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.

turn away when chocolate brown eyes lock with mine. Alpha Luke. A slow smile

hunt. Luna Jara said to use this first day to learn the lay of the land, and I intend to do

the watering hole at the top and several areas where the trees were especially good for hiding. Layan, Mignon and Annabel had also given

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

and begin my exploration of the territory by the stream. I find it easily where it comes from underground, or under the fencing of the territory. I take

marking spots in the forest beside me where I could easily get into a tree, or identifying the areas where one of the Lunas said they found a hiding spot. When I get to the end, I

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

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 hunting me. All of them are smart, all of them know the Lunas and have heard the stories of how they were captured, and most of them came

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

I’m done eating, I take a running leap 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 I’m trying to evade capture, then I leap back into the trees and

and leap down. They’ll find this trail, but it won’t lead them anywhere. I strip off my clothes, putting them in

towards the waterfall. It’s beautiful in the evening light, the sun casting its last rays of the day into the water. I swim to the farthest edge, noting that there is way to climb up to the cave from this side. All of the Lunas said that, but 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 under the surface of the waterfall and I won’t risk breaking a bone. There would be no way to avoid capture at that point, and I intend to leave the claiming