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.

one that nice would want me now. I’m too damaged.” She says and I see

at the pack. He

her head, looking over at Lewis

“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

at her stomach. It’s like

back, Layan’s eyes

“Pregnant. Yes. Asher and I are having a little girl and we’re so excited. That’s why he was here last weekend. He is very protective of me and our little pup. But he trusts Alpha Davis now,

it, her phone buzzes. She looks at the screen

I just got here. Yep, your girls are safe and sound. I’ll call you tonight.

where we are because I can tell that Layan is surprised by

he’s good to

sharpening as she refocuses her gaze on Layan. She puts her phone away and walks over to her, taking her hands. “Yes. He is so good to me, and I really do

do with this information.

this weekend?” I ask her

movie time with the five of us piled on the couches. Now, the

carry her to my room again, planning to have her sleep with me. Her mother told me

in. “How is she?” She asks,

that way.” I say, crawling into bed and sitting with my back against the headboard so I can talk

comes to sit on the other side of the bed, tucking up against Layan’s

I stroke Layan’s hair. “How

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

how to have someone go there periodically to help ease their

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

about it tonight and see what he thinks. I think they pushed the alliance call off until after this weekend because of what is going on, but if

She says,