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.

me. “What are they going to do with

1 have no intention of letting them put her back into the claiming territory.

what it

what it takes.”

what they planned for Layan. She was released from the hospital in the morning, and Elder Carson called a meeting in the early afternoon. According

I turn and

Layan. And while these

man is delusional. An unfortunate event is breaking a leg,

I hear Layan whimper behind me as she breaks down into tears. Annabel rushes to her, holding her as she crumbles to the

ringing out over the crowd, causing them all to

Elder Carson says, turning to

back into the claiming territory. She will be allowed to go home with her family.” I point

Jara. You have no jurisdiction

here than you do, Elder. Believe me when I say, that girl will go back into

can get to her, will have go through me.”

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

go through me.” Mason says, making eye contact with me

another, the true ranked members come to stand side by

wait until my replacement shows up tomorrow. He can decide. Good luck if he decides to put her back into the claiming territory.” He says before stomping

looks at me. “Will

serious, Layan. You’re going back in there over my dead body. I won’t allow it, no matter who declares it. Go with your parents back to your room. Hana and 1 will be there soon.” I turn and look