The One 49

THE ONE 49

Chapter 49: Sophie’s Power Kayce “What do you think of Hunter taking a mate privately?” I ask Robin. He and I had decided to drive together. Our packs are close in proximity and while we both could have done work while we were driving, sometimes it’s better to confirm alliances rather than to let them sit idly by until one day you realize that your ally is no longer your ally. My father learned that lesson the hard way and I don’t intend to repeat history. “Honestly, I don’t like the practice myself. I hate being in the room every time a woman is claimed, but I won’t miss the events in case she’s my mate?” “But he broke the law,” I say. And this is where I struggle. If we all begin breaking the laws that have been put into place, then it becomes anarchy. “I agree, but I also think that we have to consider that our she- wolves, our ranked females, our best possibility for creating a strong future and another generation of strong Alphas, are literally killing themselves.” I sigh. He’s right and I know he is. I don’t like it any more than he does. It’s been almost a year since there’s been a coming-of- age party for a ranked she-wolf. Any other females are gone long before they turn 18. I know many Alphas and other ranked members are out hunting down their mates, but I refuse to do that. I refuse to hunt her down, running her nearly to death or possibly to her death, like she’s nothing more to me than prey. 11.57 289 Unlike some Alphas, I want a partner, not another pack member. “Well, we’ve agreed to hear him out at least. Did he tell you anything about his mate?” I ask. “No, just that he marked her in private, and he refuses and will continue to refuse to mark her in public.” “Yeah, that’s pretty much what he told me as well.” “Did he tell you he’s received a summons to the Committee?” Robin asks me.

“Is that why we’re meeting next week?” I ask. “That’s why.” “Well f**k me sideways,” I say. “Sorry, you’re not my type,” he says, smirking at me. “A**ole,” I grumble. Robin laughs as we approach Hunter’s pack borders. We let the border patrol know we’ve arrived, and we drive onto his pack lands. “Pretty area,” I say, to make conversation. “Yeah, there are several packs in the near vicinity and mountains in between them, giving them a natural separation.” “How do you know so much about this area?” I ask. “We went to Luna Amelia’s 18th birthday party two years ago, remember? After she was claimed, I spent the next day looking around the area before leaving. Dutton is their neighbor on the eastern border, and I spent a couple of days with him, working 14.50% 11 57 300 Muchen! on an alliance with him.” Something else that has caused problems with the public. claimings in some instances, such as with Alpha Calvin, is that our alliances have become strained because their Lunas do not wish to see the men that witnessed their claiming. Some Alphas don’t care, but the good ones, like Calvin, do. “That was smart,” I say, just as my wolf, Rodion, stands up in my head. ‘Rod, what’s going on?’ He doesn’t answer me, but when get out of the car, he lifts our nose in the air and takes a deep breath. Gingerbread, the scent of sweet gingerbread, like cookies that have just come out of the oven, warm, with maybe a hint of icing envelopes my senses. ‘Find that scent,’ he growls at me, just as I hear a female voice. welcoming me to the pack.

I jerk Rodion back and look at the woman who is holding hands. with Hunter. Actually, holding hands, not him holding her, but her fingers are intertwined with his and…she’s smiling. I thought Hunter said that were just mated I’m annoyed when Hunter introduces his new mate and she’s none other than Sophie Meyers. I’m tempted to get in the car and leave. She’s the cause of all of our problems. But I drove with Robin, and he looks intrigued. Besides, Rodion won’t let me leave. He’s practically ready to pull a shift to find that scent. I’ll admit my mouth is watering, but geez, we’ll get some d**n cookies. ‘Chill Rod,’ I growl at my wolf. 26.47% ||| 11:57 However, the moment we step inside, the scent surrounds me and Rodion pushes forward, moving toward her. “Mate,” he growls, ready to claim her right here, right now. I can see the terror on her face as she repeats the word to me. And then, my view of her is blocked by Hunter. “Stand down, Kayce. I do not allow public claimings in my pack and this woman is under my protection.” “She’s my mate. Get the f**k out of my way,” Rodion growls. “No, and if you don’t want her to reject you, I suggest you get a hold of your wolf,” Hunter growls, and I can feel Shaw pushing forward, ready to shift if Rodion does. “Get it together, Kayce. We came here to hear what Alpha Hunter and his Luna have to say. Let’s give them time. I’m sure Alpha Hunter can assure us that he won’t send your mate away while we’re busy, right Hunter?” Robin says, nearly stepping between us to keep our wolves from fighting. “She’s here, under my protection. I won’t send her away, but I won’t allow her to be claimed against her will either.” “Her will? She’s my mate!” Rodion growls, pushing past Hunter only to have his way blocked by Luna Sophie.

