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.

I’m too damaged.” She says

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.

tilts her head, looking over at Lewis who gives her

your friends are for. But

over to hug Layan. I frown, looking at her stomach. It’s like in one week she

Mignon steps back, Layan’s eyes go to her stomach.

her stomach. “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, and he knows that Alpha Seth and Beta Elijah are here. I’ve also promised to call him a minimum of twice a day and answer all of

as she says it, her phone buzzes. She looks at the screen before picking up the

walking away a bit to talk to Asher. “Yep, I just got here. Yep, your girls

tell that Layan is surprised

he’s good to you?” Layan

glow on her face 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

do with this information. She’s not there yet, mentally,

I ask her as

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

against me, like she did last weekend. I carry her to my room again, planning to have her sleep with me. Her mother told me that she’d

when Hana comes in. “How

I say, crawling into bed and sitting with my back against the headboard

bed,

turn to her as I stroke Layan’s hair. “How are things

members are. He does have two she-wolves in their

to have someone go there periodically

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

going on, but if he and Mason think it’s a good idea, they could present it to them. And, if we’ve a*s*sessed

idea.” She says,