The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 31
Jara
On our last day at Alpha Davis’s pack, Hana and Seth are on the phone nearly non-stop. I know something has happened, but I don’t want to worry Layan, so I stay with her, knowing that we’ll be leaving soon and she’s already getting antsy.
When both Alpha Antonio and Alpha Asher arrive to pick up mates, I know that whatever happened was bad. Mignon had arrived with four guards, so Asher would only have come to get her if he was truly worried about her safety.
I look at Elijah and I can see he knows what is going on. Layan and I are having lunch before I leave. Mignon and Annabel are getting packed, and I need to know what’s going on.
“Layan, would you be okay if Beta Elijah sat with you while I go pack my things? I need to check in with Mason quickly.” I ask. I watch as she looks over at Elijah who winks at her. She jerks a little, blushing, surprised at his attention. “Um, sure, if Beta Elijah doesn’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.” He says, walking over and sitting across from Layan. “I’ll be back in just a few minutes.” I say, scooting out of the dining room before rushing to my room.
I grab my phone and speed dial Mason. “Jara? Is everything alright? Why are you calling? Where are Elijah and Lewis?”
“Mason, I’m fine, but I know something is going on. Asher and Antonio both showed up to get their mates. What happened?”
He tells me about G*mma Kira and her daughter as well as the call from Gunnar. My mind is reeling, but I know I can help.
“We can swing by on our way home if Alpha Luke is okay with that.” I say. “I’ve already contacted Brynn and Luke. They agreed to go, and your parents are going with them. I’ve sent some additional warriors to them, just to make sure they aren’t attacked going into Alpha Luke’s territory.”
“Brynn is okay with that?”
“Yes. She’s a little worried about Melinda, but with the extra warriors, she felt better.” He’s quiet for a moment.
“I’d feel better if you came home, Jara. Between Alpha Gunnar and Typhon, I’m struggling not having you here with me.”
“I’m heading home today, Mason. I just need to make sure that Layan is settled for the week. What about Alpha Davis’s pack? Does he have enough warriors here to protect the pack and the she-wolves here? It’s not just Layan, her mother is here and they have another under-aged she-wolf that lives here.”
“I’ll talk to him. If we need to send warriors to him, we can. The alliance has enough pack members that we can support each other. Alpha Zaire and Luna Gia are going to Seth’s pack and Elder Jason is coming here. Alpha Saul and Luna Tessa are heading home, but after what they witnessed, it seems that they are willing to join the alliance.”
“That’s positive.” I say.
“Yes, that just leaves Alpha Jonas. We still don’t know which side he’ll decide to fight for, and it will come to a fight. I won’t allow them to change the laws and continue to persecute the she- wolves. While he’s here, I need to see if Elder Jason knows how many she-wolves are in the other two packs. Alpha Gunnar and Alpha Shawn now have none. If the other two have the same philosophies as they do, those she-wolves need to be pulled out of those packs.”
“What don’t I know, Mason?” I ask, realizing that he is more concerned than he was when it was just Brynn expressing her concerns.
“Do you remember what Alpha Gunnar was talking about at the council meeting? About breeding she-wolves if their mate couldn’t get them pregnant?” He asks. I get a terrible feeling in my already nauseous stomach. “Yes.”
“Well, apparently, Alpha Shawn was planning to do the same in his pack, except, G*mma Kira would be available to all of the ranked members until she got pregnant again. If it’s the same at Alpha Emmanuel and Alpha Conrad’s packs, we’ll have to fight to get them out.”
I tried to hold it in, but I couldn’t. My already nauseous stomach revolted against the idea of those poor she-wolves being r*ap*ed to get them pregnant. I raced to the bathroom, dropping the phone on the counter before the contents of my stomach upended into the toilet.
I can hear Mason on the phone, calling my name, his voice getting more and more concerned. When I finally finish, I grab the phone. “Give me a minute.”
I flush the toilet, wash my hands and face before picking up the phone again.
“I’m back.”
“I’m sorry love. I didn’t realize you were going to react so strongly. I wouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, I need to know. I just… I’ll be glad to get home today.”
“I’ll be glad to have you home too, love.”
“Could we, maybe, just have dinner together, the two of us tonight?” I ask him. I want to tell him that I’m pregnant. I know it will make him even more protective of me, but it’s exciting news and I’ve been keeping the secret all weekend now. His voice changes to the low, deep tone that makes my toes curl.
“Does my insatiable mate want something that requires us to be alone?”
“Haven’t you learned yet Alpha, that I want it all, everything you have to give me?” I say flirtatiously.
His low growl has my core clenching. “I have a lot to give you after this weekend away from you.”
“Promises, promises.” I taunt him.
“How about this love? I promise to be giving you everything I have within 5 minutes of you getting out of the car when you arrive, home.”
“I’ll be timing you, Alpha. Don’t disappoint me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Now, hurry home.”
I say goodbye and finish packing. Now, I’m practically desperate to get home, When I get back downstairs, I can see that Layan is responding to Elijah. Not only that, somehow, she seems okay with Lewis who is also sitting with them. I watch for a moment as whatever the boys are saying has her blushing softly and looking down. I sniff the air. There’s no scent of fear, so she’s not afraid of them, which is good. Maybe I’ll talk to Mason about having Elijah join me again next weekend. We can slowly start reintroducing her to males that don’t frighten her.
And that makes me shudder, thinking of the males like Gunnar or Shawn that might try to get into her claiming next year. I’m with Mason, we have to get those she-wolves away from that environment. If by some chance the she-wolf is fine with having a reverse h*rem, then no problem. I’m just doubtful that they are being given the option. Alpha Gunnar and his group don’t seem to understand the value of the she-wolves in keeping feral-fever away. They are using the excuse of getting a she-wolf pregnant to force her into having s*e*x with someone other than their mate. We say our farewells and I remind Layan that we are only a video call away and that we’ll be back next weekend. I am the last to leave again and as I’m waving goodbye, I see her look down at her phone. She smiles, lifting it up to me before accepting the call. It makes me feel better knowing she is feeling a bit more confident at the end of this weekend.
I close my eyes and fall asleep thinking about seeing Mason again and in a few short hours, telling him our great news.