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.

came clean and told Jordan

my sister. “I’d ask how you knew, but you’ve always known things that others

when it comes to you, Jace. I’m glad you

I say and now

did. You

for such a tiny person,” I say jokingly, feeling my

that she’d really ever be okay with that, did you?” she

enough for her,” I say quietly. “Your mother dying had nothing to do with your worthiness,

may have been young, Jace, but I remember how closed off you were after your parents’ death.

I say, but I smile at the memory of Melinda, who was like a

others don’t. And what I see in you, Jace, is the same thing I’ve always seen, someone who is strong, compassionate and deserves to be loved

my chest, rubbing and gently tapping on his back until he

she asks, turning to face me, pulling

to prove to her that I can be a good mate to her, that I’m worthy of being her

have to

Maybe I didn’t before, but I do now. After everything, well, she hasn’t rescinded the rejection

another mate bond to the mix,”

I ask, more sharply than

at me. “I think you already know what I

at her a moment. “You’re freakishly scary, you know

I’ll

top of my nephew’s head, smelling his sweet baby

about you? What are you going to do about mom?”

around in her seat, slouching down and

mediator, but it would give her a chance to

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

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255