The Claiming by Cooper

The Council Chapter 37 Jara

Jara

Mason had come to bed late. He had curled up around me, his hand protectively resting on my stomach. When I woke this morning, he was already gone, his side of the bed cool to the touch.

I get up, and shower, ready to start the day. I had thought that my fatigue had come from spending so much time with Layan, but now I realize it’s because I’m pregnant. If Dr. Johns is correct, I’m about 3 weeks into a 5-month pregnancy. That means, I have a whole lot of fatigue ahead of me.

When I leave my room, Lewis is standing by the door, waiting for

“Good morning, Lewis.” I say. True to his word, Mason has put a round-the-clock guard on me. During the day, if he’s not around, I notice that there are two guards. One is much more subtle than the other, but I know that he’s assigned two to watch me at all times. I don’t argue, knowing that he needs this to help him feel that I’m safe. And with the threat of Typhon still out there, why take the risk?

Before I even get to the dining room, I can feel the tension in the pack. When I arrive, the dining hall is considerably more quiet than it usually is and I see Mason, Elijah and Joe sitting with their heads together, looking over some documents.

“What’s going on?” I ask, walking up to the group.

“Jara.” Mason stands, coming around the table to pull me into a hug. His smile makes me feel a bit better, but I still see the

anxious lines pinching the sides of his eyes.

Dividing into pages now

some food. What are you hungry

toast, dry.” I say.

sits down opposite me and tells me about the email that came through last

are smaller and they both have she-wolves. I’ve had the warriors stay in touch and let us know if they see anything on their way to the other packs. We have a follow up meeting this morning with

to the house so you can get inside and safe if we’re attacked. I’ll be putting two guards on you full- time.” He says to me.

going to make the two guards that I have on your full-time already, more official and public. No one and

to sit in on the

the she-wolves in Alpha Emanuel’s pack anyway, and I heard

Kira say that

know it’s too dangerous for you to go into that pack now, right Jara?” Mason asks me as we head

alliance call.

someone has to. If that environment is as bad as we think, they will be terrified. They’ll need someone that they can trust, someone who is not a man.” She

find someone who is not pregnant, Jara. It’s too risky.” He says

the meeting is scheduled to begin. The three of us dial into the alliance call. Elijah joins us and my guards wait outside. I’m surprised when,

that neither of you have agreed to an alliance yet, but we appreciate you taking the time to

came out yesterday, eliminating my Elder from the council without any notification to myself

you, Alpha. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have after the call.” Alpha Antonio says. He has been in charge of the contracts for the alliance since

Luke, did your reinforcements