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.

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

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

her as we catch our breath. “I love you, Layan. You

to my lips.

throat close with 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

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

both watch each other as the car pulls away, and it’s not until they turn

for me.

silence

had to

know. She’s welcome back any

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

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

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

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

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. This will be different. Alpha Davis, Alpha Luke and Alpha Quinton

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

you need to take some 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 some time, whatever you need right now, you’ve got

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

we 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

to know that you will look after her. I trust the