The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 14 (Jordan)

I wish I could say I slept last night. I needed to sleep last night. I have a packhouse full of Alphas, Lunas, Betas, and Council members for the next few days and I need to be on top of my game, playing host, being a good Alpha, and still somehow running a pack. Not to mention, I may or may not be on the list of some rogue Alpha who wants to force a mate bond with me so he can take over my pack.

But, instead, all my mind did was replay that scene of Jace walking into the packhouse, holding Kaiden, his nose in his head of hair, breathing deeply and a look of happiness on his face. It is on endless repeat in my mind. Jace walking in, Jace’s desire to have a pup clearly written on his face, Jace’s look when he saw me, his eyes darkening with desire and then his t*ouch, a t*ouch that sent electricity through my body. It was as if I was dead before and now, I’ m so alive that I can’t even sleep.

When I crawl out of bed, dragging myself to the shower, I start to mentally prepare myself for the day.

When I step into the shower, I mind link Dalia, making sure that the breakfast food will be ready starting at 6 am for the visitors.

‘Yes, Alpha. Gamma Jace has already been down here making sure we had everything we need to make enough breakfast for everyone.’

‘Has he? And is there anything that you need?’

“No, Alpha. Gamma Jace made sure we had enough food already. He also double checked on our plans for lunch and dinner, and he approved our menus. Would you also like to see them?’

‘No, thank you, Dalia. If Jace approved them, then I’m sure it’s fine,’ I say.

I close that mind link and open one to Jace.

‘Thank you for checking on the food situation. What else needs to be done?’

‘You’re welcome and we didn’t talk about assigned seating. If you’re on your way downstairs, we can go over the room and where we want to put people,’ he says.

‘I’m still in the shower. I’ll be down in a few minutes.’

It’s quiet a moment and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he closed the mind link. I stop, soapy water dripping down my face from washing my hair.

‘Jace?’

‘Jordan, I really didn’t need that mental image when I’m trying to prepare myself for a day filled with Alphas and council members.’

Even in the mind link, I can hear the strain of his voice.

as I put my head back into the water, beginning

I wasn’t

Jordan, give a guy a break,’ he says, making me laugh out loud. It’s a heady thing to know that a strong man gets weak thinking about

I say, trying to keep the mirth

you can. I’ll get some breakfast wraps so we can

a moment and I’m about to

trying, Jordan. Trying to be

see you in a few minutes,’ I say, closing

some makeup

head downstairs and when I get there, I see Elijah and Jace working together on the seating

I’m late,” I

“Not late, just in time, and all Alpha had up I see,” he

to my toes and back. I blush, because I can tell he’s thinking about

grits his teeth and turns back to what he was doing, shifting his pants in a way that I wasn’t supposed to see,

take a look at this?” Elijah says, showing me

their families?” I look up

allies. This way, we can mingle together, talk to each other, get to know each other,” Jace says, coming over and handing me a breakfast wrap. Based on the smell, it’s bacon, egg and sausage. I take a bite, looking over their names and

they are

and Gamma. “Well, you two have rendered

“No.”

“Not at all.”

They both say together.

off. “What can

help them find their seats,” he says, and I turn,

say, stepping up to him.

help people find their seats, I talk

Jason has everything he needs to preside over the

everyone is finally in the room and seated, Councilman Jason stands and addresses the

that none of us knew about. Based on the information that we obtained from the fighter Nolan, these packs have been in existence for at least a generation and have also been known to the local grizzly bear shifters

information that Nolan gave to him and the other

saying that these rogues are a second generation from the pack members banished in our generation?” my

us banished our pack members, did we? We put them down,” my father says, and the others