The Claiming by Cooper

Layan’s Return Chapter 25 Jara

Jara

When the meeting with Dr. Braxton ends, I walk over to speak to Brynn. This is the first time she’s sat in and listened to Dr. Braxton’ s reports since the first one. It’s a lot to take in, especially when her daughter is part of it.

“How are you doing?” I ask her.

“Would you think less of me if I told you I’m overwhelmed?” She asks.

“I’d think less of you if you weren’t. I think we all are. That was a lot all at once.”

“So, why do you think Melinda has higher than normal antibodies in her system?” She asks me.

“I don’t know Brynn, we can ask Dr. Braxton, but it’s been clear from the beginning that Melinda is pretty special.” I tell her.

She nods and we approach Dr. Braxton as he’s putting his things

away.

“Excuse me, Dr. Braxton?” I say, as we walk up.

“Oh yes, Luna Jara. Hello, Gamma Brynn.”

“Doctor, we were wondering if we could ask a question about Melinda.” I say.

He gestures for us to sit, and we do, turning our chairs to face him.

“You want to know why your daughter, a true Beta, is showing the same high levels of antibodies as the Alpha children?” He guesses,

looking at Brynn.

“Well, actually, yes.”

I can hypothesize that it’s because she was born at a time when the antibodies in your blood stream had strengthened enough to be passed to her,

“She’s quite a charming

she is.” Brynn says.

says, watching her.

do you mean?”

she’s not yet four, is that correct?”

Brynn tells him.

yet, I heard that during assessment, she went and sat on the laps of several of your pack members. She inherently knew that they needed her close. But more than that, the assessments this year were brutal from what I understand. Having her close, might have helped them feel better because she was pushing the feral- fever and claiming haze viruses back after the assessment process attempted to

I’m following you, doctor.” Brynn says.

doc’s and now I’ve become hyper aware of it. He really does do it all the time.

are supposed to push the males,

claiming haze based on the nature of the virtual reality that they are put into. Even though everyone passed, it doesn’t mean that they didn’t feel the unease of the virus in their system, pushing forward, trying to take hold. Your daughter seemed to instinctively know that they needed her presence to push the virus away, to help your pack members

knew that she needed to help our pack mates?” Brynn asks.

sure that you or your mate don’t have Alpha blood

I guess, but it’s nothing recent, that’s

a Beta, but he’s Alpha blood, he’s just a second son.”

destined for big things, Gamma. It wouldn’t surprise me if she

“Thank you, doctor.”

packing his things again. “Doctor, will

for us, as researchers, to truly understand what is going

I guess we’ll be seeing you around,

she and Luke are running everything for us. Now that most

get back to our housing, I see Jaxon sleeping in a baby rocker on

her up to your room so she wouldn’t wake the others. Annabel had just gotten Valentina to sleep.” Hana says, from where she’s

nod, going to get Jaxon and tucking him against me when his eyes open, bouncing him gently until he settles back into sleep. I walk upstairs and listen at the door. Not

mate, lying on his back. And laying on his chest is my daughter, her legs and arms curled up underneath her, her face over his heart, no doubt listening to the soft thumping of Mason’s heart. He has his hands on her, holding her to him as they both get some much needed sleep. I smile before quietly backing. out of the room, leaving

to take advantage of this quiet moment. I move to the spot where Mason and I once sat listening to the sounds coming from the

heard any howls or barks. Dad said the gunmen were put into place inside the territory last night, but so far, there hasn’t