The Claiming by Cooper Book 3
Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 29.
Mason
When I arrived at the claiming territory, McKenna had just entered. As soon as Jara turns around to head back, Quinton, Davis, Jonas and Jared surround her.
I rush over, not sure what’s happening but feeling protective of my mate.
“Luna Jara, what’s going on? Why did McKenna look terrified this morning?” I hear Davis ask as I jog up.
“I think the reality of the situation hit her overnight. She woke up terrified this morning. I’m pretty sure she didn’t sleep last night, and she refused to eat this morning.” Jara tells them. Knowing my mate like I do, I know that she’ll be feeling some guilt over not being able to help McKenna, so I push past the others, and wrap my arm around her.
A crowd of McKenna’s claimants is gathering to hear what’s going on. The Alphas and Jared all turn to look into the territory, listening to McKenna as she runs in the forest. Even from here, it’s obvious that she’s running scared, not like what we heard from Katerina a week ago or even what I heard from Jara last year.
As we stand there, they all move to sit at the entrance of the territory. I stand with Jara, as she listens too, so we hear it when McKenna begins to hyperventilate. We hear the thunk as she hits the forest floor.
The group of four, the Alphas and Jared all jump up, ready to rush, in and check on her. Councilman Phillip holds up a hand and calls on his radio.
After speaking to one of the gunmen he has stationed in the territory, he tells them that they have eyes on her. She’s fine, but unconscious.
“You can’t just leave her like that.” David says.
“Something could happen to her.” Jonas says.
“The watchers will look out for her, make sure nothing happens, while she is unconscious. If something does happen, they will alert, me and if need be, we will bring McKenna out of the territory.
They all sat back down, not really placated but after Phillip said he’d give them regular updates, they agreed to wait.
Jara wanted to check on Katerina and Luke.
“Love, I’m pretty sure they don’t want to be disturbed.” I say.
“They need food. I can do that at least.” She insists and I realize she needs to do something. The situation with McKenna is bothering her more than she’s letting on. I follow her to the main packhouse and help her put some food together. I wait while she drops the food at Luke’s door, knocking to let them know it’s there. “What do you want to do? I know you’re worried about McKenna.” I say, pulling her to me and wrapping my arms around her.
“I have Hana bringing the babies over, along with some outdoor play area stuff so we can set them up outside and I can listen in as well. I want to make sure she’s okay. If I need to go into the territory to check on her, I will.”
We have lunch outside, listening for McKenna, but at every check in, she is still unconscious. The claimants start getting anxious,
wanting to go into the territory and check on her. After lunch, they begin arguing with Councilman Phillip, stating that someone needs, to physically check on her. I look at Jara who is intently watching what is happening. Then she turns to me. “I need to go to her.”
“I know you do. Be careful.”
I watch as my mate walks into a group of males, all arguing and angry and whistles a shrill whistle to shut them up.
She turns to her father. “There is no reason I can’t go into the territory and check on her, is there?”
I watch as her father thinks about it before agreeing that she can go. Then she turns to the group of claimants.
“If I come out and say she’s fine, just unconscious, do you all agree to abide by what I say?”
There’s some grumbling, but they finally agree. Jara turns to look at me, and I give her a wink before she heads into the territory.
I look down at Jordan who is gumming her fist. “Your mother is something else, my beautiful baby girl. One day, I hope you grow up to be just as fierce and protective as she is.”
I stroke Jordan’s cheek, causing her head to turn in the direction of my thumb. I grab a bottle and give it to her.
“One day, you’re going to be Alpha of our pack. The first female. Alpha in history. You’ll need every bit of your mother’s brain and guts to take up that mantle. I hope that you aren’t the only one. I hope that all the daughters of the Lunas blaze a new path into our future. But even if you are the only one, you will still succeed. Your mother and I will both make sure of it.”
I pick her up, burping her and rocking her back to sleep before Jara re-emerges from the claiming territory.
I watch as she lets the claimants know that McKenna is unconscious, but breathing fine and she’s in the shade, so she’s not overheating.
“I told you I didn’t think she slept last night. This excitement, compounded by no sleep and no food just did her in. She’ll wake up when her body is ready.” She tells the group.
Nina comes and takes the kids back to the house where we are staying but Jara and I continue to listen, having dinner outside. It’s after dark when we finally hear McKenna begin to rustle around. The Alphas are on their feet in an instant, turning their heads, listening to see where she goes.
I pull Jara into my lap, holding her as we listen to McKenna. It’s a quiet night, and McKenna isn’t exactly being stealthy in the territory, so we hear her until she gets to the cave. We know she’s here when we smell the smoke.
I‘m about ready to tell Jara we need to head back, when I hear the most mournful, sad, lonely sound I’ve heard in a very long time. The Alpha in me cannot ignore the sorrowful cry and my response s instantaneous. I lift my head to the sky and howl back to her, letting her know I’m here.
Mine is not the only voice in the night. Every claimant and even Councilman Phillip raise their heads to the sky and howl to McKenna that we are here, she is not alone.
The howls continue, and I finally convince Jara that we need to get our own sleep. “They will stay up, keeping her company tonight. You don’t really think that any of the Alphas or even Jared are going to sleep tonight after that pitiful howl, do you?” I ask her.
“No, I guess not.” She says reluctantly.
I lean into her ear, nipping at her earlobe. “Besides, don’t I remember my Luna putting in a request for another baby?”
That was all the convincing my mate needed.