The Claiming by Cooper Book 2
The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 5
Mason
That night, Jara and I compare notes. I like their idea of creating a support group for she-wolves. I tell her to put a petition together so that the Alphas can’t block them from including the she-wolves in their meetings. Maybe that support will be what the she-wolves need to survive, to thrive. I hope so. We desperately need more she-wolves, and I want to make a better life for our daughters. Which reminds me …
“So, what did you think about Mignon being pregnant? And with a little girl, no less.” I ask, coming to stand behind Jara as she takes out her earrings.
She looks at me in the mirror. “I’m hoping that I’m already carrying our pup. I’d love a girl, but I’d be happy with a healthy baby, boy or girl.”
“I agree.” I say, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her neck. “Do we know how long we have to wait before we know if you’re pregnant?”
“I have to be at least two weeks along, I think. Being that our gestation is only five months, give or take, we should know pretty quickly after I get pregnant.”
“So, at least another week? Perhaps we should keep trying in the interim, make sure that if it hasn’t happened, that it does soon.” I say, smiling at her in the mirror. “Alpha, are you trying to get me into bed?” She purrs at me, watching me with dark eyes in the mirror.
“Yes, my Luna, I definitely am.”
My perfect mate took my knot, twice. ‘Just to be sure’, she had said in her sultry voice, and I was happy to oblige.
The next morning, we get ready to head to the Alpha meeting. “They aren’t going to give us a problem, are they Mason?”
I shrug. I don’t care if they don’t want my mate there. She’s an Alpha and my Luna. I want her there and I won’t allow them to dismiss her. Although, I’m pretty sure my mate won’t allow herself to be dismissed.
As we walk into the meeting room I see the Elders, all sitting at the head table look up and scowl at my mate’s presence. I ignore them, getting her seated at an empty table and moving to get us coffee. When Elder Jason walks up next to me to get a coffee refill, I hand him the petition and let him know Jara should have another one for him tomorrow.
“I’ll take care of it.” He says quietly before we step away and I finish making our coffees.
I give Jara her coffee just as Seth and Hana walk in. They sit with us, and Seth goes to get coffee for the two of them.
When they sit, I lean in toward Seth. “I gave it to him.”
He glances up at me. “Good. The sooner things start to change, the better.”
Soon, Antonio, Annabel, Asher and Mignon join us as well. I notice some of the other Alphas scowling as they come in to sit.
As the room gets settled, Elder Carson stands up. “This is an Alpha meeting. Anyone who is not an Alpha should leave the room now.”
None of our mates move. Elder Carson looks over at our table. “Lunas, I need to ask you to leave.”
“I don’t think so.” Hana says.
I’m watching Jara, she looks like a hunter about to attack and kill its prey. I have no idea what’s on her mind, but whatever it is, I’m glad I won’t be on the receiving end.
“Excuse me?” Elder Carson says to Hana.
“You heard her, Elder Carson. We’re not leaving.” Annabel says confidently.
“Alphas, please get your Lunas under control.” Elder Carson tries a different tactic. “I invited my Luna. I don’t see why she shouldn’t have a say in our discussions.” Asher says.
I hear a snort from one of the other Alphas, Alpha Gunner, Alpha Terrance’s previous Beta, now Alpha.
“Didn’t you hear what Elder Carson said? Only Alphas are allowed in the Alpha meeting.” He stresses the title. And the minute he speaks, I realized this is what Jara was waiting for. I sit back, ready to watch my mate tear this room to shreds.
“If that’s the case, Alpha Gunnar,” Jara stresses the title just like he did, “then perhaps you should leave the room. I am an Alpha by blood, so therefore, I have more right to be in this room than you do, since you are not a true Alpha.” She looks around the room. “I have more right than most of you, by those standards, and as much right as the ones that are true Alphas. So, unless you want to join the Lunas as they walk out of this room, I suggest you keep your mouths shut.”
I do nothing but smile with pride and drape my arm around the back of my mate’s chair. There are only two true Alphas in this room that are not sitting at our table. I notice Alpha Zaire, one of the two, hiding his smile at my mate’s words.
“Was there anything else, Elder Carson, or can we get started?” Jara says, directing her attention back to him.
