The Claiming by Cooper

The Council Chapter 58 Elijah

Elijah

Things are starting to get back to normal. Isabella returned to her pack already and sadly, it’s time for Layan to return as well.

I had tried everything I could think of to keep her here. But today, she’s leaving, and I don’t know when I’ll get to see her again.

“My pack needs me, Elijah. You know that. I’ll see you soon. Plus, you showed me how to video call you, so I can do that now.”

“It’s not the same.” I say, putting my hands on her hips and gently pulling her toward me. I’ve been testing out the ‘I’m not scared of you‘ philosophy by doing little things like this. She never flinches when I touch her. I love that.

“I don’t want you to go.” I say. I’m trying to stay strong, but I feel like my heart is breaking. What if this is the last time I get to hold her in my arms. What if someone else claims her this year.

I look into her sweet, soft eyes. “Can I kiss you, Layan?” I ask her, hoping she’ll say yes, but also prepared for her to say no.

A smile graces her face, and she nods her head.

Never taking my eyes off of hers, I lean in, touching my lips to hers. I hold myself back from pulling her to me and kissing her passionately like I want to. If this is her first kiss, I want to make it memorable, special, something she wants more of, hopefully dreams about.

I gently slide my tongue over the seam of her lips, and they open, letting me tickle them further, gently sliding my tongue into her mouth. Her sweet taste of apricots nearly brings me to my knees. My hand goes into her hair, and I tilt my head to get a better angle. My other hand wraps

around her waist, pulling her to me. Her arms slide around my neck, and we kiss until we both come up gasping for air.

I lean my forehead against her as we catch our breath. “I love you, Layan. You don’t have to say anything, I just…”

to my lips. “I love

tightly. I

help her into the car, watching as she puts her fingers to her lips. Yeah, I can still feel her

away, and it’s not until they turn a corner, and I can no longer see her that I turn to go

I move to walk past them, my head down. Mason falls into step beside

in silence for a

had to leave.” I

know. She’s welcome back any time.”

“I have to claim her. I have to, Mason. If anyone else….” My throat clenches at the thought

to the time of the claiming, to give her time to heal and

my head. “They won’t. They can’t.

and want mates. Not to mention, I’m up against at least one Alpha. And I’d be surprised if Alpha Luke and Alpha Quinton didn’t try for her too. She’d be a good Luna. There’s no doubt

And sometimes, that makes the difference. Look at Hana. She chose Seth. When she was cornered, she ran to him and chose him. You never know what will happen in the

the problem, Alpha. I don’t know. I can’t control what happens there, but inside the territory, there is no alliance, there is no working together. It was different for you and me. We were working together for the pack. We knew Luna Jara wanted you and I wanted Layan, even back then. This will be different. Alpha Davis, Alpha Luke and Alpha Quinton won’t be helping me to

not. Maybe she chooses only omegas just to give you the edge. You don’t know what it will be like this year. It will be a whole different

it. You’ve been running this pack while I was out of it. I’m ready to step back in now, so if you

say, knowing he’s talking to me as my friend, not my Alpha. “But I need to work. The more I work, the faster this year’s claiming will come. And hopefully, the sooner the claiming occurs,

this go. We have all the she–wolves, we killed the Elders, he has nothing to lose.” Mason

arm and holding me in place.

I trust the pack, but you are the one that has the best chance of protecting her, just like you did against Typhon.”

to happen to you, Alpha.” I say. He may think our Luna will survive his death,

they aren’t all coming for me. Gunnar made it clear that he has no problem stealing another Alpha’s Luna. If anything happens to me, she’s at risk. Can I trust that you will protect her?” He asks and I can see his fear for Jara in his eyes. He’s not worried about himself, he’s not even worried about dying, he’s worried about what

I say, looking him in the eye so he