The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 5

Jara

I like Hana immediately. She and I are obviously in the same situation, not wanting to be a part of this ridiculous pageantry put into place by the Elders to ensure a ‘stronger generation’.

I follow the guard who is pushing my luggage. “Do you mind if I join you?” Hana asks me.

Title of the document

“Not at all. When did you get here?” I ask her, as we move through a kitchen to a hallway.

“A couple of hours ago. Just long enough to realize that it’s terribly boring here, super quiet and heavily guarded.”

As she says that, we turn down a corridor that has two guards at every door. “Our rooms. Each one is guarded by two guards at all times. They don’t say much.” She tells me.

“So, ten guards at all times?” I ask. That’s almost as much as my escort here.

“Oh. that’s just in this hallway. I’ve counted another 20 in the main part of the house, and I haven’t had a chance to check yet, but I’ve seen some others guarding the perimeter outside.” “Are they hying to keep us in, or the guys out?” I ask as the guard stops at a room and opens the door. He holds his arm out, keeping me from stepping inside. Instead, he walks in, checking everything before allowing me to enter. I look at Hana and she just shrugs. “I guess they’re very serious about keeping us safe until our claiming.”

“To answer your question. Alpha,” the guard says as he pushes my luggage into my room, “we are here to keep the five of you safe. While it is not our intent to make you feel like a prisoner, we do ask that you stay within the confines of the house and perimeter so that we are better able to ensure your safety at all times.”

“What’s your name?” I ask him.

“Luke, Alpha. And Beta, there will always be a total of 50 guards inside the house and around the perimeter. We will be rotating shifts.”

“I’m guessing you’re all mated males?” I ask.

through rigorous testing to guarantee that we would be able to keep all of this year’s contestants

looking between Luke and Hana.

Alpha. They all arrived

they?” She

shoulder and asks the location of the

outside looking around the perimeter trying to see the males as they arrive. Hana and I roll our eyes at that. We couldn’t

Luke. I’m sure

you will. Alpha.” He nods at

pulling the door closed behind him “Do you mind if I stay while

tell her, gesturing to a desk and chair on one side of the

closed door on the opposite side of the room. “And that will be the bathroom.” She points to another closed door right next to it. “It’s actually not a bad set up, if we weren’t here for the claiming.”

for the next few weeks. I learn that she is the oldest of two children born to her parents. Her brother is younger and not eligible to

your parents come with

dropped me off, but I told him he didn’t have to stay. He is still the acting Beta until my brother turns 18, so it’s not like he has time to sit here for a month or more. And I knew my mother wouldn’t be able to stay with me, so what’s the point? It’s not like

and look at her. “Are any of your packmates going to

by someone you don’t know, or being claimed by

know the person. Although, if I think about who is here from my pack, it is kind of gross to think about having to

heard that a*s*shole Alpha is back in the claimant pool again. How is that even

idea. You’d think we’d be treated better, more reverently since we’re the only possible

the sounds of the others

nearly dinner time. I hear it’s being brought in from the main house and our guards have to

If they are that concerned about these guys acting crazy, why didn’t they screen

says as we

watch us, but they nod in acknowledgement as we pass. I sniff and

are Alphas?” I whisper to Hana

“They’re all older I a*s*sumed the claiming’s they attended were back in the days when the pool of she-wolves was larger Maybe Alphas don’t have time to dedicate to this process or maybe there