The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 2

The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 58

Elijah

Things are starting to get back to normal. Isabella returned to her pack already and sadly, it’s time for Layan to return as well.

Title of the document

I had tried everything I could think of to keep her here. But today, she’s leaving, and I don’t know when I’ll get to see her again.

“My pack needs me, Elijah. You know that. I’ll see you soon. Plus, you showed me how to video call you, so I can do that now.”

“It’s not the same.” I say, putting my hands on her hips and gently pulling her toward me. I’ve been testing out the ‘I’m not scared of you’ philosophy by doing little things like this. She never flinches when I touch her. I love that.

“I don’t want you to go.” I say. I’m trying to stay strong, but I feel like my heart is breaking. What if this is the last time I get to hold her in my arms. What if someone else claims her this year.

I look into her sweet, soft eyes. “Can I kiss you, Layan?” I ask her, hoping she’ll say yes, but also prepared for her to say no.

A smile graces her face, and she nods her head.

I lean in, touching my lips to hers. I hold myself back from pulling her to me and kissing her passionately like I want to. If this is her first kiss, I

apricots nearly brings me to my knees. My hand goes into her hair, and I tilt my head to get a better angle. My other hand wraps around her waist, pulling her to me. Her arms slide around my neck, and we kiss until

we catch our breath. “I love

my lips. “I

feel my throat close with the emotion I’m feeling. I pull her to me and hug her tightly. I

help her into the car, watching as she puts her fingers to her lips. Yeah, I can still feel her warm

as the car pulls away, and it’s not until they turn a corner, and I

now, waiting for me. I move to walk past

silence for

that she had

She’s welcome back

to, Mason. If anyone else….” My throat clenches

well. I’ve asked Jara to be there for her meeting with the council. They want to wait until it’s closer to the time of the claiming, to give her time to heal and to feel more comfortable, but we don’t know what’s going to happen.

shake my head. “They won’t. They can’t. There are still too many of us who need and want mates. Not to mention, I’m up against at least one Alpha. And I’d be surprised if Alpha Luke and Alpha Quinton didn’t try

looks to me like that’s what she wants to. And sometimes, that makes the difference. Look at Hana. She chose Seth. When she was cornered, she

were working together for the pack. We knew Luna Jara wanted you and I wanted Layan, even back

has to choose to allow them into her claiming. She may not. Maybe she chooses only omegas just to give you the edge. You don’t know what it will be like this year. It will

ready to step back in now, so if you want to get away, take some time,

to work. The more I work, the faster this year’s claiming will come. And hopefully, the sooner the claiming occurs, the sooner I

let this go. We have all the she-wolves, we killed the Elders, he has

care of Jara. I need to know that you will look after her.