The Claiming by Cooper

The Council Chapter 29. Jan

Jara

When I arrive back in Alpha Davis’s pack, I’m glad to see that Layan looks considerably better than she did when we left her last weekend. However, when she walks up to hug me, holding me so tightly that I can barely breathe, I know that it’s only on the surface.

That’s okay, it’s a start and every small step forward is still a step forward.

I see Elijah watching her as he pulls my bags out of the car, his jaw tense. It’s probably a good thing that he didn’t see her last weekend if her current state is affecting him like this.

“Am I the first one here?” I ask her as she finally pulls away.

“Yes. I heard that Alpha Seth will be joining us this weekend instead of Alpha Asher.” She says. She looks past me, a frown. forming on her face.

“Is that Beta Elijah?” She asks me quietly.

I turn, seeing him ducking his head, smiling that she remembers him. “It is. He’s here as part of my guard duty this weekend. Do you remember him?” I ask her, hoping she has good memories of Elijah.

She nods. “He was kind to me.”

“Yep, he’s a good guy.” I say and sadness fills her features.

I turn her, keeping my arm wrapped around her shoulder, heading inside. “What’s that look for?” I ask, leaning my head on top of

hers.

“No one that nice would want me now. I’m too damaged.” She says and I see a tear drop from her eyes.

“I’ll tell you a secret.” I whisper in her ear. “He wanted to come last weekend, but Mason needed him at the pack. He volunteered to come here because he was worried about you. And you also caught the eye of my other guard, Lewis.” I tell her.

She tilts her head, looking over at Lewis who gives her a smile. “Really?”

physically. And that’s what your friends are

at her stomach. It’s like in one week she went from having

too, because as Mignon steps back, Layan’s eyes go

“You’re….”

is very protective of me and our little pup. But he trusts Alpha Davis now, and he knows that Alpha Seth and

she says it, her phone buzzes. She looks at the screen

up the call. “Hi

”

bit to talk to Asher. “Yep, I just got here. Yep, your girls are safe and sound. I’ll call you tonight. I love you too.”

because I can tell that Layan is surprised by the level of affection between Mignon

he’s good to you?” Layan asks her.

gaze on Layan. She puts her phone away and walks over to her, taking her

that Layan doesn’t know what to do with this information. She’s not there

do this weekend?” I ask her as the three of

again. We have a lot of movie time with the five of us piled on the couches. Now, the four Lunas are taking

room again, planning to have her sleep with me. Her mother told me that she’d been having nightmares again while we were gone.

in. “How is she?” She

crawling into bed and sitting with my back against the headboard so

other side of the bed, tucking up against Layan’s back. “I spoke to your mom.”

stroke Layan’s hair. “How are things

Alpha Davis, but some of his pack members are. He does have two she-wolves in their childbearing years and both of them have one young she-wolf along with a bunch of sons. Neither of them

figure out how to have someone go there

come to our packs for a month or so, keeping them in close proximity with us until we’ve pushed it out. It won’t have the same lasting effect until those packs have their own Luna to help, but it could be a way to keep our numbers from dropping over the next year. Seth told me they lost at least 50 males last

going on, but if he and Mason think it’s a

idea.” She says, getting up

is sleeping in here with you

look at me.