The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 164: Circle of Protection

Sophie

| have a lot of concerns about leaving Jocelyn while she’s in her recovery stage. | know that Penny will look after

her, check on her, and protect her, but it’s not the same. Jocelyn and | have begun to bond, and | don’t want to

lose that by being away for a day or two.

| go to see her first thing on the morning before we leave. | already know that | need to go with Hunter. Whether

it’s our bond, the pregnancy, or a combination of both, | know | can’t be away from him that long, and | definitely

won't be able to sleep. without him beside me.

When | walk into her hospital room, I can see that she’s improved overnight. She's sitting up and having some

breakfast when I walk in.

“Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” | say, sitting down beside her.

“Sophie! Good morning! | think Dr. Caspian is going to releasetoday. | know I'm not healing at wolf speed,

but I think | am healing faster than a human.”

“It definitely seems like it. How are you feeling?”

“Sore, but better. | think sitting outside and trying to reconnect with Cassidy will helpheal faster too.”

“Does that mean you're going to help set up the garden with the others?” | ask her.

“Yes. Sandy cby last night and we talked about what I'd like to plant. | thought that was really nice, since

this isn’t my pack. But she toldthat anyone who is friends with you or Alpha Hunter will always be welcome

here. And she said that after | leave, | could cby any tto visit.”

“She's right,” | say. “It sounds like you and Sandy have already becfriends.”

“She’s been through a lot. You bond quickly when you've been through the types of things that we have.”

“I imagine so,” | say, holding her gaze. “I wanted to talk to you about something. There's this thing...” | sigh. |

know Hunter isn’t telling Zahn, but Jocelyn isn’t the sas he is, and | want her to understand the importance

of why we're going. “Hunter isn’t telling Zahn, but | think it's okay to tell you. We'd just like to keep it from him

until we know for sure where he stands.”

“Where he stands?” she asks.

“Yes. In the past, he sided with the packs who have gone to war with us. Hunter and | don’t trust him. | think he

might truly be here for you, but Hunter's not convinced.”

“I honestly wouldn't know, Sophie. If | thought he was going to do something to hurt you or this pack, I'd tell you,

| swear.”

“I believe you, which is why I'm going to tell you why | have to leave the pack for a couple of days.”

“You're leaving me?” she asks, worry clouding her face.

“Just for a couple of days,” | tell her, taking her hand. “It's important. | wouldn't go if it weren't. But you know

how we've fought several Alphas and that has left pack lands open without. leadership?”

“How many? | thought there was only the two, Joshua’s and Alaric’s.”

“No, Owen's and Elias’ packs are also open. The Alphas in our alliance, Hunter, Robin, Kayce and others, have

agreed to open a competition to our pack members to take over those packs. Today, we're all meeting at Owen's

pack to show the

prospective competitors the pack lands, let them decide if they want to participate, and then we’ll schedule the

first battle.”

“You're opening it to everyone? Even omegas?” she asks.

“Omegas AND women,” | tell her, and her eyes go wide. “Amelia is blazing the trail, and Nikki is paving the way

behind her. Things are changing, Jocelyn, for the better. Who knows, if you get healthy enough, you could

compete for your own pack, if you want one.”

“Wow, so it's not just your pack that you're changing?”

“Well, we started here, but now it’s tto branch out and make changes to the entire werewolf community.

Change has been needed for a long time. Hopefully, Zahn will be on board with that, but if not...” I say.

“If not...” she says, looking thoughtful. “My own pack. | would never have dreamed of such a thing. How soon will

the other pack lands be available?”

“I'm not sure. Owen's pack is first and | believe everyone has agreed that Alaric’s pack will go up next. Joshua

and Elias’ packs are farther from us, so they'll clater.”

“Now | wish | could go with you. This will be exciting,” she says.

“It is. I'm very excited. We have several warriors who want to compete. And, if you're healthy enough, I'll take

you with us when we open up Alaric’s pack. You can meet my sister and see what it’s like for a female Alpha to

run a pack of her own.”

“I'd really like that, Sophie.”

“Good, then you rest, get healthy and when Dr. Caspian returns, we'll hopefully be able to get you scheduled for

another surgery. Maybe by then, your wolf will be back, and you can heal more quickly.”

She looks thoughtful for a moment, then looks at me, her face clouding again. “Do you think I'll be safe while

you're gone?”

| raise a finger to tell her to hold on and | mind link the warriors outside her door. They knock before walking

inside.

“Luna?”

“Jocelyn, this is Caleb and Frankie. They are your assigned guards for today. Gentlemen, can you tell Jocelyn

what your role is?”

Caleb steps up as the senior warrior. “Luna Jocelyn, our role is to keep you safe at all times. We are to ensure

that Alpha Zahn does not approach you, speak to you, or in any way harass you, unless you choose to interact

with him.”

| see Jocelyn look atin surprise.

“And what happens if Alpha Zahn disregards that expectation while Hunter and | are away from the pack?” | ask,

already knowing the warriors are itching to beat Zahn up again. | heard they weren't gentle when they dragged

him to the packhouse last night.

Both warriors look over at me. “Alpha Hunter hasn't yet given us our restrictions for how we are to handle Alpha

Zahn.”

“Restrictions?” Jocelyn asks.

“Yes, Luna,” he says if that answers her question.

“They don’t like Zahn. They're angry at how he treatsand that he doesn’t respector Hunter. Basically,

they're looking for any excuse to beat the crap out of him,” I tell her, watching my warriors nod their heads at

my explanation. “So, if he approaches you without your consent, he'll be lucky to remain alive. Hunter said he

was more worried about Zahn thanif I” went with him and | see he’s right. Somehow, Zahn has managed to

turn this entire pack against him in just a couple of days.”

“He is not the kind of Alpha | would ever choose to serve,” Frankie says.

“Nor would I. I have no respect for a man like him. My apologies

if that offends you, Luna. | know he’s your mate.”

“Not by choice,” Jocelyn says, and both warriors nod in understanding.

“Caleb, how many other warriors plan to keep an eye on Jocelyn while Hunter and | are gone?” | ask and Jocelyn

looks up at them, surprised again.

Both men’s lips twitch. “All of us, Luna.”

| turn and look at Jocelyn. “Still worried about Zahn?”

“No. | guess I'm not. Thank you both, and thank you, Sophie. Your circle of protection seems to have included

and embraced me. It’s nice to feel safe. It’s been a long time.”

“We will keep you safe, Luna. That's a promise,” Caleb says seriously.

“Well, how about you callJocelyn, Caleb? | don’t accept my position as Zahn’s Luna, since | never wanted to

be his mate.”

“Yes ma'am.”

“You too, Frankie.”

Frankie nods in agreement and Jocelyn turns back to me. “When are you leaving?”

“This morning. | wanted to see how you were doing before | made my final decision but seeing you looking

healthy made up my mind.”

“And you'll be back tomorrow?”

“Yes. Just one night away. If Dr. Caspian releases you today, I'm sure Sandy will help you get back to the

Survivor's Center.”

“We'll help her, Luna,” Caleb says.

“Well, | guess you're leavingin good hands, Sophie.”

| stand and lean over, hugging Jocelyn. It's natural for me, but | feel her body flinch before she relaxes and

reaches around to hugtoo.

“Be safe,” she says.

“Get well,” | say and head back to the packhouse. | feel much better about leaving now.