The One He Claimed by Cooper
The One 105

Chapter 105: Preparing for Battle Hunter

I'm exhausted, but that doesn't matter. I'm the Alpha, it's my job to lead this pack and to protect them, so no matter how tired I am, not matter how tired Lucas is, we will push through. We both have way too much to lose now. Not just our mates, but our pups as well.

I'm late for warrior training, but it doesn't appear that anyone expected to see me here except Lucas who was alerted that I'd returned. The patrols who saw me come through the borders are off duty now, on shorter rotations so that we can keep everyone in the pack fresh and rested.

Instead of continuing warrior training, I stop to give the warriors an update on what I and the other Alphas found yesterday and overnight.

"You need to know that they are coming. Whether it's today, tomorrow, or the next day, Joshua and possibly more Alphas will be bringing their packs to fight us. Starting this morning, the remaining members of Owen's pack will be redistributed to the other packs. Ezra's pack members will be initiating the move. which should start early this morning. If you see them or hear them and it sounds like they are being chased, you are to pass. our borders and help to protect them. But be careful, do not let yourselves fall into any traps where you let Joshua, or the other Alphas surround you. Lucas and will be taking turns to run patrols and we'll be leading the fight when it comes."-

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I sigh and look over my warriors. "I know this is a hard time. I would love to tell you that every one of us will survive, but they aren't coming here for anything less than blood and death. I expect that Joshua's primary target will be Margot, but I also think he'll push to kill me and force your Luna into a mate bond to punish Margot. If he succeeds in killing me, my mate will need protection, our pup will need protection, because I know that Joshua won't hesitate to kill my son."

There's a lot of murmuring and some growling at the thought of Joshua killing me and my son and taking Sophie as his mate.

"We're a pack, a family. As your leader, I am extremely proud of what our pack has accomplished and the type of pack that we've become over the last several months since I took Sophie as my mate. I didn't know that our pack could be stronger, but it is now. I feel the cohesion between us, between all of us, and this fight is for all of us, not just the ranked she-wolves, not just for Margot, and not just for me and your Luna. This is about our future, the kind of future we want for our pups to grow up in, setting the standard that what we have here in this pack is the norm, not the exception. So, I'm asking all of you to risk your lives, not just for your mates and pups, but for all of our mates and pups, because that's the kind of pack, the kind of family that we are. We serve and protect each other."

I take another breath, feeling the weight of my words as they settle over the pack's warriors. "Lucas and I will be right there beside you. We are the first line of defense for this pack and our families. And while I'm willing to die for each and every one of you, we need to make sure that we help each other, fight together, have each other's backs. I want as few casualties as possible in this war. In a week, in two weeks, I want to look out over this group and see every one of your faces. So, when the

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war comes, fight together, protect each other, look out for each other, and let's all survive this. Let's show Joshua and any other Alpha that wants to come try and take what's ours what happens when they threaten us, threaten our families."

There's a lot of howling, snarling, and growling as my warriors get pumped up, ready for battle.

When the noise dies down, I nod. "Alright, let's get to it."

Today's warrior training is the toughest, hardest training I think. we've ever had. Every one of my warriors feels the pressure of the pending war and they all want to win, win and survive.

Rather than going around and giving pointers, Lucas and I take the opportunity to train as well, fighting hard and not pulling punches. When we're done, I'm satisfied that Lucas is nearly as strong as I am and that his fighting skill is as keen as mine.

When we finally call the end of training, all of us are sweating profusely, but the feeling in the air is one of determination, a need and desire to win.

Lucas and I spend some time talking to our warriors, answering questions about how they can better protect their families, especially their pups, so we're the last to head inside for breakfast.

As I begin walking in, one of my warriors comes running out.

"Alpha, you've got to come see this," he says.

I look at Lucas before picking up my pace and jogging into the packhouse. When I do, I see all of the warriors that just left training standing around, watching the front of the packhouse. Chapter 105 Piroaning for Battle

I walk through them, hearing my mate's voice, strong and confident.

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"Just because we are not able to be on the battlefield doesn't mean that we cannot fight. Any one of you who chooses to fight, may do so. Kinsley and I will make sure that everyone's pups are looked after and cared for if both parents are on the battlefield."

As I approach, I see that nearly every she-wolf in our pack, event those who haven't yet joined our pack, are here, listening to Sophie and Kinsley.

Their eyes all flash to me, and I put my hands on my mate's hips, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

"Sophie, what's this?" I ask her.

She turns her head to look up at me and I see the same fierce determination in her eyes that I felt from my warriors on the battlefield.

"You're preparing for battle out there. I'm preparing for battle in here."

"Preparing for battle?" I ask.

"Yes. You said that we'll be taking in fifty women and children. It's more than our safe rooms can handle, Hunter. So we, the women of this pack, are making some decisions about who will fight, who will be in the safe rooms with the pups, and who will be strategically placed around the packhouse to protect the safe rooms if any wolves get into the packhouse."

I frown. "How short on space are we?" 96.371

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"At least thirty and that's if we cram the rooms to near bursting," Kinsley says. Lucas has come up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, putting his hands protectively over her stomach. "We could probably..." I begin, but Sophie turns and looks up at me, putting her fingers over my lips.

"I've got this, Hunter. You have other, important things to worry about. Let me handle this."

I'm so unused to having a partner like this, having someone. other than Lucas who I have to trust to do the right thing for the pack. But I know that Sophie will, and that she was made to be a Luna, my Luna. I nod, knowing she can handle it. "Okay. Let Lucas and I know if you need anything," I say, seeing a lot of the new she-wolves that came asking for sanctuary looking at each other in

surprise.

"And remember, Soph, you and Margot are going to be Joshua's key targets."

"Margot has already decided to fight, and I've approved it. And I'm the Luna of this pack, Hunter. I will not sit securely inside a safe room while others fight to protect this pack that I love. I am a fighter, an Alpha wolf, a Luna. My job is to protect this pack just as much as yours is."

"Sophie..." I begin. It goes against everything in me to let her be out of a safe room while the war is going on, especially knowing that she's a target.

"I have no intention of dying, Hunter. So let me do what I need

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to do to make sure that those of us protecting the safe rooms can remain safe as well," she says. "If we can make it work that there are enough fighters, Kinsley and I will be in safe rooms, but I won't put another pregnant woman out to fight while I'm. tucked away inside one of those rooms. That's not the kind of leader I am and it's not the kind of leader you are either." She says this last part softly, pleading with me to understand.

I have to fight back my fear, fight the overwhelming need to tuck her someplace safe right now, as I lean my forehead against hers.

"You and I need to begin sparring again, Sophie. If you're going to fight, I'm d**n well going to make sure you're ready."

"I would expect nothing less of my Alpha," she says, leaning up and kissing me. I pull her to me, needing to feel her safe in my arms, needing to know that she's going to do everything she can to keep herself safe.

But I know she's right. I wouldn't want another pregnant she-wolf to fight because my mate was in a safe room. It's not who

we are.

This, fighting for what we believe in, this is who we are.

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