He looks at the other Elders, but even some of them aren’t true Alphas. Their double standard just got handed back to them on a silver platter.
“Very well. The first item on our agenda is the restructuring of the packs. As Elder Colton mentioned last night, we have many leaderless pack members that need to be a*s*similated into new packs. In addition, the minimum number of pack members has increased this year, so if you have less than 50 members in your pack, please plan to a*s*similate some of the leaderless members into your packs.
For the next two hours, the packs debate back and forth over who should take which pack members. Seth and I stay out of the discussion. As the two largest packs, we want to give other packs a chance to increase their numbers.
Annabel had suggested ensuring that each pack has at least two she-wolves, even if they are juveniles. That may help some of the packs settle and decrease the number of males going feral.
At the end of the two hours, twenty packs have become fifteen. We break for lunch and Alpha Luke comes to our table, joining us while we eat.
“There is definitely some discontent among a few Alphas over your mates being here for this meeting.” He nods his head and I see a group which includes Alpha Gunnar and also includes Alphas Conrad, Shawn and Emanuel.
“Those are the four you’ll need to worry about. They will give you the biggest fight. There are others that are grumbling, but Luna Jara made a good point that as a true Alpha, she has more right than most of us to be here.”
“I hope you know I didn’t include you in that comment, Luke.” Jara says to him. “I was hopeful that you didn’t.” He says, smiling at her.
“I was too.” Alpha Asher says, also being a true Beta that became Alpha. I had pulled him aside last night and given him the story of his Alpha’s death, how he was in the haze and didn’t stop when I had claimed Jara, so the guards had shot him. I could tell it upset him, but he understood.
“Just another reason to change the way they manage the claimings.” He had said. When we finish lunch, Elder Rudy stands. He’s the one that has been managing Typhon’s pack.
“As many of you are aware, Alpha Typhon has gone missing. He was not found in the claiming territory, and he has not returned to his pack. We have had no sightings of him and since his Beta was killed in this year’s claiming and he has no Gamma, we will be dissembling his pack. Some members of his pack have already moved to Winter’s Bite pack.” He stops, looking at me.
“They have decided to stay in my pack, and I have already completed the ceremony making them official pack members.” I tell the room.
“How many?” Alpha Conrad asks me and his tone implies that I am intentionally increasing the size of my pack.
“Ten.” I tell him, not sure why it matters. After they fully a*s*similate their new members, Antonio and Asher’s packs will be the same size as mine.
“How many are left?” Alpha Zaire asks. He had attempted to take some of the leaderless members but because his pack is so isolated, most of them went to other packs.
“Thirty.” Elder Rudy says.
“I’ll take them, all of them, unless someone objects.” Alpha Zaire says.
Elder Rudy looks around the room. No one objects. “Done. The remaining members of Alpha Typhon’s pack will go to Alpha Zaire.”
“Moving on…”
“Excuse me, what is being done to find Alpha Typhon?” Jara asks.
“I beg your pardon?” He asks.
“We have a missing Alpha, one that could be feral, one that we already know has no respect for the mate bond. I believe my sister’s question is valid. What are you doing to find Alpha Typhon before he does something to injure one of our she-wolves or expose us to the human community.” Seth says.
“We have been looking for him…”
I snort. “Hanging out at his pack waiting for him to arrive is not looking for him.” I say, knowing they’ve done nothing. “Did you send trackers out after he wasn’t found in the claiming territory?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Well, we were very busy…”
“Just like you were very busy when you couldn’t put down the Alpha that mated the unconscious omega Layan on the claiming field?” Antonio asks. Since he was the one that had to put the Alpha down, it’s hard to argue with him.
Elder Rudy begins sputtering.
“Might I suggest that the Elders put together a plan to find Alpha Typhon before he does something unforgiveable, and you all give us even more reason to think you are incapable of overseeing the werewolf community.” I say.
“Alpha Mason, you are out of line!” Elder Stanley says, standing up.
“Am I?” I say, also standing. “Because if Alpha Typhon shows up in my pack lands, coming for my mate, and this council did nothing to try and stop it from happening, I will take it very personally and I will hold each one of you responsible. And make no mistake, if Alpha Typhon comes for my mate and anything, ANYTHING happens to her, I will hunt you down and make you pay.”