Layans Return The Claiming by Cooper Book 3
Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 32
Jara
When Davis comes out carrying McKenna, along with the other Alphas, I hear Elijah’s low purr of happiness. I can feel it through our pack bond. He is now the only ranked member in Layan’s claim now. The odds of him being able to claim her are high.
It was a much shorter hunt than I was expecting, only a few days. I check McKenna over and even though it’s been a short amount of time, she looks like she hasn’t eaten since she got into the territory.
“I think missing that first day really set her up to get caught more easily.” Davis tells me, looking at her. “Honestly, she’s been crossing her scent trails, doubling back on them, but it was too late. Once we were in the territory, there were too many of us for her to try and avoid.”
“How did you catch her?” I ask him, turning to walk toward the packhouse with him as he carries her inside.
Davis gives me a smug smile. “The other Alphas chased her right into my arms.”
I shake my head at him. “Do you want me to send some food up to you?” I ask him. “No, I’ll wait and eat when she gets up. For now, I just want to get her tucked into bed. I feel the need to be close to her.”
“I understand that.” Mason says, coming to stand beside me and wrapping an arm around me.
“How long were you out, Luna?” He asks me.
I look at Mason, who looks at me. “Several hours. But Jara almost made it out of the claiming territory, and she didn’t have food for most of those days.” He tells Davis, his eyes never leaving mine.
Davis starts to walk up to his room. “Have Luke and Katerina emerged yet?” He asks.
“No, but we’ve heard them moving around, so we know she’s awake.”
He nods. “I’ll talk to you soon, then.” He says.
“Davis?”
“Yes, Luna?”
“Congratulations!”
“Thank you. I know we’ll be happy together.” He says before walking upstairs.
I blow out a breath. Mason pulls me to his chest, kissing the top of my head. “Are you okay?” He asks, knowing I’m worrying about Layan.
“I need to be. If she can go into the territory again after everything that happened to her, I can be strong for her.”
“You, my love, have never let anyone down, including yourself. There’s no way you’ll let Layan down when she needs you most.”
I lean into my mate, wrapping my arms around him and letting him hold me. “You can do this. She can do this. The odds just went way up that Elijah will claim her. And then, she’ll be one of our pack mates and your Beta female.”
I chuckle at that before looking up at him. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Anything.” I smile because I know he would do anything for me.
“Will you watch the kids tonight? I have an idea of how to help Layan.”
He snorts. “Do you think your mother will let me? I mean seriously, I love having a grandmother for them, but when she’s around I barely get a moment with them.”
“If my plan works, I think Mom is going to be busy tonight.” I tell him.
“Oh, do tell.” He says, taking my hand and walking me back to our housing.
I tell him my plan as we walk back. When we get close, I stop, looking at the house. “I have a lot of good memories here.”
“As do I.” He says, standing beside me.
I turn to him. “But I’ll be happy to get back to our home, our pack, our lives.”
“Me too. We have our lives to live and now that things are improving, it feels like the packs have hope where they didn’t before.”
When we get inside, Layan isn’t there. “I think I saw her with Elijah again.” Annabel says, while rocking and nursing her little one.
“I have an idea.” I tell her. I call Mignon and Hana into the room, and we all agree. We begin making arrangements and then I go. I spend some time with Mason and our babies.
When I hear Layan come in, I kiss Mason and head downstairs. The other Lunas have put everything into motion and we’re ready.
I catch Layan as she’s heading to her room. I can already tell the nerves are getting to her.
“Hey Layan. Can you come here for a minute?” I ask her.
“Sure.” She says coming down the stairs, distracted. “Did you need me to watch the babies for you?”
I wrap my arm through hers. “Nope, but I do need you to watch something for me.” I tell her walking her into the room where Hana, Mignon and Annabel are waiting.
“What’s going on?” She asks, looking at all of us.
“It’s tradition, Layan.” Hana says.
“And you can’t break tradition.” Mignon says.
“We wouldn’t let you, even if you tried.” Annabel says to her. She turns looking at me, frowning.
“Movie night. All night.” I say.
“With pizza!” Annabel exclaims.
“And popcorn!” Hana says clapping.
“And sodas.” Mignon says. “We got it all, Layan.”
Because I’m standing beside her and my arm is wrapped around her, I feel the tension in her body as she fights her tears. I lean in, hugging her to me.
“It’s your night. You pick the first movie.” I tell her.
She looks at all of us. “You mean we’re watching movies ALL night?”
“It’s tradition.” We all say at once.
“I’ll go put the pizzas in. We had to get enough for the guys. Otherwise, you know we’d never get any.” Annabel says.
“And Jara’s mom is helping to watch the kids, so we’re good there.” Mignon tells her.
“And the guys know this is your night and not to bother us.” Hana says.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” Layan says as she goes to find movie.
“What’s the bet on who falls asleep first?” I ask.
“Mignon!” Everyone, including Layan says, and we all laugh.
We spend the night curled up on the couch, all of us wrapped around Layan, watching her favorite rom coms and just being there for her. We eat too much pizza, too much popcorn and drink too many sodas.
Early in the morning, Mason comes down to check on us. He’s not the only one. Our mates don’t seem to be able to sleep without us there with them. But it’s sweet that they are watching out for us.
When it’s time to get up, we all get ready and walk Layan out to the claiming territory. Katerina comes running up.
“I wanted to be here for you, Layan. Luke and I are staying until the end of your claim. I want to know that you are safe and okay before we head to his pack.” She says.
“Our pack.” Luke says, coming up behind her.
She smiles looking at him over her shoulder. “Our pack.”
When my dad says it’s time, we all walk Layan to the edge of the territory. She hugs us all, thanking us again for being there for her.
“I love all of you, so much.”
“We love you too, Layan.”
When she steps back, she looks at the ten men she’s chosen to be in her claim, her gaze lingering the longest on Elijah.
When the shot rings out that it’s time for her to enter, she turns, with her head held high and jogs into the territory.