracting me,” he says, smiling. “Fine. Just don’t forget I won the wager this morning,” I say, swinging my hips a bit as I walk up to the packhouse door, turning to look at him over my shoulder. “I look forward to discovering your choices this evening,” he says, his voice deep, making my body shiver in anticipation. “I truly never thought I’d say this about anyone, least of all an Alpha, but that man is s**y,” Letti says. “No offense, Luna. I know he’s yours.” “It’s because of how he treats you,” Nikki says, watching me closely. “Allison and Letti told me that it was different with you and Alpha Hunter, but until you see it….” “It’s hard to understand, especially since none of us has ever seen a mate bond like yours. At least, not in my pack,” Allison

says. “Mine either,” Letti says, and Nikki agrees. I show Nikki to her room, making sure she orders some clothing and introducing her to Beta Kinsley. When the girls’ clothing arrives, they share with Nikki until hers arrives. She begins looking it over the clothing, searching for something to wear tonight. “It’s not a formal gathering, but as an Alpha, I assume you’ll want to dress up a bit?” I ask her “Yes,” she says so Kinsley and I find her a dress for her and Allison as well. Letti chose to wear some of her new clothes. Once they are settled, I finish making sure preparations are ready for this evening and our meeting with Alphas Kayce and Robin before going to get ready. Since one of my favorite positions is in the shower, reminiscent of our first night together, I take advantage of my mate and winning the wager before our guests arrive. We’ve just finished getting ready when the patrols let us know that Alphas Kayce and Robin, driving together, have arrived. We walk downstairs hand-in-hand to greet them, stepping outside the packhouse doors as they step out of the car. “Good evening,” Hunter says. I watch as Kayce’s nose goes up in the air and I see his wolf flashing in eyes. Unlike Kayce, Robin’ s eyes are glued to our combined hands. Touch among newly mated ranked members is unheard of. “Welcome to our pack,” I say, and now Alpha Kayce’s eyes flash 82.54% ။ you 11:56 to me as well. “May I introduce you to my mate and the pack’s Luna, Sophie.” “Sophie Meyers?” Alpha Robin asks. “Sophie Reynolds,” Hunter and I say together. “You didn’t mention that part when you called us, Hunter,” Kayce says.

“Would it have changed things?” Hunter asks. Both Alphas turn and look at me appreciatively. “No,” Kayce says finally. Hunter waits for Robin to also agree that it doesn’t change anything, then we invite them in. The moment we step inside, Alpha Kayce growls, pushing ahead of us. “Mate!” I turn, seeing a wide-eyed and terrified looking Allison staring at Alpha Kayce. “Mate,” she says softly. 94.515