The Claiming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 25
Mason
1 don’t know if Jara truly understands what she just did, but everyone else does. There isn’t another Alpha that could have done what she did. At least, not an Alpha male. It reinforces to me that I’m right. If she mates with an Alpha, she will strengthen their pack. She could bring calm to the violent and feral nature of our species. Or at least, to her pack.
I watch her as she talks to Mignon before she heads into the claiming territory. The atmosphere is still tense in the field, but I also know that the stakes just went up for Jara’s claiming. She just inadvertently showed everyone how powerful she is. Now that the claiming’s have started, it’s only a matter of time before it’s her turn. And it will be me, hunting my mate as I battle against 200 other wolves to claim her first while battling against her and time to get to her before she makes it out without my mark.
When Mignon is one of sight, Jara turns, every bit the Alpha female she is and begins walking toward Hana, Layan and Annabel. 1 watch as she checks on them before turning to Elder Carson.
Other than Mignon’s claimants, our activities are supposed to continue today as normal. We will rotate through our contestant, spending time with them in groups.
It’s only because I’m watching her that I see her turn and look past me. 1 follow her gaze and see Beta Asher is sitting as close to the starting line as possible. He’s looking to where Mignon disappeared into the forest. His hands are absently stroking the gra*s*s in front of him as he tries to listen in the direction she went. When I look back, Jara’s lips are twitching. She likes him. It seems like Mignon does as well. Jara catches me watching her and quickly looks away.
The rest of the day goes much the same as the others. That night Luke, Jara’s guard, finds me and asks me to meet Jara. As we walk back to her housing, I ask her about what she said to Mignon before she went into the claiming territory.
“I told her what I thought she should do.”
“And what was that?” I ask her.
She stops and looks at me. “Now, why would I tell you my secrets, Alpha?”
“Because you want me to catch you?” I smile at her.
“If I made it easy for you, it wouldn’t give you the challenge you and your wolf expect.” She says, giving me a sa*s*sy smile.
“True.” I say, putting my hands on her hips and pulling her closer to me. She’s become more comfortable with our kisses over the past week. “I expect that you will give not only me, but every other male in your quite a challenge.”
“That’s the goal.”
I rub my nose against hers before kissing the side of her mouth, then moving to her neck. I kiss my way down her neck to her mate mark, licking the spot where 1 intend to sink my teeth very soon. Her shiver of pleasure has my wolf rumbling in pride at her response to us.
“Careful Mason, no marking.”
“No marking. Just teasing.” I say as my canines come out and I scrape them over her mate mark.
Her gasp of pleasure is almost as satisfying as her leaning her head back, giving me better access. I take advantage and nip my way up her throat before pulling my canines back and taking her mouth in a passionate kiss.
When I pull away, 1 lean my forehead against hers. “You, Alpha Jara, are one hell of a woman.”
We stand like that a moment more before 1 step back and take her hand. “Come on, let’s get you home before they send out an army to search for you. “
“How long do you think it will take for Mignon to get claimed?” She asks me.
“Well, depending on how good your advice was, it would be several days. Although that also implies that Beta Asher isn’t going to be hunting her day and night.”
She chuckles at that. “It was sweet that he was sitting, waiting to get into the territory.”
“Sweet, huh?” I say as we arrive at the border of her housing.
She shrugs. “I thought so.”
I tuck a stray hair behind her ear. “Should 1 plan to sit at the entrance of the territory after you go in?”
“It won’t help you. I’ll be long gone by the time the group of you come in.”
“Is that so?”
Before she can answer, I take her face in my hands and kiss her deeply. I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her to me. This time, her lips part for me and I slide my tongue into her mouth, tasting her, drawing the kiss even deeper until she’s clinging to me, her body pressed tightly against mine.
When I finally pull away, we’re both panting. I kiss her nose, smiling when she doesn’t immediately open her eyes.
“Get inside, I’ll see you in the morning.” I turn her toward the house and swat her behind, making her jump.
I wait until she’s inside before 1 turn and head back to the main house.
The next morning, the tension in the air is much calmer. Everyone knows that only the 20 claimants chosen for today get to go into the claiming territory.
The group is a mix of those in their human form and those in their wolf form. Beta Asher is in his human form, as are several warriors. All of the omegas are in wolf form. Their only chance to find Mignon is with their wolf. Beta Asher doesn’t need the wolf advantage right away. Starting in his human form is smart. Once the human side gets tired, he can shift and let the wolf take over, extending the time that he can search for Mignon.
When the gun goes off, Beta Asher takes off like a shot. Several of those in wolf form, obviously excited and unable to control their wolves fully, howl as they take off, the howl of the hunt. As we watch, the group breaks out in different directions, noses in the air, hunting for their prey.
Elijah comes up beside me. “Think she’ll last longer than one day?”
“I do.” I say, watching as the group disappears into the forest.
“Seriously? Why?”
I turn to him. “Because Jara gave her some pointers.”
He snorts. “Then, they’ll be lucky to catch her at all.” He says, and we turn to head into the main house.