The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 3

Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)

Chapter 39

Elijah

I’m not surprised that Jara is mad at me, she and I have been close since her claiming last year when she saved me from Typhon’s Beta and we talked on that cliff. Since then, she’s been my biggest cheerleader for claiming Layan.

And I shouldn’t be surprised that Mason threw me under the bus. I knew he would try to stop me if I didn’t claim Layan, I just didn’t think he’d tell Jara of my plan if I did. It doesn’t matter now anyway. I’m not going anywhere. My entire life is right here in my arms.

I know she’ll be out for a couple of days, so I shower quickly on the first day, wanting to be able to take care of her completely when she wakes. I eat when I hear Jara bring food, but I always save enough in case Layan wakes up.

I want to bathe her, but I’m afraid she’ll be upset that I saw her naked body when she finds out, so I leave her as is. I’ll let her decide what she’s comfortable with. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t change her clothes. I want her to wake with my scent in her nose. I’ve never asked her what I smell like to her, but the longer she’s in my room, the more it smells like apricots.

I know I need to wait for us to mate, but damn is my body responding to her being my mate. I’m hoping that once she’s awake and can feel my emotions, feel my love for her, she’ll know that she is safe with me.

I brush her hair away from her face. Her hair is so soft. I’ve touched it before, more in the recent weeks when we’ve been spending more time together. Even now her hair is sliding through my fingers like silk.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I should lay in bed with her. Again, I know she’s had a rough time of it. I don’t want anything to start our life off on the wrong foot. But then I remember after I killed Typhon and I was wrecked with grief that Jara lost her baby, she had held me and told me she wasn’t afraid of me. Then, after my assessment she had climbed into my bed and held me, helping my mind to heal. She didn’t hesitate to wrap herself around me.

second guess it, or give her any reason to think that I’m anything other than ecstatic to have her as my mate, I climb into bed with her at night and most of the day.

the day after I claimed her. Then, it was just Jara and Mason and a few others left

when I feel her begin to stir. I’m curled up behind her, having tucked her body against mine. I stay still, my arms wrapped around her, watching her as

heart rate begins to slow again. The happiness that I feel knowing I

my arms, sliding one hand into

kiss her nose.

at the window then back

morning. Like maybe one or

have I

quite two days. Are you

ready to leave this

it okay that you want to stay curled up

her face against my chest. I take a deep breath, sighing in pleasure at her

like me here too, don’t

I can feel her

back, and we stay like that until I hear her stomach rumbling

some food for you. Or, more accurately, I saved some of the food that Jara has been

still here?”

sure she’s worried about

looking up at me. “Why, I’m