The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 13 (Jace)

It’s late in the evening when I step out back behind the packhouse and see my sister sitting on the patio looking out over the pack pool and the forest.

“Is this seat taken?” I ask Melinda. She’ s nursing Kaiden and I’m assuming that Jonas is upstairs with their other two. “It is if you sit in it,” she says, and I take the seat.

“So, am I getting another niece or another nephew?” I ask her.

“Don’t know yet, it’s too soon. We should find out next week.” I turn and look at her. “I saw dad leave. How was that?”

She shrugs and I smell the salt of her tears. I reach over and lay my hand on her arm.

“It was good to see him,” she says, and I can tell her throat is tight with emotion. She looks down at Kaiden, stroking his head of dark hair. He, like Ryder, is going to look like Jonas.

I stroke her arm, not saying anything. She swipes her face with the back of her hand. “He says mom’s sorry, that she misses me and wants to meet her grandchildren. I just… how do I trust her after what she did? How do I even begin to forgive that? You know?” she says, turning to look at me.

“She kept me from my mate, the father of my children, making us both think that we didn’t want to see the other. Who does that? What kind of person keeps their child away from her mate because you don’t agree with the age difference?”

“I’m probably not the best person to answer that question, Mel,” I say, turning and looking out over the forest.

She’s quiet a moment.

looks like you finally came clean and told

sister. “I’d ask how you knew, but you’ve

you, Jace. I’m glad

now it’s time for my throat to

Melinda chuckles. “I bet she did. You DID date her

I say jokingly, feeling my chest loosen as I

think that she’d really ever

“Your mother dying had

been young, Jace, but I remember how closed off you were after your parents’ death. You tried to shut

me be,” I say, but I smile at the memory of

don’t. And what I see in you, Jace, is the same thing I’ve always seen, someone who is strong, compassionate

my chest, rubbing and gently tapping on

what are you going to do, big brother?” she asks, turning to face me, pulling one leg up in her chair and

to prove to her that I can be a good mate to her,

have to prove

I do now. After everything, well, she

to add another mate bond to the mix,” she says, making me

do you mean?” I ask, more sharply than I

at me. “I think

moment. “You’re freakishly scary,

I’ll take

k*issing the top of my nephew’s

What are you going to do about

turns back around in her seat, slouching down and resting her head on the

in as mediator, but it would give her a

ask Jordan. I know she’d be happy to do it,” I say to

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