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

know, but 1 have no intention of letting them put her back into the claiming

what it takes, we make sure she

matter what it takes.”

planned for Layan. She was released from the hospital in the morning, and Elder Carson called a meeting in the early afternoon. According to Mason, he’s been replaced, but his replacement won’t be here until tomorrow. Apparently, he intends to continue acting like he’s

and walk her onto the stage. I turn and nod for Annabel to join us. We will be presenting a unified front to

are all aware of what has happened to the Omega Layan. And while these

delusional. An unfortunate

hear Layan whimper behind me as she breaks down into

out over the crowd, causing

me?” Elder Carson says,

her family.” I point to where her parents are standing and only now see that Layan’s father is supporting her mother who looks horrified with this

have no jurisdiction here. The

will go back into the claiming territory over my dead body.” I hear a

think you can get to her, will have

“And, you’ll have to go through me. I’d rather die than let any one of you lot claim her. None of

comes to 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 with

says, making eye

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

up tomorrow. He can decide. Good luck if he decides to put

around her. Layan looks at me. “Will they really put me back

my dead body. I won’t allow it, no matter