The Claiming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 20
Jara
Alpha Mason will be the death of me. After our social gathering, I couldn’t focus on anyone else over dinner. Several times I had to have the claimants at my table repeat what they had said to me.
The more I get to know him, the more I think I’d be willing to take him as a mate. He is intelligent, s*e*xy, powerful and isn’t intimidated by my strength. I love his idea that maybe having a strong mate like me could make his pack stronger and keep his pack members from going feral.
After dinner, it’s what I’ve begun to call ‘open season’ social time where the claimants vie for our attention. Thankfully, the omegas have their group and only the 20 in their lotteries are able to spend time with them. Hana and I are stuck with the rest which, after losing several through the fighting over the last few days, still leaves Hana and I with roughly 150 split between us trying to gain our attention. I’m thankful for Luke who is constantly by my side.
It feels enough like a tug-of-war with them all fighting over me, but Luke stops it when it gets to be too much.
When the evening begins to wind down, I lean closer to Luke. “Is there a rule that I am not allowed to have one of the claimants walk me back to our house?”
Luke gives me a knowing look but has the decency to not say anything. “To my knowledge, there is no rule about you being escorted back to your housing by a claimant of your choice as long as that claimant is not in another’s lottery and as long as you agree that I stay close enough that I can see you. Your safety is my primary concern until you go into the claiming territory.”
“Of course.”
“Do you want me to request his presence?”
I turn to give Luke my full attention. He’s been nothing but fantastic during this entire process. “What would you recommend?”
“Better to have him meet us outside than to have you go to him or call him over and have the two of you leave together. Walking in together earlier already put him on some of the Alpha’s radar to take out early in your claiming.”
“What?” I ask him, mortified.
He raises an eyebrow. “Do you think he’s concerned about that? It didn’t look like it to me during your social gathering tonight. I’m sure he knows, doesn’t care, and isn’t concerned.”
I narrow my eyes at Luke. “Do you know anything about him?”
He shrugs, not wanting to sway my decision one way or the other.
“Luke, I trust your opinion. I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t want it.”
He looks around, lowering his voice even more. “From everything I hear, Alpha Mason is the real deal. His pack members like him and even some that are in your claiming are hoping that he catches you. His Beta is top-notch and even he seems to be hoping to catch Beta Hana to leave you open for his Alpha.”
I think about that for a minute. “Thank you, Luke. I appreciate your honesty and insights. Can you let him know to meet me outside in 30 minutes.”
He waves over one of the guards and goes to speak to Mason. I’m barely listening to the conversation around me, watching to see his reaction. It’s instantaneous. He looks up at me and his eyes darken almost to black. He and his wolf are pleased with my request.
I focus in on the conversation around me, trying my hardest to determine if there is anyone here that I’m even remotely interested in.
“Excuse me, Alpha Jara.” A warrior approaches me. It’s daring, I’ll give him that. I’m surrounded by ranked pack members, but anyone is welcome to approach me as long as I agree. “May I have a private word?”
This is not uncommon. Most of the claimants here have asked to speak with me privately at one point or another. However, there is something about this man that makes me want to agree. I look to my guard, Luke hasn’t yet returned, and nod.
We step aside, much to the grumblings of the ranked members who have not been given this privilege. “What did you want to speak to me about?” I ask. If he just wants to try to sell me on why he’s the best candidate, I underestimated him.
He looks over to where Mason is standing and I notice that he’s standing straighter, watching the interaction. “My name is Callum. I am a warrior in the Winter’s Bite pack.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Warrior Callum.”
“Please, call me Callum.” He says, smiling. “Anyone who is familiar enough to call my Alpha by his name, should also call his pack members by their name, wouldn’t you agree, Alpha?”
I raise my eyebrow at him. “Winter’s Bite is Alpha Mason’s pack?”
“That’s correct, Alpha.” He stops, looking over at Mason and I see Mason narrowing his eyes, watching this interaction intently. He did not put Callum up to this conversation, that much is obvious.
“The thing is Alpha Jara, you seem to have taken a liking to our Alpha. I wanted to tell you, as his pack member, that he is a wonderful Alpha. Any of us would say the same.”
“Okaaaaay.” I say, stretching out the word. I have no idea where he’s going with this conversation.
He looks down before giving a side-eye glance in Mason’s direction. “The thing is, I’m not sure you know that this is probably our Alpha’s last chance to catch a mate. He is twenty-five and no one expects that he’ll be around next year if he doesn’t get his mate this year. I know you have a lot of choices, and no one ever knows what will happen in a claiming, but I wanted you to know that our Alpha is a good man. He’ s a good Alpha and while I can’t guarantee it, I’ d wager my life’s savings that he would be a good mate. He’s been clear that he only wants you. He’s removed himself from every other lottery. I know that’s partially because he has taken a fancy to you.” He smiles as he says this and this young, cute warrior actually blushes.
“But” he continues, “I also know that he thinks you can save our pack. He’s had to put too many of our pack members down for going feral. He hates it every time, but he does his duty as a good Alpha should, unlike some Alphas that let their feral wolves go rogue. Just,” he pauses again, looking down. “If you have any thoughts that you may be willing to have our Alpha as your mate, I wanted you to know that you wouldn’t be making a bad decision.”
“Thank you, Callum. I will certainly take what you have said into consideration.” I had no idea that Mason was removing himself from every other lottery. He had said he was here for me, but I didn’t realize he was metaphorically and literally putting all his eggs in one basket. My basket. Luke’s comment from earlier comes back to me.
“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
“Of course, Alpha. Anything.”
“There are many in your pack that are in my claiming. What would happen if it came down to you and your Alpha? Would you defer to him, or would you claim me if you could?”
I watch as he struggles with his answer. “I would love nothing more than to claim you, Alpha Jara, make no mistake about that. But, if it came to me or my Alpha, I believe my Alpha is the better mate for you.”
“Thank you, Callum.” I say, schooling my face. This warrior would be willing to give up his mate for his Alpha. That tells me everything I need to know about how Alpha Mason runs his pack. He is a man honorable enough that his pack members would give up something as precious as a mate, and Alpha mate at that, for their Alpha.
My eyes connect with Mason’s once again as I feel Luke come up behind me. “Time for us to head back to your housing, Alpha Jara.”
Oh yes, yes it is.