The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 39
Mason
The next few days fly by. Ira stayed in my pack, searching for Typhon. Quinton had agreed that I could bring him with me when we met to attack Alpha Emanuel’s pack.
It took him several days, but he found another den, a newer one. This one was in a completely different direction but still with a view of our pack lands. It was an old cave, but the smell of something rotten and the rodent carca*s*ses littering the entrance of the cave were a dead giveaway that he’d been there.
“How many other places do you have with a view of your pack lands?” He asked me after we went to see the latest den.
“Too many.” I replied, looking around. My pack lands are in a valley of sorts, nestled up against a mountainside. Anyone that is hiding in the mountains can see our packhouse and pack lands easily.
I’m not thrilled about Jara being away from me this weekend. It’s going to be hard not having her close. She had already asked me about sending Elijah back with her because it had been good for Layan, but now, I’m planning to send him back because I trust him with my mate more than anyone else in our pack. I know every member of our pack would die for her, but next to me, Elijah is the strongest member of our pack.
The alliance had decided to send additional reinforcements to Alpha Luke and Alpha Zaire’s packs. Those packs had the females that were taken from Gunnar’s group of allies. Because we weren’t sure if they knew Brynn was not currently in my pack and because of the continued threat of Typhon and finding the newest den, I didn’t send any reinforcements, instead sending my men to Alpha Davis’s pack, my warriors remaining on high alert.
In the end, we agreed on 250 warriors from all of the packs to go to Alpha Emanuel’s pack. We decided to send 50 ahead of the rest of us to stake out the pack lands and see if they could get eyes on any of the she-wolves in the pack. If we could get in and out without killing Emanuel’s pack members, that would be ideal. But, if they fight us, then we will kill them. As of the last report, no one has spotted any she-wolves. Since we know Alpha Emanuel has them, this is not a good sign.
Alpha Jonas is planning to join us since Isabella is coming too. He is leaving his Beta, his brother Jared, in charge of the pack. They will leave after Jara and Hana go to visit them.
Jonas, Seth and I worked to create a plan to protect Nina and Isabella when we attack the pack. Alpha Phillip, Nina’s mate, insisted on being part of their guards, and Jonas pushed hard to be one as well.
“Two Alphas can only increase our chances of getting not only our she-wolves out safely, but also any others that are part of Emanuel’s pack.”
It’s a good argument and we agreed.
Seth and I plan to lead the attack on the pack, as both of our mates will be safe in Alpha Davis’s pack. We’ve made arrangements for the other she-wolves in our pack, so I’m not worried about Stella and her son, Jace. Joe will be here, and she knows to stay inside over the weekend.
Every night, I fall into bed, exhausted with all of our planning. Jara is showing the fatigue of pregnancy and is in bed before me every night.
The night before she leaves to go meet Isabella, I crawl into bed behind her curling up with her as I do every night.
“Wanna feel something, Mason?”
Normally, I’d think this was a precursor to s*e*x, but her tone is one of excitement, not desire.
“What do you want me to feel, love?” Okay, so my voice is full of desire. I’m about to spend several days away from my mate again, and I’m already dreading it. In some ways, I’m thankful that I’ll be battling with Alpha Emanuel and his pack because it will make the time go by faster.
She chuckles before taking my hand and putting it on her stomach. Her stomach that is no longer flat. It’s as if one of those little meat thermometers just popped. My little girl just popped herself out and is showing herself to me and everyone.
I lift myself up on my elbow, turning Jara over so I can see better.
“Your little girl says hi, daddy.” Jara says, watching as I look at her in wonder.
I run my hand over her small little baby bump. Then I lean my head down and kiss her stomach. “Hi, baby girl. Daddy can’t wait to meet you.”
Jara runs her fingers through my hair, watching me as I just stare down at the baby bump where my little girl is growing inside my mate’s belly.
My heart is so full of adoration for my mate that I slowly make love to her, savoring our time together until we both find our release and she falls asleep, safely wrapped in my arms.
Typhon POV
I watch as he stands beside the car, kissing my mate, rubbing his grimy hands over her stomach. The stomach that will one day have my pup growing inside of it.
They found my den while I was away.
While he was sleeping all snug in his bed, visions of firebombs danced in my head. Everyone was so busy, no one noticed me slipping in and slipping back out again. Now, more than ever, I need to make her mine. That hideous wolf keeps taking my home from me.
Take, take take. Taking what’s mine.
He puts her in the car with several other men, allowing her to leave his territory. Not a smart move, Alpha.
Nope, nope, nope. Not smart at all.
I’d better get going. I know where my mate is headed. Back to the place where the little mouse cries. ‘Hickory d*ic*kory dock
The wolf, he watched the clock
When it strikes one
The house will burn down
Hickory d*ic*kory dock.’