The Claiming by Cooper

territory.”

“Brynn is okay with that?”

“Yes. She’s a little worried about Melinda, but with the extra warriors, she felt better.” He’s quiet for a

moment.

“I’d feel better if you came home, Jara. Between Alpha Gunnar and Typhon, I’m struggling not having

you here with me.”

“I’m heading home today, Mason. I just need to make sure that Layan is settled for the week. What about

Alpha Davis’s pack? Does he have enough warriors here to protect the pack and the she-wolves here?

It’s not just Layan, her mother is here and they have another under-aged she-wolf that lives here.”

“I’ll talk to him. If we need to send warriors to him, we can. The alliance has enough pack members that

we can support each other. Alpha Zaire and Luna Gia are going to Seth’s pack and Elder Jason is

coming here. Alpha Saul and Luna Tessa are heading home, but after what they witnessed, it seems that

they are willing to join the alliance.”

“That’s positive.” I say.

“Yes, that just leaves Alpha Jonas. We still don’t know which side he’ll decide to fight for, and it will come

to a fight. I won’t allow them to change the laws and continue to persecute the she- wolves. While he’s

here, I need to see if Elder Jason knows how many she-wolves are in the other two packs. Alpha Gunnar

and Alpha Shawn now have none. If the other two have the same philosophies as they do, those she-

wolves need to be pulled out of those packs.”

“What don’t I know, Mason?” I ask, realizing that he is more concerned than he was when it was just

Brynn expressing her

concerns.

“Do you remember what Alpha Gunnar was talking about at the council meeting? About breeding she-

wolves if their mate couldn’t get them pregnant?” He asks.

I get a terrible feeling in my already nauseous stomach. “Yes.”

“Well, apparently, Alpha Shawn was planning to do the same in his pack, except, G*mma Kira would be

available to all of the ranked members until she got pregnant again. If it’s the same at Alpha Emmanuel

and Alpha Conrad’s packs, we’ll have to fight to get them out.”

I tried to hold it in, but I couldn’t. My already nauseous stomach revolted against the idea of those poor

she-wolves being raped to get them pregnant. I raced to the bathroom, dropping the phone on the

counter before the contents of my stomach upended into the toilet.

I can hear Mason on the phone, calling my name, his voice getting more and more concerned. When I

finally finish, I grab the phone. “Give me a minute.”

I flush the toilet, wash my hands and face before picking up the

phone again.

“I’m back.”

“I’m sorry love. I didn’t realize you were going to react so strongly. I wouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, I need to know. I just….I’ll be glad to get home today.”

“I’ll be glad to have you home too, love.”

“Could we, maybe, just have dinner together, the two of us tonight?” I ask him. I want to tell him that I’m

pregnant. I know it will make him even more protective of me, but it’s exciting news and I’ve been

keeping the secret all weekend now.

His voice changes to the low, deep tone that makes my toes curl. “Does my insatiable mate want

something that requires us to be alone?”

“Haven’t you learned yet Alpha, that I want it all, everything you have to give me?” I say flirtatiously.

His low growl has my core clenching. “I have a lot to give you after this weekend away from you.”

“Promises, promises.” I taunt him.

“How about this love? I promise to be giving you everything I have within 5 minutes of you getting out of

the car when you arrive. home.”

“I’ll be timing you, Alpha. Don’t disappoint me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Now, hurry home.”

I say goodbye and finish packing. Now, I’m practically desperate to get home,

When I get back downstairs, I can see that Layan is responding to Elijah. Not only that, somehow, she

seems okay with Lewis who is also sitting with them. I watch for a moment as whatever the boys are

saying has her blushing softly and looking down. I sniff the air. There’s no scent of fear, so she’s not

afraid of them, which is

good. Maybe I’ll talk to Mason about having Elijah join me again next weekend. We can slowly start

reintroducing her to males that don’t frighten her.

And that makes me shudder, thinking of the males like Gunnar or Shawn that might try to get into her

claiming next year. I’m with Mason, we have to get those she-wolves away from that environment. If by

some chance the she-wolf is fine with having a reverse h*rem, then no problem. I’m just doubtful that

they are being given the option. Alpha Gunnar and his group don’t seem to understand the value of the

she-wolves in keeping feral-fever away. They are using the excuse of getting a she-wolf pregnant to

force her into having sex with someone other than their mate.

We say our farewells and I remind Layan that we are only a video call away and that we’ll be back next

weekend. I am the last to leave again and as I’m waving goodbye, I see her look down at her phone. She

smiles, lifting it up to me before accepting the call. It makes me feel better knowing she is feeling a bit

more confident at the end of this weekend.

I close my eyes and fall asleep thinking about seeing Mason again and in a few short hours, telling him

our great news.