The Claiming by Cooper

Layan’s Return Chapter 31 Davis

Davis

I’ve been so worried about McKenna since she entered the territory. She seemed so carefree, so happy at the idea of being caught by her mate. I’m not sure what changed, but whatever it was, it wasn’t for the better.

When the gun went off announcing the beginning of the hunt, we all ran toward the cave. I have to admit, Jonas and Jared have a considerable advantage over me and Quinton. Katerina ran us ragged in her hunt. We all searched, nearly non-stop for her. With barely any sleep, one day of rest wasn’t enough. I had planned to sleep in my bed one more night until I heard McKenna’s heart- wrenching howl. I knew then that it didn’t matter how tired I was, she needed me, an Alpha, and possibly her future mate. And I wasn’t going to let her down.

As I run toward the cave, the Alphas and Jared pull ahead of the others, being faster and stronger by nature. However, Jonas and Jared pull ahead of both me and Quinton. At first, I thought they were working together, something that I know Mason and Elijah did last year in Jara’s claim. But as I watch, I realize they are both here for themselves. They both want a mate and since they weren’ t invited to Layan’s claim, this is their one and only chance this

year.

When we get to the lake, I smell a trail moving away from the cave. While Jonas and Jared begin racing up the cliff to the cave, I turn, heading left, deeper into the territory as I follow McKenna’s scent. I haven’t gotten far when the howl of the hunt goes up behind me. Someone else has decided that this trail is the one to follow and their howl will only bring others.

I begin running faster, wanting to catch her before anyone else does. Her trail is erratic, running in different directions, brushing against bushes and around trees before moving off again. I can’t tell if she’s running scared or if she’s actually trying to throw us off her trail. Either way, it’s working. I can tell the wolves behind me are getting confused with her scent trail moving in different directions and rarely moving in straight lines which is more typical for an animal being hunted.

Quinton is close by, having followed the same trail that I did. I’m not paying attention to my surroundings, simply following the scent when I realize, I’m almost back to the lake. She doubled back and now, she’s crisscrossing or scent lines. This is definitely intentional.

I hunt without success the rest of the day. Periodically, I hear the howls of the hunt as someone thinks they’ve found her. I always listen, but I don’t believe it. I’ve found several hiding spots with her scent, but she’s not there. She’s throwing us off, pulling the same stunts that Jara did when she was in the territory.

settle, I follow a trail back to the lake. I decide to head up

one claim each year. With the lottery, it was highly unlikely that you’ d get pulled for one claim, much less more than one. The only possibility of that was last year and three years ago when Jara and her sister were in the claiming and every eligible male was able to join in the hunt. Last year,

And now, I know

will be able to defeat him in my

see someone has lit a fire. There are a couple of omegas loitering around, probably hoping to see something from up here. I walk in

don’t like being alone. It’s why we live in packs. I know last night was hard on her, but her words

lie down, closing my eyes and listening to the sounds of the night and the territory. I can hear the hunt continuing for those that are still fresh. I would guess that somewhere, Quinton is finding his own place to rest as he too as up with all of us last night,

through the night. Each time it does, I listen, wondering if they’ve really caught her trail or if she’s

better. She, unlike me, can’t even

again. With only 50 of us in the territory, we’re not on top of each other. It helps to be able to search

the rest of the day searching for McKenna. Howls continue to go up periodically, but none are from Alphas, so I listen, but don’ t expect

trails, following them. until I no longer can tell the direction she was going. Some trails smell more fresh than others while some

caught another scent trail when I hear the howl of the hunt go up. This time,

else, possibly Jared, but maybe Quinton

to the crashing sounds of the forest. If I’m right, McKenna is running scared. Someone has flushed her out of her hiding

down, listening, trying to figure out what direction she’s going in. I know from her scent trails that she is erratic in her running patterns, so I wait, and

take off. It takes everything in me not to howl. I know if I do, I’ll alert her to my presence, and she’ll dart off into another direction. So, I keep my lips firmly

slight whimper from