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 and I see a

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,

her head, looking over at Lewis who gives her a smile.

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, turning as I

Layan. I frown, 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 her little girl just suddenly popped out, announcing herself to the

Mignon steps back, Layan’s eyes

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

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 are safe and sound. I’ll call

can tell that Layan is surprised

he’s good to you?” Layan asks

on her face sharpening as she refocuses her gaze on Layan. She puts her phone away and walks over to her, taking her

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

do this weekend?” I ask her as the three of

Now, the four Lunas are taking turns spending time with Alpha Davis and

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 told me that she’d been having nightmares again while we were gone. Hopefully, being close to me and

Layan into bed when Hana comes in. “How is she?”

that way.” I say, crawling into bed and sitting with

on the other side of the bed, tucking up against Layan’s back. “I

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

based on what she said. It doesn’t seem that Alpha Quinton is as far into the feral-fever as Alpha Davis, but some of 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.

need to figure out how to have someone go there periodically to help ease

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 help, but it could be a way to keep our numbers from dropping

Seth 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 he and Mason think

She says, getting