The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 32

It was hours before Layan finally woke.

When she did, she looked around and immediately broke into tears. We all moved around her, hugging her and letting her know that she’s safe here.

“Your parents are on their way.” I say, because I don’t know what else to say. I’m angry that 1 couldn’t keep her safe, that she and the rest of us are being forced into this entire process.

Title of the document

“Will… will you stay with me until they get here?” She asks quietly.

“I’ll stay here as long as you want me, we all will. Claiming be damned. That pack of savages can go hang for all I care.”

A ghost of a smile crosses her face before she turns her face away and I see tears dripping from her eyes to the pillow.

“How about, I lay here with you, so you know, even in your sleep, that you’re safe?”

She turns and looks at me, before nodding. I crawl into the bed beside her.

“And I can lay on your other side, so you’re wrapped in love and protection.” Hana says, crawling into her bed on the other side.

“Come on, Annabel. You can join us too.” I make space between myself and Layan and Annabel crawls in between us. I wrap my arm around the two of them and feel Hana lay her arm across them, holding on to me. We’ve wrapped them in our embrace.

Hana looks up at me. “What are they going to do

of letting them put her back into the claiming territory. She needs to go home

it takes, we make sure

takes.”

the early afternoon. According to Mason, he’s been replaced, but his replacement won’t be here until tomorrow. Apparently, he

Hana and I take one of her hands and walk her onto the stage. I turn and

Omega Layan. And while these

This man is delusional. An unfortunate event is breaking

Layan whimper behind me as she breaks down into tears. Annabel rushes

say, my voice ringing out over the crowd, causing them all to go

me?” Elder Carson says,

in no condition to go back into the claiming territory. She will be allowed to go home with her family.” I point to where her

no jurisdiction here. The

than you do, Elder. Believe me when I say, that girl will go back into the claiming territory over my dead body.”

beasts that think you can get to her, will have

rather die than let any one of you lot claim her.

stand in front of the stage where we are standing. “And you’ll have to go through me. I believe the omega deserves to go home

go through me.” Mason says, making eye contact with me before turning to stand beside

beside them. One after another, the true ranked members come to stand side by side,

up tomorrow. He can decide.

at me. “Will they really put me back in there? I can’t, Jara. I can’t…” She

in there over my dead body. I won’t allow it,