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.

back from pulling her to me and kissing her passionately like I want to. If this is her first kiss,

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

“I love

my

tightly. I don’t want her to

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

it’s not until they turn a corner, and I can

and Jara are here, having said goodbye for Layan and now, waiting for me. I move to walk past them, my head down. Mason falls into step beside

walk in silence

hate that she had

She’s welcome back any

to claim her. I have to, Mason. If anyone else….”

with the council. They want to wait until it’s closer to the time of the claiming, to give her time to heal

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

chose Seth. When she was cornered, she ran to him and chose him. You never know what will happen

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

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 be a whole

time, Elijah, 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

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

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

my arm and holding me in place. “If anything happens to me, you need to take care of Jara. I need to know that you will look after her.