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, I want to make it memorable, special, something she

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

her as we catch our breath. “I love you, Layan. You don’t

finger to my lips.

emotion I’m feeling. I pull her to me and hug her tightly. I don’t want her to leave. It

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

it’s not until they turn a corner, and I can no longer see her that

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

in silence for a

she had

know. She’s welcome

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

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

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

at Hana. She chose Seth. When

is no working together. It was different for you and me. We were working together for the pack. We knew Luna

omegas just to give you the edge. You don’t know what

to take some time, Elijah, do it. You’ve been running this pack while I was out of it. I’m ready to step

more I work, the faster this

Alpha Gunnar won’t let this go. We have

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. I trust the pack, but you are the one that has the best chance of protecting her, just like you did