The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 2

Mason

“Alpha! It’s here.” Elijah, my Beta says, coming into my office.

I set aside my paperwork and take the envelope, noticing the significant size difference from any other year’s claiming package. I’m not surprised, every eligible male in my pack signed up. Since everyone will have a chance to hunt a mate this year, it’s our best opportunity knowing that no one will be eliminated from the Alpha female’s pool of claimants.

Title of the document

I open the paperwork, looking over the candidates. Most of my pack members have no expectation of winning the Alpha female, not with me and Elijah in the hunt. But there are four other females this year, the largest pool of females in years. Usually, there is one, maybe two. Five is practically unheard of. Add to that an Alpha and Beta female? It will be a f*uc*king blood bath.

I glance over the list of names. I have sixteen warriors and ten omegas going this year, twenty-eight in total when you add in me and Elijah.

My Gamma is older and was lucky enough to catch his mate ten years ago before the pool of females dwindled to the dangerously low number we are facing today. Elijah and I have both gone every year since we turned 18, and other than the Alpha female three years ago who was also open to all eligible claimants, neither of us have been called in the lottery of claimants.

to look over the list of other Alphas that I’ll

me across my desk. I

“Typhon.”

an Alpha female and he basically killed her, or close enough that it

mate is also the sister of the Alpha female who is in the claim this year.” I go back to the first page. “Jara,

cheated to get her. He’ll do it again.” Elijah says

is only a year younger than I am. While I’m closer to going feral, he’s not far behind me. “One of

we both know that if he gets her, it will most likely be less than a year before he’ll have to put me down. I won’t make it to the next claim. If I get her, he has another year, possibly two before he goes feral and may get called for the lottery in that time. For me, this is my last

over as the next ranked wolves. However, it’s becoming even more common that now those Betas and Gammas that have taken over the Alpha roles

try to steal mates from other males. It’s why I know that this year will be bloody. There aren’t a lot of rules for the claiming. Mostly they are related to how you claim the female. However, it’s basically open season on the other contenders. It’s why they limit the other pools. With only 20 claimants, there is a chance that the contenders will be too busy trying to find the female to kill each other off. And, in general, it works. But with over 200 wolves going into the claiming

hunt and your wolf has scented the one they intend to claim as their mate, battles to the death happen. It’s how Typhon won. He actually killed his own Beta

Elijah and sit back, rubbing my hands over my face. I don’t like killing, but this is life or death for most of us. And if it comes to them or me, it will be them dying

were gone?” I ask, as Elijah skims through the

he knows the