The One He Claimed

Chapter 184: The Twins’ Plans

Sophie

I know Hunter is worried about my jealousy and possessiveness. Well, he doesn’t care as much about my possessiveness or Hedda’s need to mark him nearly every night now making sure that everyone knows that he’s ours. I think he rather likes that part. But the jealousy is difficult to manage, especially during these events when there are so many she- wolves around. I know, in my head, that the she-wolves competing have perfectly good reasons to be talking to Hunter, but my wolf doesn’t like it at all.

On the day that the Alphas showed Alaric’s pack to the contenders, t noticed that Margot stayed close to me. It took me longer than it should have to realize that Hunter asked her to watch over me. When it finally dawned on me, I turned to her.

“Are you here to make sure I don’t attack anyone, or to make sure that I do something else that might be crazy?”

She looked at me and smiled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. How is it holding your niece? Are you getting excited about your little one?” she asks, expertly redirecting the conversation.

I just shake my head at her. “It’s good. She’s so sweet, so beautiful. I can’t wait until I’m holding Hunt.”

“I hope you’ll let the rest of us hold him too,” she says, her smile fading a bit as she looks past me

“Has anyone seen my mate?” Calvin asks, walking up and looking out in the direction of Alaric’s pack. He hadn’t arrived last night like I’d thought he would and when he didn’t show up this morning, they’d started without him.

“She’s with the other Alphas, showing the contenders the parameters of Alaric’s pack as well as the packhouse and general areas,” I say.

When he finally looks down at me, his face softens when he sees Athena. “There’s my little girl. How is she doing?” he asks me, reaching out and stroking a finger over her little fist.

“Fine, as far as I can tell,” I say.

“She’s got an Alpha’s appetite, that’s for sure,” Margot says, stroking Athena’s head.

“Did you want to hold her?” I ask him. Hunter had been a natural, He’d held Athena as if she was our third or fourth pup. It made me even more excited to see him holding our son.

However, the moment I offer to let Calvin hold his daughter, he looks terrified. “Oh, uh…she looks comfortable. I wouldn’t want to disrupt her nap,” he says, taking a step back as if she’s dangerous and might leap at him, attaching herself to his body.

“I’m just going to go find Amelia,” he says, racing off.

“What was that?” I ask Margot.

“Not all men are created equal and not all men are comfortable around babies. Alpha Calvin seems to be one of those that isn’t comfortable around babies. Although, I’ve known men who were terrified of hurting their daughters but when they had sons, they treated them like they were indestructible, so who knows with him. He’s an odd one. I haven’t been able to figure him out yet.”

“I think Amelia feels the same way,” I say, thinking of my sister. It really is incredible what she’s doing here.

This time, the Lunas had gotten together to discuss the community center. Everyone has ideas and in general, I think wel can include all of them. Everyone likes the idea of trails to run, as well as a playground and picnic area where families can spend the day and cook out while enjoying themselves. What we need now is to have someone leading the plans and making sure that things move forward. Because Margot is too far away, Letti is still trying to put a pack together, and Allison and I are too far along in our pregnancy, that leaves it to Tiffany and Tammi, or Nikki.

“Actually, Dutton is planning to take us away for a bit,” Tammi says tentatively, looking at Tiffany.

“What’s that look?” Nikki asks her.

Tiffany looks around as if making sure that no one is listening. We all lean in to hear what she’s going to say.

“Do you remember the story of how we got here? About how our Alpha female sacrificed herself so that we could get away?” Tiffany asks.

I had forgotten, but now that she reminded me, I do remember. Allison, Nikki, and I nod. Margot and Letti hadn’t heard the twins’ story before.

“Well, Tam and I have asked Dutton if we can find out what’s happened to her, if she’s still being held captive by her father or if she’s been marked. He hasn’t been able to find out anything, but we owe it to her to try and help her now that we’re in a position to do it. So, we’re going to be heading to our old pack lands after this competition and the trial.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?” Allison asks. “I mean, you’re both pregnant.”

“It could be, but she sacrificed herself for us. What kind of Lunas would we be if we stayed safe in our pack and let her suffer. We wouldn’t be worth our title. And honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve even started having nightmares about it. I don’t know if something is happening or if I just feel strongly that we need to help, but I can’t rest until I know she’s okay,” Tammi says, Tiffany wrapping an arm around her and hugging her.

“Is there anything that we can do?” Margot asks.

“Actually, I think Dutton is going to ask Alpha Ezra if we can stay in his pack, your pack. It’s closer to our old pack and he can run some patrols from there to see if he can find out anything at all. Tam and I both think that if we’re there, someone who would be unwilling to talk to Dutton might talk to us,” Tiffany says.

“What are you planning to do if you find out she’s still being held hostage?” I ask them.

They both look around again and once again, we all lean in closer.

“We’re going to kidnap her and bring her with us. At least here we can keep her safe.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

No wonder they’re being quiet about it. Kidnapping an Alpha female from her father is a huge deal. It’s the kind of thing that starts pack wars.

“Has Dutton talked to our mates about this?” Nikki asks, frowning.

“I don’t think so. I think he’s hoping to not involve the alliance members in this so that you can all claim ignorance if something goes wrong and it goes to trial,” Tiffany says.

“You two are risking an awful lot, you realize that?” Letti says.

“She sacrificed herself for us. We owe her a chance to have the same life we have,” Tammi says definitively.

When our mates walk up, we change the conversation. I’m worried about my friends, but I understand the desire to help their friend. If I was in their position, I’m sure I’d have asked Hunter to do the same. And knowing my mate, I’m sure he would have.

We stayed one more night and while I knew that Jocelyn was planning to stay for her next surgery, I hadn’t considered that she’d be a good Beta for my sister. But once Amelia asked her about it though, I’d realized that the two of them could make a powerful team. Both are strong, like-minded women who already seem to respect each other.

Over the next week, I become more and more uncomfortable, Hunt continuing to grow quickly and staying very active. I love feeling him moving around. That way I know that he’s healthy, but it’s not at all comfortable for me, even as an Alpha female. I spend most of my time in the nursery getting the last little things ready for him to arrive and more than once, Hunter has found me asleep in the rocking chair..

As excited as I am for Lucas and Kinsley to hopefully win their pack, I’ll be thankful when this and Zahn’s trial are over, and I can relax at home and wait for this little one to arrive.