The Claiming by Cooper

The Council Chapter 54 Mason

Mason

It’s been a week since Jara left the hospital. Every night, she lays down in our bed and every morning, she’s gone. The first night I woke up and she was gone I flew out of bed, racing around the packhouse, irrationally thinking that someone had taken her from me, worried that somehow Typhon had survived and was here to get her.

Elijah had found me and let me know that she had gone to Layan’s room. I had rushed to her room and opened the door, to find that Jara was curled up in Layan’s arms, sleeping.

Each night, I fall into a restless sleep with her in my arms and wake at some point in the night to find her gone. I always go to Layan’s room to make sure she’s there. Now, most nights, Isabella is there too, and they curl around her, protecting and comforting her the way that I should be.

Jara still barely says anything to me. I know she’s hurting, we both are, but her withdrawal is almost worse. She’s here in body, but not in mind or spirit. And she’d rather sleep with her friends than me, her mate.

I had thought that having her friends here would be helpful to her, but it became clear very quickly that seeing Hana, Annabel and Mignon all still pregnant was more detrimental than helpful right now. So, Layan and Isabella stayed, and the others had gone home.

I started back to work, needing something to take my mind off of everything. Davis had run things well for the few days I needed him to, but when his packhouse was rebuilt and ready for the pack to move into, he needed to go.

The pack is still running. There is food on the table every day, Layan and Isabella make sure that Jara eats, Joe makes sure that the warriors train

and Elijah makes sure that the patrols are running non-stop. I sit at my desk and shuffle papers trying to focus on anything other than my grief

Today we’re having the first alliance meeting since my attack on the Elders. I have Elijah joining us, so he can help me keep the pack going. I know I’m not as strong as I need to be. I still feel the gaping loss of my daughter and now I’m feeling the loss of my mate every day.

When Elijah comes in, we dial into the conference call.

“Alpha Mason, how is Luna Jara?” Alpha Luke asks.

“She’s…” I sigh. How is my mate? I have no idea. “She’s as well as can be expected.”

“Is having Isabella there a help?” Jonas asks.

“It is. She and Layan are taking care of her.”

“If there’s anything we can do, please let us know.” Alpha Antonio says.

Before I can answer him, we hear an unfamiliar voice on the phone. “Hello? Hello?”

“Hello, who is this?” Zaire asks.

“Oh, hi. I’m Ian, Alpha Asher’s Beta. He wanted me to join the call to let you know that Luna Mignon is in labor. So, he won’t be here. WE’RE HAVING A BABY!” He yells and his excitement through the phone is palpable.

him and he reaches over, putting his hand on my arm. I grit my teeth against the pain. I should be happy for Asher, I really should, but I can’t. Not yet.

let Nina know. She’s on

everyone. I have to

when the baby is born so we know momma and

bye!” He says,

to start

muted than

“Let’s

to business. Has anyone else heard that Alpha Shawn and Alpha Conrad are packing

moved.” Alpha Saul says. “Earlier this week, both packs moved to Alpha Gunnar’s

the death of

Gunnar’s pack have tripled.”

other two packs are

way.”

check it, just to be sure.” Quinton says.

be careful.” Zaire says. “Considering the mines in Emanuel’s pack lands, they may have done something similar in case we went

out the mines before we could walk across them. Maybe we could send him with a group to see

We’ll get it set up. The sooner, the better. If they have

for a counterattack. We need to be

be attending

on the new council and

to the side bar

I could use a shot of something

watch while he pours two

I ask him, hating that I don’t know

spend the evening in your room, Alpha. Maybe you should head up there.”

shot for liquid courage and standing. “I think I will.”

to expect. When I open the door, I could never have guessed what was waiting for me.

sheer bathrobe that barely covers her hips. I close the door, feeling my body’s

for a week, she’s here, clearly

on her lips. “I’ve missed you.” She

on the bed and looking into the amber eyes of my mate. I

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my hand.

up, leaning toward me and kissing me as her hands move to unbutton my shirt. When she has it unbuttoned, she pushes it off my shoulders and down

many clothes, Mason.”