The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 71

Mason

After leaving Elijah, I decided to try finding Jara by going to the first tree where I found her, at the beginning of the claiming territory. There is hardly anyone this close to the front of the territory and I realize, it’s a perfect hiding spot for her.

When I get there, I look up at the tree where I first saw her. When she’s not there, I begin looking around at the nearby trees. The trees here aren’t as dense as they are further into the territory, so I’m able to easily follow the line of trees she would have to use to move from one to the other.

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Eventually, I find her scent and I know which tree she uses to get up and down. I look at the tree, judging whether or not it can hold my weight, before jumping up and catching the lowest branch. I pull myself up, following her scent trail.

When I get to where she begins moving through the trees, I test each branch to make sure it will hold my weight. I can’t risk falling and breaking a leg this late in the claiming. It would never heal in time for me to catch her.

stronger than it has been in the past and I know I’m starting to get lost in the haze. Hoping she’ll come back here at some point,

through the trees, following her scent, staying quiet when others are nearby. As much as I like following her this way; I want to make sure I don’t give

of the claiming territory, so once I get to a point where I can no longer cross the branches, I climb back

also worried about Jara. She was going

top. When I get there, I see him, Typhon’s Beta. He has a gaping hole

at the signs of the battle that went on up here. There is dried blood everywhere. I shift and sniff the ground. None of it

can smell her on the Beta and I realize, she’s the one that ripped his heart out. I shift back and turn him over. The punch came from behind. I look back at the ground, then at the trees, and I know Jara saved Elijah from

my head. Did he claim what was mine? Does he want her?

the haze, that’s not me. I know Elijah wants Layan. I need to get down from here before her scent and his mixed together sends me into the haze. I have no

to the ground, I take in a deep breath of air. Jara’s scent is there, always, but it’s much less potent down here where she hasn’t

her, I decide to check on Elijah. I follow his scent to the lake. This time. I’m on the opposite

and I can see where he came back out. I have to a*s*sume that

come running out of the forest. Behind them, several other wolves are chasing them. Based on

I watch, the three attack and kill the two they were chasing, before turning on