The Claiming by Cooper

Chapter 20

Jara
Alpha Mason will be the death of me. After our social gathering, I couldn’t focus on anyone else over dinner. Several times I had to have the claimants at my table repeat what they had said to me.
The more I get to know him, the more I think I’d be willing to take him as a mate. He is intelligent, s*xy, powerful and isn’t intimidated by my strength. I love his idea that maybe having a strong mate like me could make his pack stronger and keep his pack members from going feral.
After dinner, it’s what I’ve begun to call ‘open season’ social time where the claimants vie for our attention. Thankfully, the omegas have their group and only the 20 in their lotteries are able to spend time with them. Hana and I are stuck with the rest which, after losing several through the fighting over the last few days, still leaves Hana and I with roughly 150 split between us trying to gain our attention. I’m thankful for Luke who is constantly by my side. It feels enough like a tug-of-war with them all fighting over me, but Luke stops it when it gets to be too much.
When the evening begins to wind down, I lean closer to Luke. “Is there a rule that I am not allowed to have one of the claimants walk me back to our house?”
Luke gives me a knowing look but has the decency to not say anything. “To my knowledge, there is no rule about you being escorted back to your housing by a claimant of your choice as long as that claimant is not in another’s lottery and as long as you agree that I stay close enough that I can see you. Your safety is my primary concern until you go into the claiming territory.”
“Of course.”
“Do you want me to request his presence?”
I turn to give Luke my full attention. He’s been nothing but fantastic during this entire process. “What would you
recommend?”
“Better to have him meet us outside than to have you go to him or call him over and have the two of you leave together. Walking in together earlier already put him on some of the Alpha’s radar to take out early in your claiming.”

“What?” I ask him, mortified.
He raises an eyebrow. “Do you think he’s concerned about that? It didn’t look like it to me during your social gathering tonight. I’m sure he knows, doesn’t care, and isn’t concerned.”
I narrow my eyes at Luke. “Do you know anything about him?”
He shrugs, not wanting to sway my decision one way or the other.
“Luke, I trust your opinion. I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t want it.”
He looks around, lowering his voice even more. “From everything I hear, Alpha Mason is the real deal. His pack members like him and even some that are in your claiming are hoping that he catches you. His Beta is top-notch and even he seems to be hoping to catch Beta Hana to leave you open for his Alpha.”
I think about that for a minute. “Thank you, Luke. I appreciate your honesty and insights. Can you let him know to meet me outside in 30 minutes.”
He waves over one of the guards and goes to speak to Mason. I’m barely listening to the conversation around me, watching to see his reaction. It’s instantaneous. He looks up at me and his eyes darken almost to black. He and his wolf are pleased with my
request.
I focus in on the conversation around me, trying my hardest to determine if there is anyone here that I’m even remotely interested
in.
“Excuse me, Alpha Jara.” A warrior approaches me. It’s daring, I’ll
give him that. I’m surrounded by ranked pack members, but anyone is welcome to approach me as long as I agree. “May I have a private word?”
This is not uncommon. Most of the claimants here have asked to speak with me privately at one point or another. However, there is something about this man that makes me want to agree. I look to my guard, Luke hasn’t yet returned, and nod.
We step aside, much to the grumblings of the ranked members who have not been given this privilege. “What did you want to speak to me about?” I ask. If he just wants to try to sell me on why he’s the best candidate, I underestimated him.
He looks over to where Mason is standing and I notice that he’s standing straighter, watching the interaction. “My name is Callum. I am a warrior in the Silvercrest pack.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Warrior Callum.”
“Please, call me Callum.” He says, smiling. “Anyone who is familiar enough to call my Alpha by his name, should also call his pack members by their name, wouldn’t you agree, Alpha?”
I raise my eyebrow at him. “Silvercrest is Alpha Mason’s pack?”
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