The Claiming by Cooper

Chapter 66: Jara
Jara
When I ran from Typhon, his Beta and Mason, I didn’t have a plan in mind of where I was going. It took me too long to get myself together and by then, I was close to the lake. Subconsciously, I came to the place that had kept me safe yesterday.
I slide into the water, making sure that the males across the lake don’t see me then find my way under the waterfall again. I walk with my back against the rock face until I find a spot that I can move back just enough to stay hidden but breathe more easily.
My heart is racing. I was so close to being bound to a monster, or worse, two monsters. I need to get myself together. I need to calm down and get a plan. I can’t let someone like that claim me. I have to be smarter.
I haven’t had any luck calming myself when I get a whiff of my favorite scent, a cool winter breeze. Even though the water is rushing around me, I’m close enough to hear him when he speaks to me, so I know he’s left me his shirt.
I have to shake my head. Even in here, in the claiming territory, he’s taking care of me. I’m tempted to jump out and just let him claim me. But I can’t. There’s something about the hunt. He has to earn the right to be my mate. It will make our relationship stronger in the end.
After he’s gone, I wait another hour. When the water starts to feel cool and my fingers are wrinkled from being in the water too long, I slowly make my way back out. I’m going to sleep in the trees again tonight. I’m close to the place I slept in last night, so I’ll go back there. At this rate, I may spend the rest of my time here in the trees. It’s safer than being on the ground.

I slide out of the waterfall, my face barely above water. I look around and see only a couple of men far across the lake. Even if they see me, they won’t be able to get to me in time. The bigger concern is if the raise the howl of the hunt. Anyone close to me on this side might find me.
I turn and find the shirt Mason left for me. I look back at the men on the other side of the lake before slowly crawling to the shirt. When I grab it, it’s warm and dry from being in the sun. I quickly put it on and dash into the trees.
I find the one I climbed last night and then leap across the branches until I get to the limb I slept on. I’m more dry tonight, but my hair is wet, and I don’t have as much clothing as I did before. I pull my knees up, pulling Mason’s shirt over them trying to use the heat of his shirt to keep me warm.
I bury my face in it. It smells like him. There are hints of Typhon’s Beta’s blood underneath that, but mostly, it’s Mason’s scent that’s on this shirt. It lulls me to sleep. Throughout the night, I’m woken by the sounds of howls, snarling, yelping and what can only be death.
It’s only been two days and I’ve already almost been caught twice, both times by monsters.
As the dawn breaks, I watch the sun rise and decide to stay in the trees today. It’s been my only place of solace and from here, I can at least see what’s going on near me. I know these particular trees fairly well and can move through them easily if need be.
Maybe later today, I’ll find another group of trees and start moving around the territory that way. But I have another problem. I haven’t eaten in two days. My stomach is beginning to protest. Loudly. Even if my hiding spot is good, the sounds of my stomach will make it easier for others to find me.
I just finished thinking that, when I hear light footsteps underneath
me.
“I smell you.” He says softly, and I recognize that voice. I lean over my limb and smile. Yep, Alpha Luke.
He’s looking around, trying to find my hiding spot. Each time the morning’s gentle breeze blows past him, he lifts his head, sniffing the air trying to find me.
“Where are you, Little Alpha?”
I watch as he turns in a circle and then suddenly, he looks up and makes eye contact with me. I squeak and move back so he can’t