The Claiming by Cooper Book 3
Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 9.
Jara
When Mason returned to our room, my mother was with him. He had handed off one of our babies to her, or more likely, my mother had come up and taken one of them. I couldn’t tell which one she was carrying, but it didn’t matter. They were getting fussy, and I realized instantly why Mason had willingly handed over one of our babies. My mother could help me nurse and he could get the doctor and nurses out of the room while I was in a state of partial dress.
After my mother helped me get settled nursing both babies at once, she sits on the bed beside me.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart?”
“Tired, sore,” I look down at my babies, “happy.”
“You did good. Your babies are healthy, a good weight, even though they are twins and obviously they are good eaters.” She says, watching as they nurse.
“Mason said Jordan was born first.”
I look at my mother. We had talked about this. “She was.” I say smiling.
“Well, the times they are changing.” She says.
She shrugs. “Depending on how things go in the next generation or so, it may not even matter.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, handing one baby to her to burp while I burp the other.
“Well, look at you and Mason. You run this pack together. He’s the perfect mate for you. He appreciates and values your strengths and what you bring to the pack. You compliment each other. Maybe, hopefully, when it’s time for Jordan to take over as Alpha, things will have changed and there will be a more equal relationship in the packs.”
“Do you think that Jaxon will be angry that his sister becomes heir instead of him?” I ask, looking at my now sleeping son.
“Those are worries for another day, my dear.” She stands, putting Jordan in the ba*s*sinet that was wheeled into my room before coming back for Jaxon. “And besides, she may not be the first, one. Your sister-in-law is already telling Seth that Taylor is the Alpha-heir.
I chuckle as my mother takes Jaxon and puts him in the ba*s*sinet, beside Jordan. Instinctively, they turn to each other, settling instantly.
“Get some rest. I’ll be here until Mason gets back which I’m sure won’t be long. And these babies will be up needing to eat every couple of hours. Believe me, you need to rest while you can.”
“Thanks mom. How long are you here?”
“As long as you need me or until Hana goes into labor, whichever comes first.” She says, putting her cool hand on my forehead. “Sleep, my daughter. You worked very hard today.”
I close my eyes, exhaustion taking me almost instantly.
A fussing sound wakes me later. I open my eyes in the dimly lit room and see Mason carrying one of our children in his arms. He may be a giant of a man, full of muscles, but our baby looks, perfect in his arms, even if he or she looks extremely small in comparison.
“Shhh, Jordan, momma is still sleeping. Give her a few more minutes. She worked really hard today.” He says, walking her around. I can see her squirming around in his arms, periodically giving a cry of complaint.
“I’m awake Mason, bring her here.” I tell him.
He turns, looking relieved. “Sorry, I was hoping you could sleep longer.”
“It’s okay, she seems hungry.” I say, sitting up.
“Yeah, she needs more than her father can give her right now.”
He hands her to me, waiting until I get her settled and nursing. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. I’m already healing. Did the doctor say when I can go home?”
“Tomorrow, if you are doing well.”
I nod. “What’s going on with the a*s*sessments?” I ask, wanting to make sure our pack mates are doing okay while I’m away.
“Elijah, Luke and Brynn were able to get the last of them done after we announced Jordan and Jaxon’s birth. Everyone is done and everyone passed.”
“Good.” I say.
“I think having something to celebrate helped. The last ones seemed to heal faster.” He tells me.
Just as Jordan is finishing, Jaxon wakes up. I trade one baby for another and begin nursing Jaxon while Mason burps Jordan.
“Did you hear from any of the other Alphas?” I ask.
“Yep, everyone called to congratulate us. Mignon, Annabel and Hana all want video calls asap so they can meet the newest additions.”
“And did everyone pass a*s*sessment?” I ask him, already knowing the other Lunas would want to meet our babies.
He looks at me, leaning in. “Every. Last. One.”
My smile spreads slowly. “It’s working. It’s really working.”
“It’s really working.” He says to me. “Having the she-wolves in our packs, having them around our males, it’s keeping them from going feral.” I nod.
“Now we have to hope that it will be the same in the claiming territory.” I say.
“I think it will be. I can’t be sure, obviously, but since Dr. Braxton said they are both viruses and they mirror each other in certain ways, I think it will be the same.”
“We’ll know pretty soon. And Mason, now that we have a few weeks to get settled with the babies, I definitely need to be there for Layan.”
“I know. I’ve already worked it out with Councilman Phillip.”
“My father?” I ask.
“Yep, your father is running this year’s claiming, so your mother will be there to help babysit.” He says, leaning in to give me a sweet kiss before taking Jordan back to their ba*s*sinet and coming to get Jaxon.
I fall back to sleep, and the next day, I’m released from the pack hospital. Mason and I each take one of our little ones and walk back to the packhouse.
When we get there, the entire downstairs is decorated with streamers, flowers and balloons welcoming our newest pack, members. The mood of the pack is excited, and we walk around, introducing our children to each of our pack members.
I’m probably a bit more relaxed than Mason, allowing anyone that wants to hold Jordan to hold her. Our pack members are enthralled with our little ones and eventually, Mason relaxes, and our babies are passed around, fought over, loudly complained over when people didn’t have enough time to hold them, etc.
I sit and watch as it unfolds, Brynn coming to sit beside me.
“You know, when Luke told me that things would be different here, I didn’t believe him. I was terrified after what our last pack was like, terrified that all males would see Melinda in the sick way that they, did in Alpha Stanley’s pack. But, since coming here, I’ve slowly seen that it can be different. It is different. It’s good for Melinda to be around the males in our pack. I don’t want her to go into her claiming in 16 years terrified that things will be like they were with. Layan.” She says. We watch as one of our pack members picks up Melinda, taking her to see Jaxon. “Thank you, Luna Jara.” She says and I turn to look at her.
“Thank you for bringing us to this pack. It’s been a big adjustment, but it’s been so good, for Luke, for Melinda and for me.”
“I’m glad you’re here. All of you.”
We turn, watching as our pack of warriors coo over two babies, and patiently talk to and interact with Melinda. As we watch, we see Jace get put up onto someone’s shoulders, another pack member pretending to play chicken with him. Our pack members are thrilled to have four pups in our pack. The entire feel of the pack is different. It’s better, happier.
A feeling of love and peace comes over me as I watch them, loving every member of my pack and letting my love for them flow freely from me to them.