The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 2

The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 55

Jara

I haven’t spoken to Mason since he rejected me several weeks ago. If I’m honest with myself, I know it wasn’t a rejection, it was from a place of love that he told me no. I know that, somewhere in my mind, I know I’m being irrational, but it does nothing for my feelings of anger and hurt so I’ve stayed away from him, choosing to sleep in Layan’s room every night instead of going to our room.

Title of the document

I’ve shut myself off from Mason. My grief is so overwhelming that I can’t handle any more. I know he’s hurting too, but I can’t be there for him. It’s just too much right now. The same is true for the pack. I know they are feeling grief for our loss, and I’ve shut myself off from them, not able to deal with more than my own pain. And so, I’ve stayed locked inside my own head.

I’ve avoided everyone, everyone except Layan and Isabella who refuse to let me ignore them. Or, if I refuse to speak, they sit with me, talking around me or sometimes, just sitting quietly with me. They’ve made sure that I eat and that I bathe. Otherwise, I go where they tell me, I sit where they tell me.

Tonight, as with every evening, I’m in a rocking chair on the back porch with a blanket over my lap, rocking gently in my chair looking out over the forest. Layan is on one side of me and Isabella on the other.

“Luna!” Melinda says, racing toward me.

“Melinda, no. Come back here. Leave Luna alone.” Brynn says, coming up behind her.

“I’m so sorry, Luna.” She says, taking Melinda’s hand and trying to pull her away.

Melinda is having none of it. “No momma. I have a message for Luna. I have to give it to her, it’s important.” She says, fighting to pull her hand out of her mother’s grasp.

“Melinda, stop this. We’ve talked about this.” She says, picking Melinda up.

says as

for Melinda. She’s so insistent that whatever she feels the

me. I help her crawl into my

my dream to tell me and she said it was very important that I tell you.

frown at her. “A

She says, nodding. Isabella is watching her closely and

wondering if Melinda has heard my sister’s name before and

are a light green color, not like Luna’s, which are brown.” She says, studying my face as if to make sure she

looks at me and I nod. That’s exactly what my sister looked like. “What did she say?”

don’t have to cry anymore, Luna. She has baby Mena, that’s what she called her, and she will

to my mouth. “What?” I

she will watch over your little girl as if she was her own, so

tears in my eyes. “She always wanted to name her daughter Mena. Did you see

pretty. She has your dark hair and Alpha’s grey eyes. Oh, and Warrior Lewis was there too. He said he’ll watch

Melinda.” I say,

Luna. Luna Mila was very happy. She said to make sure I gave you this message. She said it would make you feel

It really does. Thank you.” She hugs

I’m ready

reach out, holding my hands. I squeeze them, closing my eyes and sending a silent prayer of thanks

has been lifted from me, a darkness

laughter, no talking, nothing. Just the sound of paws hitting the dirt in the distance as the patrols run

not only suffered the loss of a member of their pack, but they are feeling the loss, grief and

I do, it’s as if I can feel his head snap up,

the air and follow his scent to his office. I open the