The Claiming by Cooper Book 3
Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 33
Mason
I can’t sleep without my mate beside me. I try, I honestly do, but it’s not working at all.
I finally get up checking on the twins before heading into the hall to check on the
Lunas, passing Antonio on the way. He chuckles. “I passed Asher on my way down to check on them and he passed Seth.”
I guess we all had the same idea. And none of us could sleep.
Now, I stand back, watching the Lunas walk Layan to the edge of the territory. I continue to be impressed with Layan and her resilience. When she lifts her head and enters the territory, I want to clap for her. She really is special. And I REALLY hope my Beta claims her.
I watch as, not unexpectedly, Elijah finds a spot on the gra*s*s outside the claiming territory. He won’t move until it’s time to enter the territory.
I walk up to Jara, kissing her cheek. “It’s my turn today, love.”
She turns and looks at Elijah and nods. “Take care of our Beta.” She says before heading back to the housing.
I spend some time on the phone with my Gamma Luke, making sure everyone who has returned to the pack got home safely and letting him know that Layan went into the claiming today.
“So, we’ll be home in a week at the latest.” I tell him.
“Hopefully with a new pack member in tow.” He says.
“His biggest competition was Davis, and he caught McKenna, so have high hopes.” I say.
When lunch is served, I get two plates of food, bringing them back out and sitting beside Elijah.
“This is like deja vu only the roles are reversed.” I tell him.
He takes the plate of food, chuckling, but his gaze remains fixed on the territory. “Do you know what she’s doing in there?” I ask him.
“I have no idea. There’s been a lot of crashing and what sounds like branches breaking. She’s not big enough to cause those branches to fall if she’s standing on them, so I’m not sure what’s going on.”
I sit with him during the afternoon. And when dinner is served, I bring him dinner as well, sitting next to him. The crashing has stopped, and it’s quiet again.
“I need to tell you something, Mason.” Elijah says, still not looking at me.
He rarely calls me Mason. When he does, I know that whatever he says is personal not about the pack.
Now he does turn and look at me. “I decided before I left the pack that if I don’t claim Layan, I’m not going back.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “Excuse me?”
He shakes his head, looking down. “I can’t go back to how things were, not knowing that she’s with someone else. I can’t. I don’t know why but the thought of her being with anyone else… I can’t be around it, I can’t see it. It would break me.” He says and his voice catches.
“So, you catch her.” I tell him. I feel angry at the thought of losing my Beta. But Elijah is more than that. He’s my friend, the closest friend I have next to Jara.” He shakes his head. “I refuse to hunt her.”
I’m pretty sure my heart stutters in my chest. “How do you expect to claim her if you don’t hunt her Elijah? I mean, if she’s the key to getting you back to our pack, f*uc*k, I’ll catch her for you and let you claim her.” I tell him, starting to feel a bit desperate.
“You don’t understand.” He says.
“Explain it to me.” I say quietly. I want to understand, but I won’t give up on him without a fight.
He tells me his plan, his reasons behind what he plans to do. In the end, I can’t argue with him. His rationale is sound, his reasons are pure of heart. But it doesn’t sit well.
“It’s a huge risk, Elijah.” I tell him.
“I know, but it’s the only way. And it’s why I’m telling you now that I won’t return if I can’t return with her.”
I scrub my hands over my face, frustrated for the first time in a long time. I don’t want to lose Elijah, but I know there is no changing his mind in this.
I’m about to ask him more about his plan, when we both catch the scent of a fire. Not the fire from the cave, that would be a hint of smoke on the night breeze. This is heavy smoke, much closer to the entrance of the territory than the cave.
Elijah and I are both on our feet in an instant. Others come rushing up, ready to help it needed. I realized that after Davis claimed McKenna, no one left. Everyone remained to see what happens to Layan. Everyone wants to see her end up happy.
Councilman Phillip comes running up, his communicator in his hand.
“Report!” He barks into the communicator.
“Sir, it appears that Layan has started a fire in the territory.” We hear the gunman say on the radio.
“What? Why? Is she cold?” Phillip asks.
“No sir. It appears….it appears that she is burning the area where she was improperly claimed last year.”
“Why would she do that?” Phillip asks, looking around at the rest of us.
Elijah has a smile on his face as he watches the tips of the flames as they flicker into the sky. “Like a phoenix, she is rising from the ashes of the fire.”
He really does understand her better than anyone else, including the Lunas. “Don’t let the fire burn out of control. We don’t want to lose the whole forest.” Phillip says into the radio.
At that moment, we hear Layan’s fierce howl of defiance. It’s like nothing I’ve ever heard from Layan before.
Elijah’s response is instant, his head thrown back, answering her call. Others behind me begin to answer her call as well.
When the howls die down, we hear Layan running through the territory, most likely laying scent trails for the claimants to follow.
“Damn she’s one hell of a woman.” Elijah says appreciatively.
That she is.