The Claiming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 18
Jara
I shouldn’t be excited about seeing Mason again, but I am.
Every time I think about that kiss, my lips tingle. I had even dreamed about it. His warm, soft lips pressing against mine….
I shake my head, getting my mind back on the current conversation.
“So, you think Alpha Antonio would make a good mate?” Annabel asks. He was the only Alpha called for her lottery, so it’s a good chance that he’ll catch her.
“I do. He protected me last night when the fight broke out. And he’s been very kind in our conversations, and he was very appropriate during our dance. I don’t think he’s faking it. I think he would be a good mate.”
“I really like Beta Asher.” Mignon says. “He was so kind to me and made sure I was safe. I really hope he catches me.
“Remember what my father said. If you can’t get out unclaimed, make sure you decide who catches you.”
“But how?” Layan asks. “How can I make sure that Alpha doesn’t catch me, and a warrior does?”
“I don’t know exactly. I know we each get one day in the territory before they let our claimants in. We all need to take that time to search the territory for hiding places, water to wash off our scent and places that maybe we can fit, and they can’t if you need to get away. Also, depending on how their start goes, some of them may get injured or killed. If that happens, then there will be even fewer contenders to catch you.” I say.
“Asher says there is a cave near a lake. He asked me to meet him there.” Mignon says.
“Oh, it’s Asher, is it?” Annabel teases her.
“Well, don’t make it too easy for him.” Hana tells her. “Werewolves, especially ranked members, like a good hunt.”
“What about you, Jara?” Layan asks me. “Everyone saw you come back in the room last night holding hand s with that Alpha.”
“Mason.” I say, and I can’t help but smile. I look at them before blushing. “He kissed me.”
There’s a lot of squealing and clapping. “Tell us everything.”
“What was it like?”
“Was it wonderful?”
“It was wonderful. His lips were warm and soft, and he was so sweet.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “Of all the claimants I’ve met, he’s one I wouldn’t mind catching me. Although I’d prefer to make my own choice, if I were mated to him,
I think it would be okay. Seth basically said the same thing.”
“Speaking of Seth, where did you and Alpha Seth wander off to earlier today, Beta Hana?”
My attention immediately turns to Hana whose own blush is turning her cheeks a lovely shade of pink. “Your brother may have kissed me.”
She says, looking at me.
I smile at her, reaching out to take her hand. I want her to know that I would be happy if Seth caught her. “I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. He’ s a good man, a great Alpha and the best brother in the world.”
“Yeah.” She says, but then the smile falls from her face, and she looks down.
“What?” I ask her, squeezing her hand.
She looks back up at me. “Alpha Typhon told me last night that he’s going to enter my lottery. That way, if he doesn’t catch me, he has two chances to get a ranked female.”
A low growl rumbles in my chest. “Make sure, if it conies down to him or my brother, that it’s my brother that catches vou.”
We chat a bit longer about the other males in each of the omega’s lotteries. I give them my impressions of the ones I’ve met, and Hana does the same.
As we head up to our rooms, Hana slides her arm through mine. “What are you going to wear tonight?”
“1 don’t know yet. But, since
Mason will be there, I was thinking maybe I’d wear something more in line with what a Luna would wear.” I turn and look at her. “Is that ridiculous?”
“I think it’s perfect. And I know that Seth isn’t in my social gathering tonight, but I was thinking the same, hoping he’ll get pulled to sit with me for dinner. Even if he doesn’t,
I can always spend time with him afterward.”
Tonight, I leave my hair down, wearing dangle diamond earrings, and a diamond bracelet with a floor length black dress that is elegant in its simplicity. The satin material drapes across my
body, one strap made with a string of rhinestones and the other in the satin material of the dress, dipping into a low
V-neck, accenting my cleavage. This dress has a slit a bit higher than the others, coining about three quarters of the way up my thigh. I pair it with strappy black heels to complete the look.
When I look in the mirror, I know that I’m dressing for one person tonight. Mason.
Hana and I leave together, as usual. Her red dress is also elegant and makes her look like a perfect Luna. I know Seth is going to swallow his tongue when he sees her.
When we arrive, it’s much quieter than it was last night. Since there are only 100 claimants allowed in the hall until after the social gathering, 20 for each of us, we head to our a*s*signed rooms.
As soon as I walk into my a*s*signed room, my eyes meet Mason’s. His instantly darken and I know that my choice of dress was perfect. His gaze drifts over my body appreciatively, unlike some of the other wolves in the room who literally lick their lips as if I’m tonight’s dessert.
I glance around the room, seeing if there is anyone that 1 want to spend even a minute amount of time with. When I see no one of interest, I make my way toward Mason. A Beta makes the mistake of getting in my way.
“Alpha Jara. There are several of us here that would like to spend time with you. This might be your only opportunity to get to know us.”
“What is your name, Beta?”
“Jason, Alpha.”
“And what is it you think I need to know about you, Beta Jason?”
“Uh, well…” I give him a moment, watching as he struggles to find something interesting to tell me about himself.
“Let me explain to you why I dismissed you from spending time with me this evening.
First, when I walked in, you grabbed your crotch, like seeing a woman or maybe an Alpha gets your rocks off.
Second, you licked your lips like you were going to eat me for dessert. Rest a*s*sured, you won’t be dining on me tonight or any night. And finally, rather than acknowledging me with a polite nod of your head, you chose to step in front of me and basically challenge
me. As a Beta, I can understand that need. But I’m an Alpha and the fact that you are disrespecting me simply because I’m a female and you don’t think you need to treat me like the Alpha I am, is exactly the reason you have gotten more time with me this evening than you deserve. So, Jason, get out of my way before I remove you.”
I watch as he considers his options before moving out of my way.
I walk up to Mason. “That was s*e*xy as hell.” He says before wrapping one hand behind my head, the other around my waist and dipping me. His lips latch on to mine and he’s kissing me like his life depends on it.