The Alpha Hunter

Chapter Seven - Cooper Marshall

✺Darion✺

I still hadn’t decided what I was going to do about this hunting job. The plan was still being worked on and Ronny hadn’t pitched up for work since that first meeting. However, so far, we had two additional meetings and although Ronny hadn’t been there, Oliver had updated the board with information. Right now, I was sitting around the table with the others, and I wasn’t paying much attention to Oliver, but I was staring at that board. Ronny had already collected a lot of information. Not only just about the Alpha and Luna but about the pack in general. The village, the packhouse, the infirmary, and other locations within the territory. I shook my head as I realized that in this week alone, Ronny had managed to infiltrate the territory and gather this much information. It was disturbing and the thought made me nauseous, this was what they had done to me and my pack. It did make me wonder how Ronny hadn’t recognized me. It was clear the man knew how to do his job, or was it simply, he didn’t put two and two together. I had no idea, but I had pushed the doubt aside and finally tuned in on what Oliver was saying.

“Ronny made it very clear that the packhouse is the heart of the pack, and that means there is a constant flow of feet,” I sighed as I wondered how this was all going to play out. I had wanted Bradley out on the field because I wanted him to see what being a hunter was truly all about but now, I was starting to worry. These men, these hunters, were dangerous. Including Bradley.

“Any information on Cooper?” Bradley asked and Oliver nodded.

“Yeah, he will be coming with the boss,” he said, and I sighed. A mini version of Kurt was on his way here. Could this situation get any worse? I turned back out of the conversation as I thought about Linda. She obviously liked me and that was something I could work with but unfortunately, she was hardly in the shop and that meant I didn’t have a lot of time to do any groundwork. I knew I could not just go up to Kurt and find out everything I wanted to know, but I could try to seduce Linda into giving me the information. It was while I was thinking of a way to get Linda to give me what I needed that a strong smell suddenly hit me. It was so strong, so powerful, that I moaned out softly as my wolf started getting excited.

“Are you alright, man?” Bradley whispered over at me and I quickly nodded as I leaned forward and rested my head in my hands. I had no idea what was happening. I couldn’t think past that smell. That scent. My whole body was reacting to it. It felt like pins and needles, only it was a lot more intensified. My body started shaking when I heard Dion.

“Mate,” the word made me look up and I saw Kurt come in with, who I had to assume was his son, Cooper. I stared at the young male and desperately took in his appearance. Cooper wasn’t as tall as his father and although they shared similar features, it was clear to me that they were complete opposites. Cooper’s hair was a sandy blonde mess that could probably use some cutting or even a style. Admittedly I had no idea about hairstyles, but it was simply different. It looked as if he had just rolled out of bed, ran his fingers through his hair, and done. Cooper had the same brown eyes as Kurt and right now he was glancing around the room, curiously. I could see that Kurt was talking but I couldn’t hear a thing. Cooper had a small frame, well built, but small. He wore a loose-fitting sweater and my eyes bulged at the tightness of his pants. How did he even get into that? I didn’t have time to think about this feature as I watched in complete awe as Cooper opened his mouth and let out a roaring laugh. I looked to his left and saw that he was laughing at whatever Oliver had said. When his eyes fell on me, I froze. He was looking at me!

“That is our newest member, Darion,” Kurt’s voice broke through the moment and I sat up straight.

“Hey!” Cooper greeted and the sound of his voice washed over me in such a wave that made my legs feel weak.

“Hi,” I squeaked out. Bradley punched my arm, but I paid no attention to him as Kurt and Cooper sat down. I didn’t want to stare; I couldn’t stare but I did. Cooper often threw me a look every now and again and I didn’t even hide the fact that I was so blatantly staring at him. He was just so beautiful that even though I knew it wasn’t appropriate, I couldn’t help it. Every instinct, every fiber of my soul was screaming at me to claim him. The feelings were so real and so distracting that when Cooper stood up with the others, I was taken by surprise. I watched as my mate walked away with his father and I felt sad, empty, and alone. It was no wonder I had never wanted to find my mate.

“What is wrong with you?” Bradley suddenly demanded and I turned to my friend and smiled sheepishly. “Are you gay? Bisexual?” he questioned, and it was then that I realized they must have noticed me staring.

