The Claiming by Cooper

Mason

“Alpha! It’s here.” Elijah, my Beta says, coming into my office.

I set aside my paperwork and take the envelope, noticing the significant size difference from any other year’s claiming package. I’m not surprised, every eligible male in my pack signed up. Since everyone will have a chance to hunt a mate this year, it’s our best opportunity knowing that no one will be eliminated from the Alpha female’s pool of claimants.

I open the paperwork, looking over the candidates. Most of my pack members have no expectation of winning the Alpha female, not with me and Elijah in the hunt. But there are four other females this year, the largest pool of females in years. Usually, there is one, maybe two. Five is practically unheard of. Add to that an Alpha and Beta female? It will be a fucking blood bath.

I glance over the list of names. I have sixteen warriors and ten omegas going this year, twenty-eight in total when you add in me and Elijah.

My Gamma is older and was lucky enough to catch his mate ten years ago before the pool of females dwindled to the dangerously low number we are facing today. Elijah and I have both gone every year since we turned 18, and other than the Alpha female three years ago who was also open to all eligible claimants, neither of us have been called in the lottery of claimants.

As I continue to look over the list of other Alphas that I’ll be competing against, I see his name. “Fucking bastard.”

“Who?” Elijah asks, watching me across my desk. I look up at him.

()

“Typhon.”

pool again? How is he even eligible? He had an Alpha female and he basically killed her, or close enough

who is in the claim this year.”

to get her. He’ll do it again.” Elijah says to

can try.” I look up at Elijah. “We’ll be better prepared this year.” Elijah is only a year younger than I am. While I’m closer to going feral, he’s not far behind me. “One of us gets the Alpha

made an agreement. We’ll work together, but we both know that if he gets her, it will most likely be less than a year before he’ll have to put me down. I won’t make it to the next claim. If I get her, he has another year, possibly two before he goes feral and may get called for the lottery in that time. For me, this is my last chance

years, the leadership of the packs has changed significantly and often. With Alphas going feral every year with no successor, Betas and Gammas have taken over as the next ranked wolves. However, it’s

elders are having to kill off more and more males who try to steal mates from other males. It’s why I know that this year will be bloody. There aren’t a lot of rules for the claiming.

that the contenders will be too busy trying to find the female to kill each other off. And, in general, it works. But with over 200 wolves going into the

their mate, battles to the death happen. It’s how Typhon won. He actually killed his own Beta to get to Mila, the Alpha

and sit back, rubbing my hands over my face. I don’t like killing, but this is life or death for most of us. And if it comes to them or me, it will be them dying

manage the pack while we’re gone?” I ask, as Elijah

this the last six years, he knows the drill.” Elijah says,