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.

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

at the pack. He volunteered to come here because he was worried about

at Lewis who gives her a smile.

“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

of it, rushing over to hug Layan. I frown, looking at her stomach. It’s like in one week she went from having a

as Mignon steps back,

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

as she says it, her phone buzzes. She looks at the

talk to Asher. “Yep, I just got here. Yep, your girls

because I can tell that Layan is surprised by the level

he’s good to you?” Layan

Layan. She puts her phone away and walks over to her, taking her hands.

this information.

you want to do this weekend?” I ask

again. We have a lot of movie time with the five of us piled on the couches. Now, the four Lunas are taking

steps away on our first night to speak 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 told me that she’d been having nightmares again while we were gone. Hopefully, being close

in. “How is

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

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

her as I stroke Layan’s hair.

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

have someone go there periodically to help

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 over the next year. Seth told me they lost at

because of what is going on, but if he and Mason think it’s a good idea, they could present it to them. And, if

She says, getting