The Claiming by Cooper Book 3
Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 37
Jara
Layan’s claiming has been extremely quiet. It’s making me nervous. The only sounds are at night when we hear Elijah calling out to her.
“She’ll be fine, love.” Mason says for the hundredth time. We’re sitting outside on the deck at the housing where we listened to Hana’s claiming last year.
We’ve just heard Elijah’s howl for tonight, so we know that Layan isn’t yet claimed. “Why aren’t we hearing any other howls. I would have thought we’d have heard something by now, other than Elijah saying goodnight every night.”
Mason stands, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. “Time for bed. We’ll head back over the main packhouse in the morning and see what happens.” After tossing and turning for what feels like hours, Mason finally pulls me onto his chest and begins purring. The sound instantly relaxes me, settling me. I feel him kissing the top of my head, as I drift off to sleep.
The next day, we take our time getting ready. Other than Mason checking on the pack, we don’t really have anything to do here.
McKenna and Davis emerged yesterday, Davis sporting a mating mark. McKenna seems much calmer now. I think the two of them will be good together. He will help her to grow as a person and as a Luna, and she will bring him and their pack happiness and a level of playfulness that most packs don’t have.
I’m in the packhouse helping to prep for tonight’s dinner when I hear a commotion. “He caught her. He did it.” I hear someone say as they rush past the kitchen.
Who caught her?
I quickly wash my hands and go racing out the back of the packhouse. There is Elijah, carrying an unconscious Layan in his arms. The others in her claim walking with him, escorting them out of the territory.
I smile as I walk up to him. “You caught her?” I frown before he answers. “Is that what I think it is on your neck, Beta?” I ask him.
He gives me a smug smile.
“So, it worked?” Mason asks coming up to stand beside me. I look, between the two of them.
“You should tell her, especially that part about leaving our pack.” Mason says and even I know that he’s throwing Elijah to the wolves. Or specifically, one wolf. Me. “You want to run that one by me?” I say and my voice is low and deadly. How dare he think he was leaving us?
He flinches at my tone and the very quiet way I asked. Anyone who knows me knows that, when I’m angry, if I’m yelling, you’re still okay. If I get quiet, you’re in deep shit.
“I’d rather not get into it right here, right now, Luna. But suffice it to say, I told Layan she had to choose me first, that I wouldn’t hunt her in that territory.” He looks down at her, a tender smile on his face.
“And she did. She chose me.” He says.
One of our warriors who was in the claiming comes up and slaps a hand on Elijah’s shoulder. “One of the most incredible things I’ve ever witnessed Beta. Nice job. You deserve her.”
“That was awesome man, really. Well done.” One of the gunmen says, coming over to congratulate Elijah. They all come up and congratulate him as I stand and watch.
“Beta.” I bark at him to get his attention. Everyone goes quiet.
“This conversation isn’t over, especially the part about you leaving my pack without telling me. However, Layan is a dear friend so I’ll put my irritation at you on hold until you can look after her. But, if you decide to stand here much longer, I’m going to a*s*sume that you’re ready to have said conversation and we will have it before you take your mate, who apparently chose you first, to your room, to look after her.”
He’s walking before I’m done. “See you later everyone.” He says, carrying Layan off to his room.
Mason watches him with a smile on his face.
“And you,” I turn on him, pointing my finger at him, my eyes narrowed.
He grabs my fingers, pulling me to him. “I’d have never let him leave. But I knew I didn’t have to worry about it. Even if he got past me, there was no way he was getting past you.”
I blow out a breath of irritation. “You could have told me.”
He leans down, kissing my lips gently. “You were already struggling to sleep. Why would I add to your worries?
I reach up, running my hands through his hair. “You’re a really good mate, you know that?” “I try. I try to keep my mate happy in all ways.” He gives me a devious grin and I know exactly what ‘ways’ he’s talking about.
“So, the territory just sits empty all year waiting for the annual claiming?” I hear McKenna ask, distracting me from thoughts of pulling my mate back into the bedroom.
I turn to look at her, but she’s giving a mischievous grin to Davis. “You know, I wonder if you could really catch me if I was running from you.”
Davis growls low at the challenge of hunting his mate again. I feel Mason chuckling against me. Alphas LOVE to hunt their mates.
“Run, little one.” Davis says, his voice still growly.
McKenna giggles before turning and racing off, shifting as she goes.
“Aren’t you going to chase her?” Mignon says, coming up beside
The Alphas nearby all chuckle. Mignon looks around frowning. “What am I missing?”
Asher comes up and wraps his arms around her. “He’s giving her a head start.” He tells his mate.
“Why?” She asks, looking at Davis.
He shrugs. “I want her to feel like she’s got a chance before I catch her.” He turns his head, listening. “And there’s my cue.”
He takes three running steps and shifts, howling to his mate that he’s after her. Her answering howl is more of a yip of excitement.
Mignon turns to Asher. “Do you give me a head start?”
“Would you rather I didn’t?” He asks, raising an eyebrow at her.
“So, you would catch me faster if you didn’t?” She asks, pouting in her pretty way. He kisses her nose. “Where would be the fun in that, baby girl? I love a good hunt, and you always give me one.” He tells her, swinging her up into his arms and carrying her off.
“Where are we going?” She asks, laughing.
“I have a different kind of hunt in mind.” We hear him growl as he walks off.
“Works for me.” Seth says, swinging Hana over his shoulder. He seems to prefer carrying her in this caveman style. I’ve seen him do it many times.
“See you later. I’ve got some hunting of my own to do with my mate.” He says and Hana laughs, smacking his butt.
“Seth!”
He smacks her a*s*s right back as he carries her off. “Hana.” He says in a pretty good imitation of her voice.
“We could delay our return home, beautiful, if you want to have a ‘hunt’ of our own.” Antonio says to Annabel.
She leaps up into his arms, wrapping her legs around him as he catches her easily. “Let’s get home. Then you can ‘hunt’ me all night long.” His lips are on her immediately as he carries her off.
Mason looks down at me, still holding me in his arms. “And you?”
“Oh we’re staying. I have no intention of letting our Beta off that easily. And I want to be here when Layan wakes up. I don’t think that being mated to Elijah will cause her distress, but I want to make sure. It’s one thing to mark someone, it’s a whole other event to mate.”
“Well, then, I guess I get to hunt you all night long too.” He says, his eyes going dark.
I step out of his arms, giving him a coy look.
“You have to catch me first, Alpha.” I say before dashing off in the direction of our housing. Mason’s howl of the hunt in instantaneous.