The Claiming by Cooper

Layan’s Return Chapter 12: Jara

288 Vouchers

Jara

The difference between this year’s claiming and last year’s is evident on the first night. Like last year, we have a welcome dinner where everyone attends. However, rather than wearing their finest gowns, this year is a more casual affair. Everyone still dresses up, but not to the level that we did last year. This isn’t a pageantry.

Layan had been terrified of walking into the dining room alone, so Mignon and I had held her hands and walked in with her. Unlike Katerina and McKenna who decided to sit at a table with a bunch of claimants and begin to get to know their possible contenders. Layan chose to sit with us. ‘Us’ just happened to include Elijah and Davis.

Annabel arrived earlier, but being very pregnant, she decided to skip the dinner tonight and rest in their room.

I look over at Layan and Mignon. “I heard from Seth. Hana had her little girl a few hours ago. They named her Harper. Momma and baby are healthy and doing well.” I tell them.

That gets the expected ‘ahhhs’ from both Mignon and Layan

“I hope we get to meet her.” Mignon says, gently rocking the baby carrier in the chair beside her.

“You guys should all start planning play dates for your daughters to play together. They will all be around the same ages. They should grow up as friends.” Layan says.

“That’s a great idea.” Mignon says.

“We should build a multi-pack school.” Davis says, leaning over and joining our conversation. He had been talking to Asher, but he got

distracted by a dirty diaper and had to leave for a moment.

you mean?” Mason asks him, joining

we have six pups, not including the roughly 20 juvenile females and several hundred juvenile males in all of our combined packs, maybe we should start considering a community education program. Most of us live within an hour or so drive from each other. We could find a place somewhere centralized to most, if not

Trying to educate them all at their different levels is really

through a buying phase, rebuilding my packhouse. It doesn’ t seem like it would be a stretch to build a school. We could figure out transportation, especially from the packs that are farther away, to make sure all pups have access

the council. They can put together the project, interview staff interested in becoming teachers, it could be a good alternative for omegas that aren’t strong enough

have pups, and/or you’re busy

”

cooking.” Davis

I do. But there’s only so many different ways that you can make chicken.”

She found all sorts of ways to make variations on food. If she didn’t have a name for it, she called it a blah-blah. So, if

sure I’m that creative.”

feel passionately about helping to build a school, then you

says.

definitely follow your heart, find what you want to do in this life

feels it, but there is an underlying current of competition in the words being spoken by Elijah and Davis. It’s

I say, cutting off whatever

there?” Mason says, looking at

a tango.” I tell him, thinking of our first dance together. His eyes get dark and he takes my hand,

was so preoccupied

early, my love.” He says, smiling

you were.” She says,

dance?” Elijah returns

10:461