The Claiming by Cooper

The Council Chapter 55 Jara

Jara

I haven’t spoken to Mason since he rejected me several weeks ago. If I’m honest with myself, I know it wasn’t a rejection, it was from a place of love that he told me no. I know that, somewhere in my mind, I know I’m being irrational, but it does nothing for my feelings of anger and hurt so I’ ve stayed away from him, choosing to sleep in Layan’s room every night instead of going to our room.

I’ve shut myself off from Mason. My grief is so overwhelming that I can’t handle any more. I know he’s hurting too, but I can’t be there for him. It’s just too much right now. The same is true for the pack. I know they are feeling grief for our loss, and I’ve shut myself off from them, not able to deal with more than my own pain. And so, I’ve stayed locked inside my own head.

I’ve avoided everyone, everyone except Layan and Isabella who refuse to let me ignore them. Or, if I refuse to speak, they sit with me, talking around me or sometimes, just sitting quietly with me. They’ve made sure that I eat and that I bathe. Otherwise, I go where they tell me, I sit where they tell me.

Tonight, as with every evening, I’m in a rocking chair on the back porch with a blanket over my lap, rocking gently in my chair looking out over the forest. Layan is on one side of me and Isabella on the other.

“Luna!” Melinda says, racing toward me.

“Melinda, no. Come back here. Leave Luna alone.” Brynn says, coming up behind her.

“I’m so sorry, Luna.” She says, taking Melinda’s hand and trying to pull

her away.

Melinda is having none of it. “No momma. I have a message for Luna. I have to give it to her, it’s important.” She says, fighting to pull her hand out of her mother’s grasp.

“Melinda, stop this. We’ve talked about this.” She says, picking Melinda

1. up.

“Luna, please. It’s important.” Melinda says as Brynn begins to carry her

away.

“It’s okay, Brynn.” I say, reaching my arms out for Melinda. She’s so insistent that whatever she feels the need to tell me is important to her.

Brynn puts her down and she rushes back to me. I help her crawl into my lap, and she takes my face in her small hands.

tell me and she said it was very important that I tell you. She made me promise.

at her. “A message from Mila?”

nodding. Isabella is watching her closely and she leans

look like in your dream, Melinda?” She asks, maybe wondering if Melinda has heard my

a lighter brown, and her eyes are a light green color, not like Luna’s, which are brown.” She says, studying my face

looks at me and I nod. That’s

Layan asks,

now.

said to say thank you for sending her the baby

baby Mena, that’s what she called her, and she will take care of her

flies to my mouth. “What?”

watch over your little girl as if she was her own, so you don’t have to be sad

in my eyes. “She always wanted to name her daughter Mena. Did you see her?

very pretty. She has your dark hair and Alpha’s grey eyes. Oh, and Warrior Lewis

her to me, hugging her

you, Melinda.” I say,

Mila was very happy. She said to make sure I gave you this message. She said

you.” She hugs me again before sliding off

momma, I’m

”

up and see that Brynn, Layan and Isabella are all crying too. They reach out, holding my hands. I squeeze them, closing my eyes and

a darkness removed. My child is with my sister, and I know she will

to the back of the porch. I realize that it’s unnaturally quiet. There’s no laughter, no talking, nothing. Just the sound of paws hitting

loss of a member of their pack,

done. I open the door in my mind that connects me to Mason. The moment I do, it’s as if I can feel his head snap up, as if he’s

lift my nose in the air and follow his scent to his office. I open the door and see

keep his hands out of it. The office smells strongly of him and I realize he’s been sleeping in here