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.

Mila. She came to me in my dream to tell me and she said it was very important that I tell you.

at her. “A message from

Isabella is watching her closely and she leans

asks, maybe wondering if Melinda has heard my sister’s name before and had

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

I nod. That’s exactly what my

did she say?” Layan asks, everyone’s

now.

“She said to say thank you for sending her the baby she could never have. She said you

and she will

to my mouth. “What?”

see you someday in the Moon Goddess’s realm, but your job is here. So, she will watch over your little girl as if

to name her

your dark hair and Alpha’s grey eyes. Oh, and Warrior Lewis was there too.

her to me, hugging

Melinda.” I say,

I gave you this

does, sweetheart. It really does. Thank you.” She hugs me again before sliding off

I’m ready now.’

”

holding my hands. I squeeze them, closing my eyes and sending

removed. My child

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

out and feel the sadness, the loneliness of the pack. They not only suffered the loss of a member of their pack, but they are feeling the loss, grief and withdrawal of their Alpha and Luna.

can feel his head snap

to his office. I open the

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