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.

in my dream to tell me and she said it was very important that I tell you. She made me promise. I‘ ve been trying to,

her. “A message from

watching her closely

Melinda?” She asks, maybe wondering if Melinda has heard my sister’s name before

Jara. Only her hair is a lighter brown, and her eyes are a light green color, not like Luna’s, which are

I nod. That’s exactly

Layan asks, everyone’s attention

now.

looks me straight in my eyes. “She said to say thank you for sending her the baby

what she called her, and she will

flies to my mouth. “What?” I

your job is here. So, she will watch over your little girl as if she was her own, so you don’t have to be sad anymore. And she said she loves you and she’s very proud

eyes. “She always wanted to name her daughter Mena. Did you see her? My little girl?” I ask her.

Alpha’s grey eyes. Oh, and Warrior Lewis was there too. He said he’ll watch over them

me,

Melinda.” I say,

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

really does. Thank you.” She hugs me again before sliding off my lap.

I’m ready

”

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

a darkness removed. My child is with my sister,

that it’s unnaturally quiet. There’s no laughter, no talking, nothing. Just the sound of paws hitting the dirt in the distance as

suffered the loss of a member of their pack, but they are feeling the loss, grief and withdrawal

as if I can feel his head snap up, as if he’s been staring at the place where I cut off our

turn, moving quickly, needing to see him. I lift my nose in the air and follow his scent to

of it. The office smells strongly of him and I realize he’s been sleeping in here at