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.

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 want

them further, gently sliding my tongue into her mouth. Her sweet taste of apricots nearly brings me to my knees. My hand goes into her hair, and I tilt my head to get a better

our breath. “I love you, Layan. You don’t have to say anything, I

to my lips. “I love

the emotion I’m feeling. I pull her to me and hug her tightly. I don’t want her to leave. It takes everything in me to stand back and

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

away, and it’s not until they turn a corner, and I can no longer

waiting for me.

in silence for

had to leave.” I

know. She’s welcome

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

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

“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 for her too. She’d be a good Luna. There’s no

the difference. Look at Hana. She chose Seth. When she

is no alliance, there is no working together. It was different for you and me. We were working together for the pack. We knew Luna Jara wanted you and I wanted Layan, even back then. This will be different. Alpha Davis,

she chooses only omegas just to give you the edge. You don’t know what it will be like this year. It

it. You’ve been running this pack while I was out of it. I’m ready to step back in now, so if you want to get away, take

me as my friend, not my Alpha. “But I need to work. The more I work, the faster this year’s

then, we need to start prepping for an attack. We know it’s imminent. Alpha Gunnar won’t let this go. We have

place. “If anything happens to me, you need to take care of Jara. I need to know that you will look after her. I trust the pack, but