The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 3

Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 23

Katerina

The morning that I was scheduled to enter the claiming, I was nervous. It was finally time. I was excited by also nervous. Alpha Luke had told me to find the cave tonight and sleep there. Luna Jara had told me the same. She also told me to carve my name into the wall, that they had started a tradition last year.

Title of the document

After the morning announcement that I was going into the claiming, I was given a bag of food, mostly freeze-dried meats that had minimal scent and therefore minimal flavor, but still food I would need over the course of the week.

Luna Jara had asked if I wanted anyone to walk me to the entrance, but I told her I was fine. As I walk to the entrance, I am rethinking that. My heart rate is ticking up. One more day. One more day before the hunt is on for me. I can only imagine what it was like last year for Luna Jara or Luna Hana.

want to catch me. I’m about to turn away when chocolate brown eyes lock with mine. Alpha Luke. A slow smile spreads across his face, as if he knows he’s just captured

and turn, getting my mind into the hunt. Luna Jara said to use this first day to learn the lay of the land, and I

hiding. Layan, Mignon

is most likely the one Jara spent her last couple of minutes in. It’s closest to the entrance and has a large branch near the bottom. Her group was in the claiming haze though, so she sat quietly waiting for her time to be near. I won’t have that,

the territory. I take off my shoes and begin to casually walk through the stream, eliminating my

get to the end, I realize there is an opening here. I make a note that if I’m being chased, I want to exit the stream before I get to the end, otherwise, I’ll be leaving a scent trail behind for them

a bit of

territory below me. This will be a great spot to watch what is happening below me. And since I didn’t leave a scent trail, I will plan to head back this way to see where people are during the week. If I make it that long. I have

threat of capture, but I’ve also heard stories of how she- wolves running from Alphas, have run right into a warrior or omega, getting themselves caught. It’s how my mother was caught by a warrior. She was being chased by two Alphas and they chased her right into the arms of my father, who didn’t waste any

back into the tree. It’s time for me to start heading toward the lake and the cave. I begin leaping through the trees, searching for the hiding spots the others told me about. I also make note of a couple of other cliff faces that Jara and Hana told me about. I stop at each of them, checking to find the ways to climb up or down if

anywhere. I strip off my clothes, putting them in the waterproof

wanted to make sure it’s still true. This will be my only time in the cave. If I’m cornered up there, there is only one way to escape. Leaping off the cliff into the waterfall. I’m a good swimmer, but I have no idea if