The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 3

Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 35

Elijah

On the morning of Layan’s claim, Mason joins me.

Title of the document

“I’d like you to reconsider. If things don’t go the way you hope…”

I’m already shaking my head before he finishes. “I can’t. And you, of all people, should understand that.” He grits his teeth.

“I do, but I don’t’ want to lose you. You’re a great Beta, and a better friend.”

“Then wish me luck.” I tell him.

His hand comes down on my shoulder. “Bring her home, Elijah.”

When the gun goes off, the others run into the territory. I walk in, taking my time. But as soon as I hit the forest line, I smell it, the scent trails. They are everywhere. I close my eyes and smile. She did this for me. In one of our discussions, she asked me what I would have done with my life if I hadn’t been a Beta. I told her that my family had come from a long line of trackers. I can pretty much hunt anyone, anywhere. I’m not as good at is as some of my other family members, but I’m better than most.

I begin walking, take a deep breath, finding the strongest of the scents and I begin to follow it. Last year, there were 75 of us in the Hana’s claiming and nearly 200 in Jara’s. While I can track well, I don’t have the ability to track a scent that has been stomped over by multiple males, basically covering the female’s scent.

This year, that isn’t a problem. There are only nine other men in Layan’s claiming, and they all went running for the lake and the cave.

I follow the scent that leads me to the burned-out fire. I look around, seeing how she scorched the area. I wasn’t here last year, I didn’t see it happen, but I heard about it, like everyone else did.

firepit that she obviously made until I find where her scent is strongest. Then I squat down and look at the remains of the fire. This is where she stood last night, howling. This is why

never did. The woman is amazing, capable of kindness to others, even when she’s afraid for herself. She has never

took control of the past, burned it so there is nothing left

I refuse to hunt her, not after what she suffered here last year. I won’t be the reason that those memories, that horror comes back to her, especially now that she seems to have buried the past where it belongs, here in

has created. This territory is large, large enough that I’ll be surprised if I run into any of her other claimants this week. I close my eyes again, taking a deep breath, finding the strongest scent and

on the move, and she has been. Surprisingly, none of her other claimants have raised the howl of the hunt. It’s nearly as quiet in here as it was for Katerina’s claim. I wonder if that’s intentional. Layan hand- picked these men. All of them have been

or feeling

I know it, but my howl is not about me. It’s about her knowing that I’m here

I fall asleep, I hear her

getting more intricate each day. It’s almost as

for her to make her decision. Today will be the turning point in my life. I will either

I know which trails are a dead end. I’ve been strategically maneuvering myself to where her true hiding spot is. She’s almost

had to guess, I’d say that’s her ground zero, a beacon drawing me to her. There must be a burrow or hidey hole there where she’s been staying

smell her. She’s definitely close. I continue to sniff around

come out.” I say quietly, and I step

hear her rustling around before she emerges from a well-hidden

going to

my head.

hurt flash in her eyes before she looks down. “You don’t want me?” She asks so quietly I

anything that I’ve ever

come to mine. “Then,

will nip at your heels and happily chase you all over our pack lands. But not here.

you saying,

of our lives. I want you so much that it hurts, Layan. But I won’t take that choice from you. So, I want you to choose me.

tears. “You want me to