I feel the blast of her Alpha aura as her wolf pushes forward, her eyes flashing with the threat of violence. “Get a hold of yourself Alpha. Now,” she snarls. The shock of finding my mate finally wears off and I pull Rodion back. He begins pacing in my mind, keeping a close watch on his mate. Our mate. 1 look at the woman, I don’t even know her name, but she looks terrified. I also realize there are two other females blocking my path to her and Hunter’s two Betas on either side of her, ready to protect her. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to scare you, or your wolf. I wasn’t expecting to find my mate today, so I wasn’t prepared for my wolf’s reaction. Alpha Hunter, it seems, has been keeping quite a few secrets,” I say, growling at him. “If I had told you, you wouldn’t have come and then where would you be?” he asks me, unabashedly. sigh, ignoring that remark and focus on my mate. “I am Alpha Kayce. My wolf is Rodion. May I at least have your names?” I ask her, careful to make sure that Rod’s growling doesn’t exit my mouth. “Allison, and my wolf is Mizette.” “Allison,” I say reverently just as Rodion begins purring at his mate’s name. I smile. “Mizette, meaning a mini reflection of you? How appropriate.” She seems surprised that I know what her wolf’s name means. “She’s very much like me,” she says shyly. I nod, unwilling to let her out of my sight, but also not wanting to scare her. “Perhaps, Luna, our dinner for four could become a dinner for seven? Assuming the two young ladies who are also protecting 55.345 11:57 – Lupter 49. Sophie’s Presl 288 Moochers

my mate from me are her friends?” I ask Luna Sophie. “That will be up to Allison, Alpha,” Luna Sophie says. I look back at my mate. “My word as an Alpha that I won’t try to claim you. I would just like to get to know you and my wolf is going to drive me nuts if he can’t see and smell you,” I say honestly, eliciting a small smile. I realize I want to see that smile, much larger, on her face every day. The two women in front of her, well one is still a girl, underage, turn and look at her. Rodion sniffs the air, one Alpha, one G**a. ‘And our mate is a Beta, he purrs “Do you trust his word as an Alpha, Luna Sophie?” she asks. I want to be offended, but I know that not all Alphas can be trusted these days. However, it’s interesting that they are asking Luna Sophie, not Alpha Hunter, since he knows us, and she doesn’t. Even more intriguing to me is that Sophie turns and looks at Hunter, asking him if I can be trusted. I turn to look him in the eye, raising an eyebrow. He watches me for a moment, then nods. “Alpha Hunter trusts him and if he does, I do,” Sophie says. My eyes flash back to Allison. She nods, then looks at the other two. “You don’t have to come.” “Like hell I’m not,” the Alpha female says. “What happened to your leg?” Robin asks her. 68.13% 11:57 “Casualty of the war we’re fighting to not be claimed publicly and not be hunted down like dogs,” she says sharply. She’s got grit, that’s for sure. If she’s an Alpha, she’s someone’s prize, but not mine. My prize is still watching me closely. “Will you walk with me?” I ask her holding out my arm. She looks around at all the others, but it’s Luna Sophie who shrugs, basically saying it’s up to her to decide. I wait her out, pleased when she slowly walks up to me, barely putting her hand on my arm, as if she’s afraid she’ll have to jump away from me at any moment. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

I cover her hand with mine, noticing that her eyes nearly roll into -the back of her head as she takes a deep breath of my scent. I’ll have to ask her what I smell like to her. “How about you two, may I escort you ladies?” Robin asks, using his most charming voice. “Fat chance, Alpha,” the Alpha female says to him, but it only makes him smile. “Do I at least get a name, little Alpha?” he asks her. Once again, the girls look at Sophie, not Hunter for confirmation that it’s okay. I have sorely underestimated her power over these young she-wolves. Something I need to make sure I never do again. When Sophie nods, the Alpha female looks at Robin, her chin up high. “My name is Nicole, but everyone calls me Nikki.” He nods, then turns to the other young woman. Chapter 43 Sophie’s Power “And you, little G**a?” he asks the other one. “Letticia, but everyone calls me Letti.” “And what’s your name, Alpha,” Nikki asks, her voice still full of snark. “I am Alpha Robin and my friend, as you heard, is Alpha Kayce.” “Now that that’s settled, where are we meeting?” I ask. “Right this way,” Hunter says, and begins guiding us to the room where we will eat and talk in private. On the way, I rub my thumb over Allison’s hand, pleased when I feel her body shiver in response to my touch.