The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 25
Jara
The weekend with Layan went really well. She slept both nights that we were there, with no nightmares. When she’d begin to whimper or flinch in her sleep,
Hana, Annabel or I would wrap our arms around her tightly and whisper in her ear that we were here for her until she would settle and fall back into a dreamless sleep.
Unfortunately, the stress of the weekend began to take its toll on me as well. I woke up the last morning feeling ill and while Layan was still asleep, I raced into the bathroom and vomited. I had vomited again while I was in the shower. And then, when we went down to breakfast, the smell was overwhelming and made my stomach turn. I had quickly excused myself and gone to the bathroom, dry heaving since my stomach was already empty.
Since she is an omega and can’t afford it for herself, we asked Asher to get her a cell phone. However, Alpha Davis insisted that she is his pack member, and he would provide for her. He got her a cell phone and Hana set it up before out last day.
As we started to get ready to leave, I could see the fear coming back into her eyes.
“Look at me, sweet girl. We will be back here next weekend. All of us. You are not alone, and Hana has set up a cell phone for you. We’ll be calling you every night to make sure that you are okay and to talk as long as you need us.”
“Come on, let’s practice.” Annabel says and I take Layan’s phone, sitting beside her on the couch while Annabel walks into another room and calls her, requesting a video chat. I show Layan and her mother how to answer the call and make sure that they have the video on…
“You can call us any time, day or night, Layan.” Mignon tells her. “And if you have a nightmare, you’ll be able to see us on your phone and know that you aren’t alone.”
“And before you know it, we’ll be back here. Alpha Davis has said, we can come as often as we want.” Hana says and Layan looks at Alpha Davis who nods his a*s*sent.
“Okay.” She says quietly, still gripping the phone with Annabel’s face on it. “Now, we’re going to hang up and you’re going to dial either Hana or Mignon so you know that you can reach us at any time.” I say and we practice until she has it down.
We begin packing up the cars to go. I first help Annabel, then Mignon and Asher, before helping Hana head out. When I give Hana a hug, she whispers in my ear. “Stop on your way home and get a pregnancy test.”
I pull way and look at her, questioningly. She nods. “Trust me, but to be positive, it’s best to test. At least then you’ll know for sure.”
I’m still thinking about what she said but as I’m about to leave, Layan begins crying. I walk to her, hugging her tightly.
“You will be okay and if anything at all happens, you tell Alpha Davis, and I will be here as soon as possible, we all will. You’re not alone, Layan. We’re all here for you.”
She nods against my chest before getting her tears under control.
“Will you do me a favor this week?” I ask her, holding her hands.
She nods. “Will you try to eat and make sure you bathe every day?”
She looks at her mother and then back at me. “Yes, Luna.”
I pull her in for another hug. “It’s Jara, Layan. We’re friends.”
Just as she pulls away, she gets an incoming video call from Annabel. I watch as she looks at it frowning and answers the call.
“Hey Layan, I wanted to make sure you were going to answer my call. Don’t forget, we’re only a phone call away, any time, day or night.” She says and while she’s talking, the phone beeps again.
“Okay, I have to go.” She says, hanging up and answering the call from Mignon. “I’m just checking on you Layan. I know we’re all leaving, but we’re still here for you.” She says.
Layan is about to respond, when a call from Hana shows up on her screen. She looks up at me and begins to laugh softly.
“I have to go, Mignon, Hana is calling.”
“Okay, we love you!” Mignon says as Layan disconnects her call to answer Hana’s.
“Hey, Layan. I’m sure Jara has left now, so I wanted to check on you.”
She turns the phone and I wave. “Oh, you’re still there. I’ll call back in a bit to check on you.”
Layan is smiling when she responds. “You don’t have to. Annabel and Mignon have already called. I know I’m not alone.” She says.
“No, you aren’t. Not ever, Layan. I love you.” Hana says.
“I love you too. Thank you.”
I walk to the car, Luke and Lewis waiting patiently for me. I wave before getting in. Before I’ve left Alpha Davis’s pack lands, I dial Layan.
“Yes, Luna?” She answers.
“What did I tell you about calling me Luna, Layan?”
She smiles. “Yes, Jara.”
“Are you okay?” I ask her.
“I am. And I promise to call if I’m not.”
“Good.” I say to her before disconnecting.
I lean my head back, closing my eyes. This weekend was exhausting and stressful, but it was worth it.
“That was a good thing you did this weekend, Luna. What all of your did.” Lewis says.
“Who knows, Lewis? Maybe you’ll catch Layan in the claiming next year.” Luke says.
I raise an eyebrow. “You do know that Elijah wants her, right?”
Lewis looks thoughtful for a moment. “He still has to catch her before I do.” He says, shrugging and I shake my head. I would be happy if any of my pack members caught Layan. I know she’d be well taken care of, and I’d be there so help her if she needed it.
I sleep most of the way home, but when the guys stop at a gas station, I get the pregnancy test that Hana suggested.
When we arrive at home, Mason is waiting for me. I rush into his arms, letting his closeness relieve the stress of the weekend.
“Welcome home, love.”
“Thank you.” I say, kissing him. The kiss was meant to be a sweet kiss, but it quickly turns into something more and before I know it, I’m somehow pressed against the side of the house, my leg wrapped around Mason’s waist.
A throat clearing nearby has us pulling apart.
“Perhaps you want to find a more private place to say hello?” Luke says, smirking at us.
“An excellent idea.” Mason says, before lifting me up and carrying me to our bedroom.
Several incredible o*rgas*ms later, I’m laying curled up against Mason on our bed. “I need to tell you something.” He says, looking down at me.
I frown, sitting up on my elbow. “What?”
He clenches his teeth together. “Typhon was here.”
“WHAT?! When?” I ask, sitting all the way up.
“This weekend. The patrols caught that scent of garbage again. You remember how I mentioned that before, that we keep getting these scents like something has died or that someone has dumped a rotting corpse near our borders. This time, they went searching and they saw him. Thankfully, he didn’t breach our borders, but he did get away.”
“So, he is looking for me?” I ask.
“I have to a*s*sume so. If he went feral in the claiming, he’d be fixated on you. Him showing up here seems to confirm it. Also, if the scent is his, then it means he is getting close to our borders frequently. I’ve doubled our patrols, but I need you to be extra careful and if you ever smell that scent of something rotten, you need to run. Will you do that for me, Jara?” He says to me, almost pleadingly.
I think about the pregnancy test that I have hidden away, waiting for the right time to take it. I roll on top of Mason, straddling him, sliding his instantly hardened length through my wet folds.
“What do I get if I agree, Mason?” I say, my voice low and deep with my desire for him.
“Oh, my s*e*xy, insatiable mate. If you agree to that, I’ll give you my knot again tonight.” He says, his hands running up and down my thighs as I move against him.
“Deal.” I say, as I slide him inside me and ride him until we both find out release again and he knots inside me.