The One He Claimed

Chapter 169: Returning Home

Sophie

I say goodbye to my friends again but this time, it’s not so sad. I know I’ll see them again in a week, but we also talked about meeting to discuss the mountain area. Everyone loved our idea of the play area for the pups and the trails for wolves, not just pups, to run when they need to get away. If it becomes a community area, we can all take it on as part of our protection, making sure that if anyone calls out for help, we respond. Since we’re meeting back here in a week anyway, we decide to come with our ideas and, when we have some time, we can go over the ideas together.

Lucas decided that he doesn’t want to compete for this pack. I’ m glad because I really want him to go for Alaric’s old pack. Hunter told me that Calvin brought up that pack too, and I plan to talk to Amelia about it. I didn’t get the impression that she wanted to expand our father’s pack.

Hunter straps our bags on me again, making sure nothing is pinching or rubbing too much, before shifting and laying down. I begin my struggle to get onto Shaw again, when I hear Nikki.

“Sophie, it’s painful watching you,” she says, walking over and lifting me up, helping me get settled onto Shaw’s back.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Kinsley asks.

“You were probably busy getting you and your own baby bump on your mate’s wolf. I don’t have a baby bump yet, so it’s easier for me and Shaw won’t get grumpy about it since I’m a friend and not a male touching his pregnant mate. Right, Shaw?” she asks, then she smiles mischievously and winks at me.

“Robin, is it me or is Shaw larger than Derric?” She tries and fails to hide her smile from taunting her mate. I feel Shaw snor ust as I hear the growl behind her and bones snapping before a large black wolf comes walking over a moment later.

Shaw carefully gets to his feet, standing beside Derric. Nikki makes a show of assessing the differences between Shaw and Derric.

“Hmm, I guess it was just having a pregnant Sophie on his back that made him seem bigger,” she says. Derric growls at her before she finally wraps her arms around his neck, hugging him. “Even if you weren’t the same size, and I think you might be just a bit larger, you’d still be the only man and wolf for me.”

Rather than letting her get away with her teasing, Derric shifts his body, gently pushing Nikki to the ground before laying on top of her, pinning her down, and covering her face with kisses.

“Oh, Derric! Derric, stop!” she complains, trying to push him away. Her mate’s wolf doesn’t even slow down, making sure that his long, wet licks go up into her hairline, her hair beginning to stand out at odd angles. “Robin Porter, don’t think I don’t know that you’re encouraging this behavior!”

Shaw chuckles. “Bye Nikki, see you soon,” I say, laughing as Shaw begins heading home, Nikki’s complaints following us for several more minutes.

We stop again at the top of the mountain to get water and enjoy the view from up here. It really is a beautiful area.

“We should figure out what to do with the space inside the mountain, otherwise, it’s going to become a h**k-up spot for young wolves,” Kinsley says.

“Do you have any ideas? I mean, it’s so small. The only thing that comes to mind is a swimming area for pops, but the pool is too deep. I’m not sure that’s a good idea either. Really only she- wolves, omegas, and pups are getting in there,” I say.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

‘I got in there,’ Hunter says in the mind link.

“With my help,” Kinsley says out loud. “I’m not sure you or Lucas could get in there without assistance.”

‘We can think about it, but I’m not sure a pup area is the right idea. You’re right, Soph, the pond is too deep. Maybe we use it as a getaway for newly mated pack members. Speaking from experience, it’s a great place to seal your bond.’

Hedda begins purring loudly at his words, images of our night together flitting through both of our minds.

“It is far enough away from all the packs that it provides privacy, and it’s got everything you need except food. We can talk to the others about it when we meet next week,” Kinsley says.

We begin making our way back to the pack, Shaw and Dario announcing our return as we get close. The entire pack responds, and I instantly feel their happiness and contentment that we’re back.

“That’s such a great feeling. If Lucas wins a pack, I hope it’s the same feeling that we get from our pack,” Kinsley says, closing her eyes as she lets the pack’s love flow through her..

“It’s a wonderful feeling. I love this pack so much,” I say, letting my own love for them flow through the pack bond.

Almost instantly, I hear Shaw, Dario, and Kinsley all begin purring.

“What’s that about?”

“Our Luna loves us. There’s no better feeling in the world. Well, maybe the love of your mate, but in a pack environment, the love of your Luna is everything,” Kinsley says, this time basking in the love that I’m letting flow through the pack bond.

‘Is it that important?’ I ask Hunter.

‘Don’t you feel the rest of the pack responding, Soph? Your love means everything to them. Your love and appreciation of them makes them feel worthy and safe.’

I do what Kinsley is doing. I close my eyes and open my mind to the entire pack, and I feel what Hunter means. Their happiness and love are being reflected back at me and I let the feeling wash over me until Shaw stops at the back of the packhouse.

When he does, I take a deep breath, smiling happily as I slide off his back. “It’s good to be home,” I say, as Penny and Jaime walk out to greet us.

“It’s good to have you home, Luna,” they both say.

“Good to have all of you home,” Penny says.

Hunter and Lucas shift. “Any problems?”

“Just one. I bet you know who it was,” Jaime says, rolling his eyes.

“How bad?” Lucas asks.

“Come see for yourself,” Penny says, smiling at her mate. Oh, this ought to be good.

“Jocelyn?” I ask her.

“She’s just fine, Luna. She was released from the hospital yesterday and has been recovering nicely at the Survivor’s Center. Sandy is taking lead on helping her get around, but when I left them this morning, they were already in the garden. Dr. Caspian and Brooklyn left last evening, but they called from Alpha Amelia’s pack to let us know they arrived safely. They were planning to check on your sister today and then head to Alpha Dutton’s pack to check his Lunas, before returning to your sister’s pack.”

“Thank you, Penny. I’ll go check on Jocelyn, let her know that we’re home.”

“I’m sure she knows, Luna,” Penny says smiling.

As we walk inside the pack greets us, welcoming us home again. It takes a moment before I see him and when I do, I can see that the pack hasn’t gone easy on him.

“I see you didn’t heed my warnings, Alpha Zahn,” Hunter says. Zahn is covered in bruises, his split lip is still healing, and he looks like he reinjured his ribs again based on the way he’s sitting, his arm around his midsection.

“Your pack attacked me!” he growls. It would probably sound more menacing if he didn’t cough at the end of it, making him flinch in pain.

“And why is that, Alpha Zahn?” Jaime asks him. He’s standing in what I would call parade rest. His legs are wide, his hands are behind his back, but he’s clenching and unclenching his fists as if he’s ready for whatever comes at him.

“I just wanted to check on my mate!” he growls again, this time much more softly.

I’m guessing she didn’t want to see you, Alpha Zahn,” Hunter says.

“You would be correct, Alpha,” Penny says.

I’d feel sorry for Zahn, but he’s bringing all of this onto himself. I guess he truly didn’t believe that our pack would protect Jocelyn

I send a wave of pride through the pack bond, letting my pack members know how proud I am that they protected someone that I left in their care. I see Hunter glance at me out of the comer of his eye, smiling at my response. But what is most impressive to me is how, almost as one, every pack member in the room stands a bit straighter, a bit taller, with my praise.