The Claiming by Cooper

The Council Chapter 49 Jara

Jara

My little pup has become very active. I was so excited when I first felt her move inside me. It was wonderful. Ever since Mason could hear her heartbeat, he couldn’t wait to be close to her at night. Now that he can feel her moving around inside me, he’s always touching my stomach, hoping to feel her move. When she’s awake, she never disappoints him.

Today, after Mason and our large group of warriors leave to help Alpha Davis rebuild, I decide to go with Layan and the kids outside to play. Jace and Melinda are very active and giving them time outside to run around is a great way for them to burn off some of their energy. Since Katerina will be here tomorrow for the weekend, I wanted to spend some time with Layan today to see how she’s feeling about the

visit.

I sit and watch Layan chasing the kids around the yard, playing tag and then hide and seek. When she finally comes to sit beside me, I turn to

her.

“How are you feeling about tomorrow and this weekend?”

She shrugs. “I don’t want to scare her off. You, Hana, Annabel and Mignon all had good experiences. I know mine wasn’t the norm and I know that you are working to make sure it never happens to anyone again, but….” She trails off, watching the kids playing.

“But?” I prompt her.

“But that wasn’t my experience. If she asks me, I’ll tell her the truth. Things can go bad inside the claiming territory. You know that as well as I do.” She says.

“Yes, I do.”

I’m just about to say something else, when the howl of warning goes up. Almost instantly, it is cut off, as if the person was attacked. I’m hoping they are okay but I don’t have time to worry about that.

I jump up as does Layan. “Jace! Melinda!”

We run to them, picking them up and turning to go inside when the scent of rotting flesh hits my nose.

I turn and see the most hideous creature I’ve ever seen running straight toward us. It’s black, its fur, if that’s what it has is matted all over its body. It looks like it has four legs, but they aren’t placed like they should be on a four-legged animal. The two in back are too close together and they are too close to what should be its front legs. Whatever it is, it isn’t natural.

I shove Melinda into Layan’s arms. “RUN! Get them into the safe room. NOW!”

yells, seeing the creature behind

yell again, turning to put myself between the creature that is still coming

and turns to run, yelling for help as she does. The men and wolves that were heading toward the sound of the howl immediately

as the creature leaps at me, Lewis jumps in front of me, taking the brunt of

knocking me to the

hear someone yell and the creature pins

at his face.

front of me. The smell is

creature, but it’s so wild, and misshapen that it’s just attacking randomly. Its snarls are feral, and I finally realize

but it’s so far gone that it doesn’t even know that its body is so broken.

the men to fight the creature, the creature that is also a wolf, but looks nothing like one.

from me. The men following, attacking the intruder as they can. It continues snapping its teeth at everyone. Even when they get a grip on the creature, he pulls

get up, I’m going to get you into a safe room.” Lewis says to me, never turning his back

ask. “It looks

you need to

creature again. I would never have

can you stand?” Lewis asks

stand. My side hurts, but I push myself to my feet. I stumble, not feeling steady after

my arm protectively around my

into me. I fall to the ground on my

he snarls, making me want to vomit.

hear the crunch of bones breaking but Typhon doesn’t seem phased at all by the pain. If anything, it seems to drive him forward

others are rushing over. I can see that some of them have been bitten and others have slashes and gashes on their bodies. Even feral, Typhon is an Alpha. He may not be a strong Alpha, but as an Alpha, he’s

different sides, surrounding him. Lewis is still thrashing on top of me, trying to

a hold of Typhon again, he latches onto the corner of Lewis’s neck where it connects to his shoulder. Elijah, not

me lessens, I feel hot blood begin rushing down my

me. I can hear the snaps and snarls that continue behind me,

so wide, and his mouth is opening

out of his throat and I realize he’s drowning in his own blood

roll him on his side, putting his head in my lap, hoping to keep him