“Neither” I answered before I left. I wasn’t bothered by my mate being male. I had been taught about the importance of a mate from a young age. However, as I got into my truck, I knew I needed to speak to my parents. Especially my mother. If anyone could help me, it would be her. I may have general knowledge about mates and all that, but I had no idea what to do or think about the fact that my mate is one hundred percent human. Did Cooper feel anything? I wasn’t sure. I needed to know how to proceed and as much as Everette had been a big help lately, I knew that he didn’t have these kinds of answers. No, I needed to talk to my mother. She would know exactly what to do. Aside from that, I was fairly sure they would appreciate me calling. After all, despite them banishing me from my home pack, they were and would always be, my parents.

✺Cooper✺

I couldn’t get to the car fast enough. Never ever in my life had I been so uncomfortable and so attracted to someone like that.

“Are you alright?” my father asked me when we got into the car and I quickly nodded. “What did you think about the meeting?”

“It was informative,” I admitted. I didn’t want to discuss it. I couldn’t. Otherwise, I would end up lying because the truth was, I hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything. Darion had pretty much occupied my mind and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Right now, all I wanted was to be at home in my room, alone, with my thoughts. I wasn’t gay!

“That’s good,” he said and when he didn’t comment further, I relaxed. The drive home was short and when the vehicle finally stopped, I jumped out, made some random excuse, and hurried to my room. Closing the door behind me, I closed my eyes and saw Darion. The way his thick black hair had seemed to naturally look perfect and the way his intense blue eyes never left me. I couldn’t shake that feeling he had created, and I didn’t understand it either. I took out my phone and called Amy. My ex-girlfriend from college was not only my first and only girlfriend but she was also my best friend.

“Hey, Coop,” she greeted, and I frowned. normally whenever I spoke to her, the sound of her voice would calm me. However, all I wanted was to hear Darion’s voice. Throughout the meeting, it had been very obvious to everyone that Darion wasn’t truly paying attention and that had meant he never spoke. Aside from the rushed out ‘hi’, I had no idea how he sounded.

“Hey, Amy,” I said as I went over to my bed and sat down. “How are you?” I questioned. Amy Matthews had finished off college six months before me and although we had decided that the best thing for us to do was break up, we had remained good friends.

“I’m good, what about you?” she asked. I wasn’t sure I would be able to discuss it with her over the phone, so I made a quick decision.

“I’m fine, listen, do you remember when you said you’d love to see my hometown?” I threw the memory out there and prayed that she would not only remember but that she would also want to come to Witmoor.

“Yeah,” came her reply after a moment. I hesitated then and I had to ask myself, was this the right thing to do?

“I was wondering if you were still interested?” I questioned softly. The silence dragged on and I knew I shouldn’t have asked. I opened my mouth, ready to explain when I heard her give out a soft sigh.

“Is this your way of trying to get me back?” her question threw me off guard. “Coop? Is it?”

“No,” I said truthfully. “I really need to talk to you about something,”

“So, talk to me, why do I need to come all the way over there, when we can talk like this?”

“Because this is serious,” I whispered as I glanced over at my closed door. Amy knew a tiny bit about my family history but not all that much. I would have a lot to talk about.

“Are you in trouble?” she then asked, and I chuckled.

“If by trouble you mean potential s****l issues then yes,” once again I was met with silence and then I heard her start to giggle.

“Coop, are you telling me, you’ve already found some cute girl to replace me with?”

“I wouldn’t quite put it like that,” I said.

“Well…if you think you need to talk face to face then I will make the trip,” she said slowly, and I smiled. “Lucky for you, I happen to have a bit of free time available,”

“Lucky me,”

“Hmm, I’ll let you know,” she said before hanging up. I laid back on my bed and sighed. Darion. Dark, sexy, and extremely mysterious haunted my mind and I had no idea how to stop it. Although Amy had been my first and only girlfriend so far in my life, I had never been attracted to a man before. I had no idea how to deal with this and it was starting to freak me out. How do I explain that from the moment my eyes fell on him, I just knew that he was…no, that can not be true, can it? I frowned as I thought about the possibility of finding one's soul mate. I loved Amy and I had fallen in love with her by the end of our first date. How could I possibly know anything about love? Or soul mates? I shrugged as I sat up. She would be coming here and then she would help me figure things out. In the meantime, all I had to do was avoid Darion.