The Claiming by Cooper Book 3
Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 17
Jara
I was so happy when everyone at Layan’s claiming tried to calm her. What a difference from last year. Hana and I couldn’t have been less enthusiastic, but both McKenna and Katerina seem happy, excited even. Layan proved once again how much inner strength she has by getting on that stage and choosing her first two candidates. I don’t think anyone was surprised by her choices.
Elijah caught up to us as we left and walked with us, well, mostly Layan back to our housing. Unlike last year, anyone is welcome in the house. However, everyone is also aware that there are three Alphas and Lunas staying here with their new pups, so no one is stupid enough to try to force their way inside.
I go up to our room, finding my mother who has just put the twins down for a nap. I’m so lucky and thankful to have her here.
She puts her finger to her lips, telling us to be quiet. Mason and I walk over to the cribs, stroking our babies’ cheeks and hair before leaving them to sleep.
When we step out of the room, my mom turns to us. “I heard from Seth. He and Hana will be coming later this week. Hana is dying to get here to support Layan.” “Of course she is.” I say, knowing I’d be the same.
“Let’s go grab some lunch while it’s quiet.” Mason says.
We all walk to the kitchen, and I hear some quiet chatting coming from outside. I don’t think anything of it until I hear Layan’s name. Being the protective woman that I am, especially with my friend, I walk to the door and see Katerina and McKenna talking.
“It’s not personal, McKenna. He wants Layan. I think it’s sweet.”
“I just don’t understand. Why wouldn’t he at least put his name into our claimings? I mean, he’s a Beta.” McKenna says.
“What difference does that make?”
“I’m just saying, when I was in my previous pack, ranked members always wanted ranked members.”
I step outside, already done with this conversation. “Your previous pack, McKenna, also wanted to enslave you and your mother, force you into a mate bond and were willing to use both of you as breeders. Your mother left when she started hearing that your father and Alpha were planning to share her with the other ranked members in the pack. Is that the life you want for yourself? To be shared, even if it’s against your will, with all the ranked members of your pack?” I ask her. She frowns. “No, that’s not what I meant, Luna.”
“What did you mean then?” I ask defensively.
She shuffles uncomfortably. “It’s just, well, it seems like she’s trying to gain sympathy. She had the attention of every male in the claiming today. That doesn’t seem like something someone would do if they are as shy as she claims to be.” She says. I’m pretty sure that my mouth hits the floor.
“You do know what happened to her last year, right?”
She has the audacity to roll her eyes. “Yes, I’ve heard that she was marked by an Alpha that was going feral while he was in his wolf form. I get that it may be a bit traumatic, but really, it’s not like she was forced to keep him as a mate. He was put down.”
I can feel my temper flaring. Luckily, Katerina steps in. “Is that all you were told?” She asks her.
McKenna looks between me and Katerina. “What else is there?”
Katerina looks at me. “I’ll tell her Luna, but not here. I know Layan’s upstairs and could overhear us.” She tells me.
McKenna is looking more and more confused. “That’s fine. But I will say this. Elijah loves Layan. Her rank doesn’t matter to him.”
I turn, going back inside as Katerina pulls McKenna away, closer to the forest. I go into the kitchen and Mason’s arms come around me.
“What’s got you all riled up, my little Luna?” He asks in the mind link.
“McKenna.”
I feel his confusion. “What about her?”
I sigh. “To be fair, it doesn’t appear that anyone told her about what truly happened to Layan. I’m not sure how that’s possible, but I think it is. She was basically saying that Layan was putting on a show today to gain sympathy.”
He sucks in a breath before kissing my neck. “Easy Jara. I know how protective you are of her. If she didn’t know, then you can’t put the blame solely on her.” It’s not much longer before Katerina and a sniffling McKenna come back inside. She comes up to me.
“I’m sorry Luna, I didn’t know.”
I take her hands, pulling her aside and look at her. “There is a strong possibility that you will become a Luna, McKenna. If that happens, you have to make sure that you have all of the facts before you judge someone. No matter your role in a pack, others will look to you to lead them as one of the only females. But if you happen to be claimed by a ranked member, let this be a lesson to you about how to handle yourself in the future. Get the facts before you pass judgement on someone.”
She nods, and I pull her into a hug. “Lunch is ready.” I tell her.
“I’m going to go to my room. Honestly, I feel a little sick after what Katerina told me.”
“Which is perhaps why your mother didn’t give you the entire story.” I say to her. She nods again. “I definitely would have come here feeling differently. Even what you told me about the ranked members sharing my mother and possibly me, she never told me that. I knew that pack felt off, but she protected me from all of that. I just knew that things were bad between her and my father and that’s why we ran.”
“You’ll have to open your eyes and begin to see those types of things for yourself now, McKenna. You need to see past what is right in front of you into what the underlying reasons might be behind a person’s actions. There’s usually a reason why people act the way they do. It just may not be the reason that they portray to those around them.”
“Thank you, Luna. I appreciate you giving me a chance to prove to you that I’m worthy of being a Luna. If I’m claimed by an Alpha, of course.”
“Let this be another lesson to you, McKenna. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
She nods and heads up to her room.
When I go back into the kitchen, I see most everyone is at the table eating. I grab some food and join them.
“Better?” Mason mind links me.
“Better.” I reply.