The Claiming by Cooper

Layan’s Return Chapter 21. Jara

288 Vouchers

Jara

I’m spending some quiet time with my babies today. I went to the morning meeting and the females have closed out their claimings. Katerina picked her fifty, McKenna picked 51 in case one of her claimants catches Katerina and Layan chose 11, one extra in case Alpha Davis catches one of the other females.

The next 24 hours will be more relaxing for me. The males that haven’t been chosen for a claiming will leave the territory, so after tonight, there will only be 112 unmated males left. Katerina, being first, will go into the territory in two days and her 50 claimants will go in the day after that.

Layan ended up choosing some of the omegas from her pack that she works with in the kitchen but surprisingly, she also chose a few warriors from my pack. I asked her about it, and she said that she had heard that one of Mason’s warriors had carried her out of the claiming and brought her to me after her assault last year.

“His name is Sebastian. When I was in your pack, he came up to me. asking if I was okay and letting me know that he was the one that carried me out. He told me how frightened he’d been that I would die and how happy he was that I had survived. I thought, ‘well, if this guy saw me at my worst, knew to bring me to Jara and is still willing to be in my claiming, he must be a good guy.”” She told me.

“He is a good guy. I didn’t know his name at the time and honestly, I didn’ t care. I almost killed him and so did Mason.”

“But he still did what was right. A man like that would look after me, never hurt me, don’t you think?” She asks me.

“Yes. I do think a man like that would take care of you Layan. But honestly, you’re not the same person you were a year ago.

She snorts. “Obviously.” She says sadly.

“No, sweetheart, you misunderstand me. I mean that a year ago, you were a sweet, innocent, naïve girl that wanted someone to take care of her. Now, you are a sweet, not so innocent or naïve girl, that knows how to take care of herself. You’ve grown a lot in the last year Layan. Not everyone could have survived what you did, physically or mentally. But here you are. You are amazing. And if Alpha Davis claims you, you will make an amazing Luna.”

She drops her head, looking away from me.

“Layan?”

She looks up. “I like Alpha Davis a lot. He’s a good man and I know he’d be a good mate. But Jara, I want Elijah. I want him with everything in me. Alpha Davis has helped me a lot over the past year, but, he’s my Alpha. I just feel like Elijah is my mate or should be.”

“You know you can always choose, right Layan?”

don’t you think he’d be disappointed if I didn’t give him a good chase,

want you as

I get to see a bit of the woman that Layan has become. “He should have to work for it, at least a little. I’m not

That’s my girl.

friends. But selfishly, I hope that Elijah claims you. Then we’ll live together, and you’ d be my Beta

Her mou

pack, but I hadn’t considered

be stuck spending day after day with me, Layan.”

be perfect. I’d have the man I love and my best

I say and we talk for a long time. I nurse the twins and she burps them. It’s obvious to me that she would love to have a pup of her own. I can see the yearning in her

happen Layan.” I

know. I just don’t want to get my hopes up. It’s not definite. But I would love to have my own little one.

that you have

Jara!” I hear

the door to

walks in looking at me then at Layan, panting as if he just ran

labor and has

feel. I stand, putting myself back together, before putting Jordan over my shoulder and patting her back while I look to see what I might need to

out of the crib and grabs the diaper bag,

with children. Before the man, I’m guessing

and when we arrive, I see that Mignon and Hana are already there. I set my twins in bassinets that have been set aside for us in a makeshift nursery

looks up. “Where’s Layan?”

of our mates arrives to take over.” I say

said Alpha Seth is right behind him. How are

do you fucking

along, eh?” I ask, recognizing the irritation for what it is. Annabel is getting close to

the doctor?” I ask, looking around and not seeing anyone medical in

idiot

sweetie, you need someone to deliver your baby.” I