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

seat, I’ll get you some food. What

toast, dry.” I say.

with my toast, he sits down opposite me and tells me

on their way to the other packs. We have a follow up meeting this morning with the alliance to create a larger plan of

don’t want you leaving the packhouse. If you feel the need for fresh air, please stay close to the house so you can get inside and safe if we’re attacked.

he smirks at me. “Okay, I’m going to make the two guards that I have on your full-time already, more official and public. No one and

sit in on

Emanuel’s pack anyway, and I heard that you

say that she knew they not only

now, right Jara?” Mason asks me as

alliance call.

someone has to. If that environment is as bad as we think, they will be terrified. They’ll need someone that

who is not pregnant, Jara. It’s too risky.”

is scheduled to begin. The three of us dial into the alliance call. Elijah joins us and my guards wait outside.

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

Elder from the council without any notification to myself or him, I have every

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

Luke, did your reinforcements arrive?”