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 going forward, or it could just be

Braxton smiles. “She’s quite a charming

is.”

insightful.” He says,

do you mean?” I ask him.

four, is that correct?”

correct.” Brynn

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 activate them.”

following you, doctor.” Brynn says.

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

to push

didn’t feel the unease of the virus in their system, pushing forward, trying to take hold. Your daughter seemed

needed

your mate don’t have

guess, but it’s nothing recent, that’s for sure.”

would be possible, I mean look at Jared, Jonas’s brother. He’s a Beta, but he’s Alpha blood, he’s just a second son.” I say to her. “In a few generations, folks may not remember that he

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

“Thank you, doctor.”

again. “Doctor, will you be

truly understand what is going on, I’ll

you around, doc.” I say

and Luke are running everything for us. Now that most of our pack members have been sent home, it’s a lot of work for the two of

a baby rocker on the floor. I look

wouldn’t wake the others.

eyes open, bouncing him gently until he settles back into sleep. I walk upstairs and listen

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,

I move to the spot where Mason and I once sat listening to the sounds coming from the claiming

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