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.

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

head to clear it and turn, getting my mind into the hunt. Luna Jara said to use this first day to learn

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

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

it comes from underground, or under the fencing of the territory. I take

tree, or identifying the areas where one of the Lunas said they found a hiding spot. When I get to the end, I realize there is an opening here. I make a note that if I’m being

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

be 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

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

time I get to the lake, it’s late and I’m getting tired. I find the tree closest to the lake and leap down. They’ll find this trail, but it won’t lead them anywhere. I strip off my clothes, putting

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