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.

mean?” Mason asks him, joining in the

the roughly 20 juvenile females and several hundred juvenile males in all of our combined packs, maybe we should start considering a community education

educate them all at their different levels is really hard. If we had a centralized school, we could probably

stretch to build a school. We could figure out transportation, especially from the packs that are farther away, to make sure all pups

talk to 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 to be warriors but want to do something other than cook and clean.” Asher

of you have pups, and/or you’re busy running packs. I have time and it would be something positive for me. Tessa says I need something positive to

”

you liked cooking.” Davis says, frowning.

But there’s only so many different ways that you

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

I’m that creative.” Layan

course, you are.” Elijah says, watching her intently. “But, if you feel passionately about helping to build a

says.

what you want to do in this life and make it

words being spoken by Elijah and Davis. It’s almost

I say, cutting off whatever they were

says, looking at me.

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

preoccupied by Asher

claim on you early, my love.” He

were.” She says, smiling prettily.

you dance?” Elijah returns the conversation

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