The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 40 (Nolan)

“Fighter Nolan, might I have a word?” Councilman Jason asks before we can disconnect from the Alpha call.

“Of course, do you want me to call you?”

“If Alpha Jaxon is okay to leave the video on, we can just stay here,” he says, and I look up at Alpha Jaxon. “Just turn it off when you’re done,”

Alpha Jaxon says, holding his newborn son.

“Did you want me to stay or go, Nolan?” Taylor asks me.

I look at Councilman Jason. “Is there a reason my mate can’t stay?” I ask, and I see Taylor’s l*ips tip up. She likes it when I call her my mate. It gives me hope for us.

“That is up to you, but I don’t see any reason she shouldn’t stay, especially when this idea was hers to begin with,” he says.

“What idea?” she asks, looking up at the video screen on the wall.

“The idea that the fighters would act as guards during the Beta Trials,” Councilman Jason says, looking from her to me. “So, I’d like to know if you’d be willing to offer your services to protect our packs while they compete in the Beta Trials. I would hope that the rogues will be caught and dealt with in the next couple of months, but if not, we’ll need all the eyes and ears we canget. The best fighters of all would make those of us on the council feel a lot better about continuing the Trials,” Councilman Jason says.

“No, that was a terrible idea,” Taylor says, her voice panicked as she turns to me. “You would be at risk, Nolan. I brought this idea up before I knew you. You can’t do this,” she says, and I can tell that this is coming from a place of fear, but it angers me that she feels that I am so incapable of protecting not only myself, but also others from these rogues.

“I can do this if I choose to, Taylor. This is my decision to make, not yours,” I tell her.

“Have you even asked the others?” she snaps at Councilman Jason.

“Yes, I have, and they have all agreed,”

he tells her calmly.

the information Councilman,” I say, knowing that Taylor and I are about

will forward it to your email,

says before

says and I can feel

my Alpha and even if you were, as your mate, your command flows

mate? Would you listen to me as your mate?” she asks, fighting against my hold, but I don’t

That makes me the perfect person

says. “Correct, just like I could be injured in every training exercise

could catch this new virus. It could kill you,” she says, taking a

will get the vaccine, as I’m

you?” she says softly, her fear

through my response to her. It is possible that I will get hurt. It’s possible that I could be killed, so

I hear

that have to do with anything?” she asks softly, her eyes closed as she leans into

in my division for a reason, Taylor. No one beats me. Perhaps it’s time you realized how strong your mate

frowns. “You want

me. Your lack of confidence in my ability to protect myself and others is insulting to me. You need to realize that I am mated to an Alpha for a reason, and that reason isn’t

and some of this is her youth, but I’m hoping I can teach her, through example, how act on her

as she looks up at me in a way I’ve only

me,” I saw honestly. I feel extremely lucky to have finally found my mate. I would have wanted her anyway, but having an Alpha as a mate makes me think that the two of us are meant to do great things together. Or perhaps, we are meant to complement each other. I can temper

she says, snorting

lucky. So, about that sparring

want me to kick your a*ss so we can

not smiling at her. It’ s cute that she thinks she’s going to beat me. I’m excited to see if she’s really as good as

about right now?” I

watch as her eyes become shrewd. “And if I win, you won’t participate as a guard in the Beta Trials?” she

get to take you to a fancy dinner and you will wear a nice dress and heels,” I say and watch the look of

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