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.

Melinda says as Brynn begins to carry her

Brynn.” I say, reaching my arms out for Melinda. She’s so insistent

to me. I help her crawl into my lap, and she takes my face

came to me in my dream to tell me and she said it was very important that I tell you. She made me promise. I’ve been trying

frown at her. “A

is watching her closely and she

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

green color, not like Luna’s, which are brown.” She says, studying my

what my sister looked like. “What did she say?”

baby she could never have. She said you don’t have to cry anymore, Luna. She has baby Mena, that’s what she

my mouth. “What?” I

they will both see you someday in the Moon Goddess’s realm, but your job is here. So, she will watch over your little girl as

wanted to name her daughter Mena. Did you see her? My little girl?” I

grey eyes. Oh, and Warrior Lewis was there too. He said he’ll watch over them like he watched over you.” I

Melinda.”

to make sure I gave you this message. She

really does. Thank you.” She hugs

I’m

holding my hands. I

a darkness removed. My child is with my sister, and I know she will always look

laughter, no talking,

only suffered the loss of a member of their

if I can feel his head snap up, as if he’s been staring at the place where I cut off our connection, waiting and hoping for me to open

nose in the air and follow his scent to his office. I