The Claiming by Cooper Book 2
The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 54
Mason
It’s been a week since Jara left the hospital. Every night, she lays down in our bed and every morning, she’s gone. The first night I woke up and she was gone I flew out of bed, racing around the packhouse, irrationally thinking that someone had taken her from me, worried that somehow Typhon had survived and was here to get her.
Elijah had found me and let me know that she had gone to Layan’s room. I had rushed to her room and opened the door, to find that Jara was curled up in Layan’s arms, sleeping.
Each night, I fall into a restless sleep with her in my arms and wake at some point in the night to find her gone. I always go to Layan’s room to make sure she’s there. Now, most nights, Isabella is there too, and they curl around her, protecting and comforting her the way that I should be.
Jara still barely says anything to me. I know she’s hurting, we both are, but her withdrawal is almost worse. She’s here in body, but not in mind or spirit. And she’d rather sleep with her friends than me, her mate.
I had thought that having her friends here would be helpful to her, but it became clear very quickly that seeing Hana, Annabel and Mignon all still pregnant was more detrimental than helpful right now. So, Layan and Isabella stayed, and the others had gone home.
I started back to work, needing something to take my mind off of everything. Davis had run things well for the few days I needed him to, but when his packhouse was rebuilt and ready for the pack to move into, he needed to go.
The pack is still running. There is food on the table every day, Layan and Isabella make sure that Jara eats, Joe makes sure that the warriors train and Elijah makes sure that the patrols are running non-stop. I sit at my desk and shuffle papers trying to focus on anything other than my grief
Today we’re having the first alliance meeting since my attack on the Elders. I have Elijah joining us, so he can help me keep the pack going. I know I’m not as strong as I need to be. I still feel the gaping loss of my daughter and now I’m feeling the loss of my mate every day.
When Elijah comes in, we dial into the conference call.
“Alpha Mason, how is Luna Jara?” Alpha Luke asks.
“She’s…” I sigh. How is my mate? I have no idea. “She’s as well as can be expected.”
“Is having Isabella there a help?” Jonas asks.
“It is. She and Layan are taking care of her.”
“If there’s anything we can do, please let us know.” Alpha Antonio says.
Before I can answer him, we hear an unfamiliar voice on the phone. “Hello? Hello?”
“Hello, who is this?” Zaire asks.
“Oh, hi. I’m Ian, Alpha Asher’s Beta. He wanted me to join the call to let you know that Luna Mignon is in labor. So, he won’t be here. WE’RE HAVING A BABY!” He yells and his excitement through the phone is palpable.
The group cheers, except me and Elijah. I look at him and he reaches over, putting his hand on my arm. I grit my teeth against the pain. I should be happy for Asher, I really should, but I can’t. Not yet.
“I just let Nina know. She’s on her way.” Seth says.
“Thank you. Thank you everyone. I have to go!” Ian says.
“Have Alpha Asher reach out when the baby is born so we know momma and baby are safe.” Davis tells him.
“I will, bye!” He says, hanging up.
“Well, that’s one way to start the call.” Quinton says.
“Yes.” Seth says and his voice is considerably more muted than Quinton’s, knowing that this is hurting me.
“Let’s get down to business. Has anyone else heard that Alpha Shawn and Alpha Conrad are packing up?” He asks.
“They’ve moved.” Alpha Saul says. “Earlier this week, both packs moved to Alpha Gunnar’s pack. They have all merged and are now one.”
“Did anyone hear anything after the death of the Elders?” Seth asks.
“No, but the patrols at Alpha Gunnar’s pack have tripled.” Antonio says.
“So, the other two packs are empty?” I ask.
“It looks that way.” Luke says.
“We should check it, just to be sure.” Quinton says.
“We need to be careful.” Zaire says. “Considering the mines in Emanuel’s pack lands, they may have done something similar in case we went to check it out.”
“Quinton, Ira sniffed out the mines before we could walk across them. Maybe we could send him with a group to see if the packs really are empty and make sure that they aren’t booby-trapped.” I say.
“That’s a great idea. We’ll get it set up. The sooner, the better. If they have all moved to Gunnar’s pack, then he’ll be making plans for a counterattack. We need to be ready.” Seth says.
We discuss that Councilman Jason will be attending the next call to give us the status on the new council and then we say our goodbyes.
“Drink Alpha?” Elijah asks, moving to the side bar in my office.
“Yeah, I could use a shot of something strong.” I tell him. I watch while he pours two shots.
“Do you know where Jara is?” I ask him, hating that I don’t know myself. “Layan said she was going to spend the evening in your room, Alpha. Maybe you should head up there.” He tells me.
I look at him a moment, taking the shot for liquid courage and standing. “I think I will.”
I walk to my room, not knowing what to expect. When I open the door, I could never have guessed what was waiting for me.
Jara is laying on the bed. She’s wearing a lacy bra and panty set with a sheer bathrobe that barely covers her hips. I close the door, feeling my body’s instant response.
“Jara.” I say. After barely having her look at me for a week, she’s here, clearly saying she wants me.
“Mason.” My name is like a purr on her lips. “I’ve missed you.” She says, patting the bed beside her.
I’m moving before I can even think about it. “I’ve missed you so much Jara.” I say, sitting on the bed and looking into the amber eyes of my mate. I caress her face, reveling in the feel of her soft skin against mine. Some of the tightness around my heart eases as she leans her head into my hand.
She turns her head, kissing my palm. Then she sits up, leaning toward me and kissing me as her hands move to unbutton my shirt. When she has it unbuttoned, she pushes it off my shoulders and down my arms.
“You’re wearing too many clothes, Mason.”
I stand, pulling my shirt all the way off and unbuttoning and unzipping my pants, letting them fall to the floor.
Jara moves over, making room for me. I lay down on the bed beside her and pull her to me, kissing her deeply. Her hands are everywhere, as if she’s as desperate for me as I am for her.
She reaches her hand between us, taking my hard c*oc*k in her hand and stroking me. I moan at the pleasure that only her touch can give me.
“Jara.” I whisper, nipping at her throat and her ear.
“Make love to me Mason.” I pull back, looking at her.
“Knot me and give me another baby.” My heart falls into my stomach. The one thing she’s asking me, I can’t give her, not yet.
“I can’t Jara. It’s too soon. The doctor said you need to heal.”
“The doctor doesn’t know what I need, Mason. I know what I need, and what I need is you.” She says, stroking me as she talks.
I grit my teeth against the pleasure building in me. I am not Typhon. I won’t hurt my mate by trying to get her pregnant too soon after she miscarries.
“No, Jara. We can do many other things. But I won’t knot you, not until the doctor says it’s safe.”
She stops, pulling away from me. “You’re denying me?” She asks, anger and hurt clear in her voice.
“No, I’m not rejecting you, love. I just want to make sure your body is ready…”
“I’m ready, Mason. I’m ready now. I want another baby. I need another baby. Please, Mason.” Her eyes have gone a little crazy and her voice has become desperate.
I sit up. “No, Jara. I won’t do to you what Typhon did to Mila. When the doctor says it’s safe, I’ll knot you 100 times a day if you want. But not until your body has healed.”
She looks at me a moment and I can see the hurt and pain in her eyes.
“Well, f*uc*k you then.” She says, getting up and storming out of the room.