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.

from pulling her to me and kissing her passionately like I want

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

breath. “I love you, Layan. You don’t have

touches her finger to my lips.

tightly. I don’t want her to leave. It takes everything

help her into the car, watching as she puts her fingers to her lips. Yeah, I can

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

and now, waiting for me. I move to walk past them, my head down. Mason

walk in silence for

that she had to

know. She’s welcome back any

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

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

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

the difference. Look at Hana. She chose Seth. When she was cornered,

were working together for the pack. We knew Luna Jara wanted you and I wanted Layan, even back then. This will be different.

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

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

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

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