The One He Claimed by Cooper

Chapter 109: Fighting Differently

Sophie

After getting our pack members settled, and then having breakfast, Hunter finds me.

"Soph, cwith me. Before the others arrive, you and Kinsley are getting a crash course on fighting together,"

he says, and | see Lucas leading Kinsley in our direction. Hunter leadsoutside and Lucas and Kinsley follow

behind

Us.

"Okay, here's the deal," Hunter begins turning to face us as several other warriors join us. "Lucas and | hate the

idea that the two of you won't be in one of the safe rooms. | understand your reasoning and I'm not going to fight

you on it. However, | expect that the two of you stay together and fight together. Sparring withand Lucas

isn't going to help. You won't have one person coming at you face to face like we've been training you. So, what

we're going to do is have the two of you stand back-to-back, covering each other. That way, you only have to

cover your front and sides, and you can help each other," he says, looking atthen at Kinsley.

I look at Kinsley and we both nod

"Lucas and | are going to watch and give you pointers on how to protect yourselves better. These guys," he says,

pointing to the warriors, "are going to attack you from all sides as if we were in a real battle. You two are key

targets, not just because Joshua

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288 Nouchers

will want to take you as his mate, Sophie, but because you're ranked members. Injuring or killing either of you

will destroyand Lucas and it will weaken us enough that we'll be easily killed." | reach out and take Kinsley's

hand, knowing that neither of us is willing to be the reason our mates are weakened or killed in battle.

"You guys," Hunter says, turning to the warriors. "are my best warriors and that's why you've been chosen for

this exercise. You have the most knowledge, the most fighting strength, and the most control. Our mates are

going to fight all out against you. You are only allowed to knock, scrape, or injure them to the point that their

wolves can heal them within an hour. Anything more than that, and you'll answer to one of us," he says,

gesturing to himself and Lucas.

He turns back toand Kinsley. "I need it to hurt because | need you both to be prepared to continue fighting

when you're injured. But I'm not willing to risk either of your pups for a training exercise. Understood?"

Kinsley and I both nod.

"Do not hold back. Do not worry that you'll hurt them more than they can heal. The goal is to prepare you to take

them down and for the two of you to stay alive until Lucas or | can get to you. You're both limited in your

movements now which is why we need to practice this."

He turns back to the warriors. "Chris, Nathan, you each take one from the front," he says, then looks atand

Kinsley. "Back-to-back you two," he says, crossing his arms over his chest. Chapter 109. Fighting Differently

280 Mouchers

"We're going to start with just these two, then I'm going to have the others attack so you can see what will

happen if you aren't paying attention," he says. "Ready?" he asks, and Kinsley and | get into a defensive posture.

"Fight!" he says and Nathan, who is in front of me, charges at me. He popsin the shoulder hard before |

swing my arm about and smash him in the face, knocking him aside. He shifts into his wolf, coming atagain.

When he leaps, | duck.

"STOP!" Hunter calls out and we all stand to look at him.

"Mistake number one, Soph. If someone comes at you straight on, you can't duck, or they'll take out Kinsley." |

turn, seeing that Nathan nipped Kinsley in the shoulder. He didn't draw blood, but he tore her shirt. "You have to

remember that you're protecting her back as much as your front."

| nod, looking at Kinsley, both of us getting more determined. | squeeze her hand again, before turning around,

our backs pressing more tightly together.

"Again. Fight!"

This time, | stay upright, making sure to protect Kinsley's back. Nathan comes atagain and I'm doing pretty

well holding my own but still taking hits when | feel a nip in my backside.

"STOP!" Hunter says and | turn to see that a third warrior entered the fight withoutrealizing it. Kinsley and |

have moved apart, and this wolf didn't even need to rush to get me. If we'd been in a fight, he'd have taken me

down easily.

"Second mistake, Kinsley. Don't let the wolves pull you apart. They will try to draw you away from each other.

One wolf is

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288 Wouchers

much easier to take down than two fighting together.

"Again. Fight!" he says, and we go through the motions, with Hunter or Lucas stopping us periodically to show us

where we messed up.

"We're just getting to a point where they aren't stopping us but reminding us to be mindful of our situation when

we get the notice that the she-wolves and pups have arrived from Owen's old pack. "Nice job, you two. That was

very good. We need to practice more and if we have ttonight, we will," Hunter says.

| turn and look at our warriors. "Thank you all. That was very helpful and also a great lesson on having to fight

through the pain. | appreciate all of your control and that you were willing to take our punches and kicks at full

force," | say to them, Kinsley agreeing.

"You pack a mean punch, Luna. My cheek is still swollen from that first punch you threw over an hour ago. Make

sure your punch hard and fast like you did to me," Nathan says. The others agree, letting Kinsley know that her

knee to the gut of a wolf was also very effective.

"You two go wash up and meet us inside. Lucas, Ezra, and | will go meet the women," Hunter says. As | turn to go

inside, | see that there is a large group of warriors and women who are watching, sof them have also started

practicing fighting two together with other warriors and Alpha Ezra giving them pointers on how to protect each

other.

"Let's have everyone return this afternoon, Hunter. It's not justand Kinsley that need to protect each other.

Our young

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mothers and others who have volunteered to stay out of the safe rooms could also benefit from this training," |

say to him.

He turns seeing the others, who have created their own training sessions. "You're absolutely correct," he says

and begins to address the larger group. "If we aren't attacked before, meet here at four o'clock this afternoon so

we can practice again. If you haven't already, find your partner. We'll have everyone pair off, so we learn to fight

together and protect each other," Hunter

says.

| can feel the relief from sof our pack members, especially ones whose mates have volunteered to be out of

the safe rooms, but still have young pups, sstill young enough to be nursing.