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.

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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.

me. I’m about to turn away when chocolate brown eyes lock with mine. Alpha Luke. A

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

the stream, the cliff with the watering hole at the top and several areas where the trees were especially good for hiding. Layan,

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, most likely. We don’t anticipate the claiming haze to impact anyone this year. Plus, Alpha Luke already told me that he knew about Jara in the trees, so I’ll have to be very smart about

find it easily where it comes from underground, or under the fencing of the territory. I take off my shoes and begin to casually

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

where Jara said the cliff with the watering hole is. Once I get there, I see that there is a bit of distance for me to make it to the cliff. I take a deep breath and run as far as the branch will let me, leaping into the air and just landing on the cliff. I tuck and roll as I land and as I come to a stop, I see the

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 three Alphas

my biggest 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

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

trail, but it won’t lead them anywhere. I

I 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 there are any rock formations