The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 22 (Taylor)

I return to the Alpha conference, but my mind is all over the place. I can’t believe I finally found my mate. When I didn’t find him during the Contest, I figured the Moon Goddess didn’t give me one. But he was here all along, I just didn’t realize it and our paths never crossed.

When I walk back into the conference room, Nolan is up front speaking to Councilman Jason. I take the same seat I was in this morning, not sure how to approach Nolan, or even if I should after everything that has transpired. I told him we’d talk this evening, but now, the anticipation of maybe hearing that he prefers my cousin to me is weighing on me.

I’m looking over the agenda, trying to get my emotions under control, when I smell his scent of fresh cut pines. “Do you mind if I sit here, Alpha?” Nolan asks me.

I look up at him and shake my head. When he sits, I take a deep breath, letting his scent and the warmth emanating from him soothe and calm me.

“Call me Taylor,” I say quietly then turn to him. “You’re my mate, you should call me Taylor.”

“Taylor,” he says, nodding as Jordan and Jace walk in.

He looks up, nodding at the two of them but nothing more. Now that my nerves are calm, the afternoon goes by quickly with Nolan talking about what he knows about Balorto Jace and Jordan, helping them prepare fortheir trip.

Then, Councilmen Jason, Antonio, and Saul begin working with the older Alphas to set up hunts for the rogues. While he does that, Councilwomen Jara and Gia work with the younger Alphas to make sure everyone has a place to go to be safe, and they begin documenting where everyone will be staying.

When they come up to me, I let them know that I’ll be staying in Griffin’s pack until things settle.

for the meeting

you like to

“Would you like to go for a walk

lands,” I clarify. “That would be nice,” he says, and I let Griffin know that I’ll be heading home tomorrow along with everyone else before

don’t speak until we get to the edge of the forest, away from everyone. When we do, I stop

we both say at the same

laugh. “Let’s

has a great view of

breath. “So, you know that I’m a female Alpha, you know that Alpha Seth and Luna Hana are

out over the area in front of us. “We’re

he does look at me. “Were you really going to take

look away. “I didn’t think I had a mate. I assumed that if I did, that I would have met them during the Contest,

be held to a double standard, Taylor. I appreciate and respect that you are an Alpha. But I require respect in return. I may not be an Alpha, but I am a fighter, the best in my division. I’ m a man who has wanted to find you, who has searched for you, my mate, for many years. I don’t know if our age difference bothers you, it doesn’t bother me. I want to get to know you, I want to see if we are compatible as the Moon Goddess has destined, but I’ll say again, I won’t allow you to hold me to a standard to which you do not hold yourself. If we move forward, you’ll see that I will challenge you, in more ways than one, I hope. I won’t sit by quietly, I won’t be in the shadows, it’s not who I am. I expect a

intend to rule your pack, to be in charge of everyone and everything, then I can tell you now,

know you, to spend time with you, to see your pack and what you’re doing to build it. But your brother has been very clear that I am not welcome onto his pack lands unless you agree to have me there. So, the ball is in your court, Taylor. If and when

(Nolan POV)

is probably the h*ardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I realized earlier that she may have very different ideas of what it means to have a mate than I do. She’s a new Alpha, trying to prove herself. I understand that, but her Alpha status means

Alpha Jaxon and Luna Evangeline just

hospitality to stay for a few days, until things are more-settled,” I say and I smell the vanilla of the sweet-after-death plant. It’s a heady

as Jace steps closer to Jordan but he doesn’t

welcome here anytime, Nolan. Even if I’m not here, Jaxon will let you stay,” she says, turning to

I’m going to make you

gone,” he says, giving me a smile that