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.

Title of the document

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.

especially since they were done months in advance of the claiming, but I was overruled. When I spoke to the council this year, and told them my 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

have anything to do with Layan going back into the claiming

that the council agreed to the more intensive a*s*sessments. We want to make sure that nothing like what happened to her, ever happens again. But we also know that any human that doesn’t have absolute control over their wolf may kill in the territory. We’re putting every possible safeguard in place to

say our goodbyes and thank Jason before we hang

immediately

Mason asks me, kissing

feels really good having you rub the sides of my stomach.” My head is leaning back against him, my

long as you like.” He

begin purring and the sound of it, the feel of it against my body, lulls me

walk.”

I can carry you.” He says, this time kissing the top of my head that is

back to full strength and Brynn and Luke are helping. Even Melinda seems to understand that

saying anything to her, she had 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 arms around Melinda, before

on her own, but her presence had helped them to heal faster, especially the omegas who were coming out of

found out later that some a*s*sessments included Melinda, and the pack members

bed and

slowly get up, feeling a cramping in my side. I shower, rubbing my stomach, trying to soothe my babies and my overstretched body. Even with

and 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

Mason’s voice drifts into my mind. Always so attentive,

some cramps this morning. I’m making

today, maybe you should sit it

go sit

our pack members, but the link between

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

of the chair and hauling my body up to stand. As I do, I feel a pool of

stop, looking

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

feel him

“What happened?”

“I think it’s time.”

“Time

little

followed by the moans of those in the

“Alpha, what’s