The Claiming By Cooper

The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 29

Jara

When I arrive back in Alpha Davis’s pack, I’m glad to see that Layan looks considerably better than she did when we left her last weekend. However, when she walks up to hug me, holding me so tightly that I can barely breathe, I know that it’s only on the surface.

Title of the document

That’s okay, it’s a start and every small step forward is still a step forward.

I see Elijah watching her as he pulls my bags out of the car, his jaw tense. It’s probably a good thing that he didn’t see her last weekend if her current state is affecting him like this.

“Am I the first one here?” I ask her as she finally pulls away.

“Yes. I heard that Alpha Seth will be joining us this weekend instead of Alpha Asher.” She says. She looks past me, a frown, forming on her face.

“Is that Beta Elijah?” She asks me quietly.

I turn, seeing him ducking his head, smiling that she remembers him. “It is. He’s here as part of my guard duty this weekend. Do you remember him?” I ask her, hoping she has good memories of Elijah.

She nods. “He was kind to me.”

“Yep, he’s a good guy.” I say and sadness fills her features.

I turn her, keeping my arm wrapped around her shoulder, heading inside. “What’s that look for?” I ask, leaning my head on top of hers.

me now. I’m too damaged.” She says and I see a tear

whisper in her ear. “He wanted to come last weekend, but Mason needed him at the pack. He volunteered to come here because he was worried about you. And you also caught the eye of my other guard, Lewis.”

over at Lewis who

at her. “You’re not damaged, sweet girl. You were traumatized and you need to heal, mentally and physically. And that’s what your friends are for. But there is nothing wrong with you, Layan. You’re not damaged.” I say,

looking at her stomach. It’s like in one week she went from having a flat stomach to now having a pronounced baby bump, like

steps back, Layan’s eyes go to her

That’s why he was here last weekend. He is very protective of me and our little pup. But he trusts Alpha Davis now, and he knows that Alpha Seth and Beta Elijah are here. I’ve also promised to call him a minimum of twice a day

buzzes. She looks at the screen before picking up the call. “Hi

a bit to talk to Asher. “Yep, I just got here. Yep, your girls are safe and sound. I’ll call you tonight. I

can tell that Layan is surprised by the level of

good to you?”

She puts her phone away and walks

Layan doesn’t know what to do with this information. She’s not there yet, mentally, so

did you want to do this weekend?” I

us piled on the couches. Now, the four Lunas are taking turns spending

to Brynn and my mother, finding out how things are going in Alpha Quinton’s pack. Layan falls asleep against me, like she did last weekend. I carry her to my room again, planning to have her sleep with me. Her mother

Hana comes in. “How is she?” She asks,

now. I hope she stays that way.” I say, crawling into bed and sitting with my back against the

side of the bed,

as I stroke Layan’s hair. “How are things in Alpha

his pack members are. He does have two she-wolves in their childbearing years and both of them have one young she-wolf along with a bunch of sons. Neither of them are ranked members and your mother doesn’t think that they will be of much help to the

figure out how to have someone go

of sorts? We’re all in an alliance. What if, those who are close to going feral come to our packs for a month or so, keeping them in close proximity with us until we’ve pushed it out. It won’t have the same lasting effect until those packs have their own Luna to

they pushed the alliance call off until after this weekend because of what is going on, but if he and

says,