The Claiming by Cooper

Layan’s Retum Chapter 16: Elijah

288 Vouchers

Elijah

The moment I saw Layan, I hadn’t looked away. I knew there was a strong possibility that she would have a panic attack, and she did.

The minute I realize she is having difficulty, I start purring. At first, it doesn’t seem like she can hear me. I know from talking to her, that when she gets like this, she can’t hear anything around her. So, I purr louder, louder than I’ve ever purred before.

The moment she looks at me, I know I’ve got her. I’m her lifeline, something to anchor her to the here and now. I hold her gaze, letting her

know she’s not alone.

It doesn’t take the others long to figure out what’s going on and to add their purrs to mine. I’m not sure I could be any prouder of her than when she pulls her shoulders back and walks up those stairs. I can’t even imagine how much strength it took for her to do that.

My eyes never leave her as she walks over to stand next to the other two females. I hadn’t bothered to ask either of them to dance last night. I’m here for one person and one person only.

Layan.

Councilman Phillip begins reviewing the rules of the claiming. The first two rules have changed. There is no lottery. The females get to choose their claimants and social gatherings will occur regardless of whether or not you’ve been selected for the female’s claim. That is until their claim is full.

–

The last three rules are the same mate mark must be in the marking spot on the neck to be valid, you must mark in the same form as the female (wolf or human) at the time of the marking, and you can’t mate the female

after she passes out.

“In addition, we’ve added Rule #6: Anyone who kills another claimant or person in the claiming, will be subject to removal from the claiming process, exclusion from all future claims and possibly death.” Councilman Phillip says. There’s a bit of grumbling about this. Everyone knew that killing would not be allowed this year, but we hadn’t heard about the potential to be executed.

“Now, before we get started, if anyone chooses to be removed from any or all of the females’ claims, you may go over to the tables behind you and have your names removed.”

I turn, heading over to remove myself from McKenna and Katerina’s claims. I’m sure they are great women, but they aren’t for me.

table and tell them I only want to be included in Layan’s claim. Last year, when Mason did this with Jara, I thought it was crazy. Now, I feel like I have a much better

curiously. Well, Katerina is nodding as if I’ve acted the way she expected. McKenna looks surprised and Layan looks…. nervous.

got mine. I see McKenna’s head snap up in my direction, but I don’t look at her. I watch as Layan looks at

Katerina nudge her as Councilman

slip that she got, watching me as she does. I see Layan jerk back in surprise and she turns back

over my heart before pointing at her. My

to hide it. Katerina gives me a knowing look before

It’s easy to see that McKenna is a flirt. She reminds me a bit of Hana. She would make

up is Katerina. Honestly, if it wasn’t for Layan, I’d have gone for Katerina. I know about the conversation that she had with Jonas and it takes some guts to tell a man like him that she isn’t wiling to have him as a mate because of his actions.

makes eye contact with Alpha Davis

order

out the bowl with all three names and without

at it then looks at us. “Katerina.”

around and I watch as Katerina inclines her head

crowd.

reaches into the bowl again,

“McKenna.”

go up again. I sigh. I was hoping to get Layan out of here sooner rather than later, but it looks

process.

her. There are more cheers and I can tell all this attention is making her uncomfortable. I see her look up at me and I wink at her. I

to know if you have decided on any of your claimants

Councilman, I have.” She says into the microphone. You could hear a feather drop it’s so quiet on

“Go ahead.”

Alpha Luke, Warrior Jake

whoop from one of the warriors and several chuckles from

Phillip gestures for McKenna

males that you’d like to invite to your claiming, McKenna?” He

says, her eyes on me, frowning.

ahead when