The Claiming by Cooper

Jara

Contestants? They call us contestants as if we chose to be here. As if this is some beauty pageant that we applied to participate in.

I don’t bother to pay any attention to the ones that are pulled for my “social gathering”. I have no interest in getting to know any of these assholes.

They pack us back into our SUVs and we return to our temporary housing. Mignon, Layan and Annabel arrived before us, and they are already inside chittering about the events of today.

“Hey, do you know who that man was that stood up for you today?” Hana asks as we walk inside.

I throw myself on the couch in the living area. “You mean Seth? He’ s my brother.”

“You have a brother in the claiming?” Mignon says, coming to sit beside me.

“He would be eligible for any of our claimings, wouldn’t he?” Annabel asks.

I look at them. “Yes, he is.” I say, looking at Hana, who comes to sit with us. “But I’m pretty sure he’s chosen to be in Hana’s claim.” I say, giving her a ‘sorry’ look.

She looks at me a moment. “Is he a good man?”

“He’s a great Alpha, a better brother and I’m guessing an even better mate. You heard him today. He doesn’t think of us as objects. And he loves my spirit.”

Hana thinks this over a minute. “Maybe you could introduce me after dinner tonight?”

I smirk at her. “That would make his night.”

“So, who got pulled for your social gathering tonight?” Mignon asks and the omegas begin chittering again about tonight’s event. First, there will be a social gathering. Then there will be a dinner where we will sit with a different group of males, forced to interact. And finally, there will be free time where we are expected to interact with all the claimants. There will be dancing and socializing, but all of us will have an assigned guard as well as a full entourage of guards at the event.

fight, I’m wearing a practically sheer black lace dress. The dress is off the shoulder but has sleeves that go to my wrists with a piece that hooks over my middle finger, holding it in place. The dress falls just below my knees but has a slit on the right side that is high enough that I will have no problem

with pieces falling around my face. I add bright red lipstick and dark makeup to my eyes. I finish the look with fat dangly earrings and black

cars, I see that Hana has a similar idea. I can’t help but smile as I see her. Her dress is a daring red, also

enough to have the males slobbering over themselves. She’s finished her look with red heels similar in design to mine and a

me. “If we don’t cause mayhem tonight, then we’ve definitely done something wrong.” She says, linking

have a moment of guilt before I push it away. These omegas are excited about finding their mates. I wish I

a black, floor length, off the shoulder dress with sequins on the bodice and hips ending in black chiffon that drapes to the floor. Annabel is wearing a pink, sequined, spaghetti strap dress that is floor length but has a slit up to her thigh. Layan, on the other hand, has a pure white dress with spaghetti straps that falls in layers to the floor. It’s perfect for her,

turn to Luke, the guard specifically

lips twitch. ‘No, Alpha. There is no alcohol

that’s depressing.” Hana says.

evil grin. “I guess we’ll just have

you really going to ignore them?” Sweet

feeling bad. “I don’t know, maybe.”

you?” She asks Hana.

feels guilty about spoiling their fun as

are taken to the rooms with our

you ready, Alpha?” Luke

be with me all night,

“Yes, Alpha.”

His lips twitch again as he opens the door to the room. Immediately, 20 pairs

I intend to look at all of them with disdain and then proceed to

him. “What is your name, Beta?”

out his hand. “I’m

my hand in his and he pulls it to his lips, kissing it. His eyes never leave