The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 3

Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 7

Jara

The second day of a*s*sessment is as grueling as the first. I take it slowly, making sure that I don’t overextend myself. I take hourly breaks and when I feel my babies start to slow their movements, as if my healing our pack is draining them too, I stop and go lay down to rest. Yesterday I slept nearly four hours before Mason woke me for dinner. Today is the same.

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Layan had stayed one night with Elijah and had gone home the next morning. She knew her pack needed her and I’m thankful I can help in my pack as well. From everything we’ve heard from all of the packs, this year’s a*s*sessments are far worse than previous ones.

When I ask Mason about it, he decides we should call Councilman Jason and ask him.

We’re in his office, and I’m on his lap, as always, these days. I lean back against him, and he begins rubbing circles on my stomach, soothing me and our little ones.

“Councilman Jason.” He answers on the third ring.

“Councilman. This is Alpha Mason.”

“Mason, how are you? How are a*s*sessments going? I haven’t heard of any males failing.”

“No, none of my pack members have failed a*s*sessment so far. We have one more day of a*s*sessments to go.”

“I didn’t just mean your pack, Alpha. None of the packs have a single male that has failed a*s*sessment.”

Mason and I look at each other. “So, the council was right?” I ask.

“It would appear so.”

“And we think this is because the she-wolves are providing this vaccination effect in the packs?” Mason asks.

“That’s my take on it.” Jason says. Mason and I sit in silence for a moment.

“So, what can I do for you Alpha, Luna?” He asks.

“We wanted to know why this year’s a*s*sessments seem much more intense than the usual a*s*sessments.” Mason asks him.

reasons, they agreed. We’re still determining if this level of a*s*sessment will be needed in the future, but given that no one has failed, it appears that, while difficult, it is valuable. We can ensure the safety of our females, and our

with Layan going back into the claiming

intensive a*s*sessments. We want to make sure that nothing like what happened to her, ever happens again.

thank Jason before we

I don’t immediately

okay, love?” Mason asks me, kissing the side of

you rub the sides of my

long as you like.” He

the feel of it against my body, lulls me to sleep. I

walk.” I say,

kissing the top of my head that is tucked

in tomorrow. Elijah should be back to full strength and Brynn

crawled into one of the omegas laps, leaning against him. At first, I thought Brynn would get upset. But she watched the omega wrap his

Melinda had said. She isn’t able to heal those a*s*sessed on her own, but her presence had helped them to heal faster, especially the omegas who were coming out of

lap, holding her tightly. We found out later that some a*s*sessments included

me into bed and I fall asleep curled

in my side. I shower, rubbing my stomach, trying to soothe my babies and my overstretched

getting dressed, I head down to where our pack members are going after their a*s*sessments. I get another cramp in my side and I

drifts into my mind. Always so attentive,

I’m making my way to

today, maybe

these cramps are stronger than normal. “I’m going to go sit outside for a bit and see how I feel

heal one of our pack members, but the link between us stays wide open.

magic. But after several minutes, I’m uncomfortable, not finding a

and hauling my body up to

looking down. Oh

I hear Mason in my head, he’s still distracted,

I feel

“What happened?”

“I think it’s time.”

confusion. “Time for what?” He

our little

banging open, followed by the

hear Mason say “Alpha, what’s going on?” I