The Claiming by Cooper

Chapter 73 Mason

Mason

Where is she? Where is she?

I walk back to the trees where I can smell her scent, then to the trees past it where it disappears.

Where is she? Where is she?

Back and forth, back and forth.

She’s got to be somewhere. But her scent ends here.

Back and forth, back and forth.

I look up into the tree for the hundredth time. I can’t see her. Even if it was daylight, I couldn’t see her. How can I find her if there is no sound, no scent?

Where is my mate? Where is she?

When I collapse, exhausted, I lay under the tree. The last one where I can find her scent. Maybe tomorrow, I can find it again. If not, I’ll have to go searching for it somewhere else.

How could she escape me? She can’t. She must be nearby. I’ll stay here. Guard her, guard what’s mine until I can claim her.

I close my eyes, only for them to fly open in what feels like moments. I stand, ready to fight. What did I hear?

growl low in my chest. No one is taking

ground, lifting my nose into the air, sniffing again. There, on the light breeze

to capture the scent, trying to find that delicious smell. My mouth waters at it. All I want to do is sink my canines into

my head up, listening, not wanting to move. This is a hunt, and I am a stealthy predator. I will hunt my mate. I will run her down if I have

my face, I catch her scent.

against the tree, putting my front paws as high as they will go. There, very faint, is her scent. I have her caught in the tree! Now, how to get to

tree limbs are too low for me to catch. I still can’t see

my frustration, clawing at the

more than hear another wolf stalking

I shake my head, violently as our snarls and growls echo in the surrounding forest. Animals all around us wake

flips over on his back, trying to dislodge me. His paws begin scratching my underside, slicing into my ribs, but I

and flesh, leaving a gaping wound on the wolf’s back. I leap

Dividing into pages now

back, tearing my skin

to grab hold of the side of his neck, my bottom teeth puncturing his throat. I can hear the wolf begin gasping for air, the

I bite down harder, knowing that I have him in a death hold. I just have to wait him out. He continues snapping at me until he becomes too weak. When he collapses at my feet, I hold on to him until I hear his breathing and heart stop. I hold on for just one more moment before

the air, howling my dominance over this competitor who thought he

that he won’t get back up before turning back to the tree. I jump up and realize that my mate’ s scent is now even more faint than

to the death, she

Elijah POV

been keeping an eye on Mason, making sure that he didn’t get injured. I was hoping that I would be immune to the claiming haze, but once he succumbed

I finally got to her, she was in a precarious position. The limb she’s on is small and as I watch,