The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

Chapter 28 (Jordan)

I follow Balor into his cave. The moment we are out of sight of the others, he slumps and I move to support him. He lost a lot of blood protecting me.

“Thank you,” I say to him. “You didn’t have to risk yourself for me,” I tell him. He looks at me. “I don’t take kindly to anyone being forced into a mating situation. Real men don’t have to force a woman to get what they want,” he says, and I help him to lay down.

“How are you feeling?” I ask him, looking around quickly and finding a rag and some water. I begin washing off the wound. It’s already closing but I want to try and clean it out as best I can.

“Lightheaded. Thank you for not making a fuss in front of my clan,” he says.

“I understand the importance of a leader always showing their strength. Doesn’t matter if it’s a pack or a clan. If they question your authority, you have to fight them to keep it. Sometimes, your people die, and for no other reason than they thought you were weak,” I tell him as I wash his wound. “That’s a lot of experience talking for a young little wolf like you,” he says.

I shrug. “I was the only female Alpha for a while. A lot of males questioned my ability to lead,” I tell him honestly.

“I hope you set them straight,” he says to me, watching me as I wash his t*hroat.

“Every last one of them,” I say smiling at him.

He chuckles, then stops as the motion makes the wound bleed more.

I wipe off the new blood, still cleaning up the wound.

“So, you and the pup, huh?” he asks.

I glance at him and shrug again. “It’s complicated,” I say.

“I’ll say. You’re sharing a room with him and you’re still a virgin.”

My eyes shoot to his, and I see a shrewd look on his face. He reaches up and taps his nose again. “I can smell it.”

“You can smell it? What does that even mean?” I ask him, dropping the bloody rag into the water to soak and focusing on this interesting man.

“Under your scent of sweet peppermint is the delicious scent of a fresh dewy morning in spring, the scent of an unt*ouched woman. There aren’t many of you left at your age,” he says, watching me intently. Seriously, the man nearly bled out a few minutes ago and now I swear he’s flirting with me. “It’s not easy being a powerful female. Most men want me for my title or the power that being mated to me brings them. Not many men take the time to get to know me.”

“Then, most men are stupid. Perhaps the pup was stupid too, but you’re giving him another chance?” he asks.

I look at him, but I don’t answer. “Hmm, if you truly want to see how I’m feeling, you could climb into bed beside me and let me show you,” he says flirtatiously.

“You are quite

when I see something

reach out and take his hand, my face turning serious.

“What’s that?”

whatever tests he needs you to do so that he can keep you alive. Will you do that

bed beside me. “Keep me company until he

narrow my eyes at him. “I’m not sleeping with

the rest and you

I ask him. “Bear’s

perfect. The closer I am to him, the more

you, I promise,” he says, burying his face

expect to fall asleep but at some time later, Jace’s voice in my

they’re here. You need to get

chest and look at him. He looks clammy, and I reach up to t*ouch him, realizing that he’ s warmer than he should

ask Jace, noticing that it’s light

were injured last night

he’s running a fever,’ I

he says. ‘I’m on my way,’ I tell him, carefully getting off the

car coming up the road. I turn, heading to meet

“How is Balor?”

a guard on him. If he wakes up cranky,

they pull up, Jace comes

Luke, Gamma Brynn, it’s to see you. Victor, thank you for coming,” I say before turning to Dr. Braxton and

The bears are already showing

place to test their blood. I need to get samples to know for sure what I’m dealing with,”

one of Kyra’s bags. “This way,” he says, guiding her off. Darryl and Apollo come walking over. “Dr. Braxton, this is Darryl, Balor’s second in command and Apollo, his third in command. This is Dr. Braxton. He’s the one that can help your clan members. And these are

the infected

that it’s Balor. As one, Apollo, Darryl and I race toward the caves. I can hear

of the bite. He’s lifted up on his hind l*egs, easily over 9 feet tall. I just gained a whole new appreciation for the term ‘poke

I have to get the situation

the bears,

down, Balor!” I

with his giant paw. I duck coming up underneath him and punching him in the stomach. Then I leap back, as his upper body comes slamming

aura, trying to contain