The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 15

Mason

When we gather the second night before dinner, the air is crackling with frustrated energy. I don’t think anyone really thought through the idea of having so many unmated males in one place. Add to that, what amounts to a large number of females together in this small space and it’s becoming a recipe for disaster.

Elijah and I are standing on one side of the room, watching as the atmosphere continues to become more and more tense. The omegas and warriors are impacted the most, making it worse, but I can see that some of the ranked members, even some Alphas that are starting to feel the effects of all the testosterone in the air and the smell of the females so close, but currently unattainable.

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When all hell breaks loose, I snarl in the mind link to my pack members to sit their a*s*ses down. It’ s what every ranked member here should be doing, but it’s becoming more obvious as time goes on that many of the ‘Alphas’ don’t deserve their titles or have gotten their titles because there was no one else in their pack who was able to take on the role. I don’t know what their packs look like, but it’s causing mayhem here. There aren’t enough leaders to control this mess. At this rate, we’ll all be dead before anyone can claim a mate.

When 1 see a group make an aggressive move to the rooms where the social gatherings are occurring, 1 rush forward, intent to make sure the females are safe, but also wanting to ensure that no one forcibly marks one of them.

I hear the snarling and growling before I hear the shots start to ring out and my anxiety ratchets up. There is a push of bodies trying to get into the rooms, whether it is to take advantage of the chaos or to help protect the females, 1 don’t know. Probably some of both.

1 watch as Seth forces his way forward, checking the rooms and continuing. I begin to follow him, a*s*suming that he will be looking for Jara. When I see her, something in me relaxes. I watch as Seth thanks the Alpha that was in her social gathering Based on the look of her door and Beta Hana’s, they had the most aggressive attacks.

When Seth offers to escort Beta Hana out of the chaos, I step up, seizing an opportunity to escort Jara. I want to touch her. No, I need to touch her. 1 need to know that she is unharmed.

“Thank you. Mason. I’d like to check on the others.”

“Of course. Based on my quick a*s*sessment as I made my way here, they are fine But let’s check on them. They may need your Alpha aura to feel calm and safe again.”

We get to Mignon’s room first. She has had the most time with her group, since her lottery was picked yesterday. When we arrive, she is allowing the one ranked member in her group, a Beta, to console her.

“Mignon? Are you alright?” Jara rushes to her. She is in the lap of the Beta tucked up against his chest. She is holding on to him and crying while he attempts to calm her. When he sees me, bares his teeth in warning and a low growl rumbling in his chest.

here escorting Alpha Jara. She wanted to check on the others.” I say to

turns and sees her. pulling her into a hug. It’s awkward as

protected me when those others came in. They were awful, attacking and trying to get to me. I think…” She sniffles. “I think

I look at the

I turn back to Beta

“What happened?”

the commotion and one of the warriors went to look.

turns to look at me as if she is about to say something but changes her mind. She looks back at Mignon. “Do you want me to get your guards to take you back to our housing?” Jara

her Beta, her eyes

her. “I won’t let anyone hurt to

to know each other and choosing

to me before turning back. “Beta Asher, if anything happens to Mignon while she is in your care, I will hold you

anything to worry about. I will

walk out of the room. As we do, she leans into me, lowering her voice. “There were wolves in

into a rut. It’s possible that some of them are trying to fight their baser instincts but they only have so much control Before these attacks broke out, I could feel the change in the atmosphere The stronger the testosterone m the air, the more

me with those beautiful amber eyes. “That’s not

say as we get to Layan’s room. The scene here is very different. While there

in the room, rather than having Layan on his lap comforting her, he has her behind him, snarling and growling at everyone else in the room. Layan is curled into a ball, shaking and sobbing hysterically. The guards in the room have their guns aimed at him. Whether they are afraid of hurting Layan. or just unwilling to kill an Alpha, I’m not sure, but either way, they

is instantaneous. She is moving before 1 have a chance to warn her. The Alpha turns on her, baring

Alpha feels it too. He looks like he might comply for a moment before lunging at

say, my aura overlapping with Jara’s. That finally seems to impact him, and

her into her arms, rocking her as Layan cries. My gaze never leaves the

you put Alpha Jara at risk. She will take

at Layan, taking a step in her direction. A fierce snarl rips from Jara’s mouth “Leave!” She orders and the timber of her voice has changed, her wolf s overlaying with her own, her amber eyes darkening to a chocolate

of the room. I hear the collective sigh behind me as the