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, it could be that she is just the first to show the signs that all children will show

Braxton smiles. “She’s quite a charming young lady. Engaging and sweet.”

she is.” Brynn

says,

mean?” I ask him.

she’s not yet four, is

correct.” Brynn tells him.

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

following you, doctor.”

glasses up his nose. Mason had mentioned this particular habit of the doc’s and now I’ve become hyper aware of it. He really does do it all the time.

are supposed to push

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

my daughter instinctively knew that she needed to

mate don’t

shrugs. “It’s possible I guess, but it’s nothing recent,

just a second son.” I say to her. “In a few generations, folks may

surprise me if she became a Luna one day. Either way, she’s a special girl.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

begins packing his things again. “Doctor, will you be

to truly understand what is going on, I’ll need to continue my experiments and testing for years to come.”

be seeing you around, doc.” I say

Luke are running everything for us.

a baby

the others. Annabel had just gotten Valentina to sleep.” Hana

him gently until he settles back

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

but also wanting 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 claiming territory. I find a seat and sit down.

place inside the territory last night, but so far, there hasn’t been any sound of gunshots, so I take that as a good