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 hold myself back from pulling her to me and kissing her passionately like I want to. If

of her lips, and they open, letting me tickle 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 angle. My other hand wraps around her waist, pulling her to me. Her arms slide around my neck, and we kiss until we both

catch our breath. “I love you,

finger to my

her tightly.

watching as she puts her fingers to her lips. Yeah, I can still

it’s not until they turn a

and Jara are here, having said goodbye for Layan and now, waiting for me.

silence for

she had to leave.”

She’s welcome back any

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

that very 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. Maybe they’ll let

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 doubt in my mind that she would. And I know I should want that for her,

what she wants to. And sometimes, that makes the difference. Look at Hana. She chose Seth. When she

what happens there, but inside the territory, there 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.

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 be a whole different claiming.” He

do 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 some time, whatever you need right now,

he’s talking to me as my friend, not my Alpha. “But I need to work. The more I work, the faster this year’s claiming will come. And hopefully, the sooner the claiming occurs, the sooner I can bring Layan

need to start prepping for an attack. We know it’s imminent. Alpha Gunnar won’t let this go. We have all the she-wolves, we killed the Elders, he has nothing to lose.”

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