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 to adjourn, Nolan

you like to talk,

I say. “Would you like to go for a walk in the woods?” He raises an eyebrow

Jordan’s pack lands,” I clarify. “That would be nice,” he says, and I let Griffin know that I’ll be heading

edge of the forest, away from everyone. When we do, I stop and look

both say at

stop and laugh. “Let’s find somewhere

that has a great

you know that I’m a female Alpha, you know that Alpha Seth and Luna Hana are my

area in front of us.

me. “Were you really going to take

“I didn’t think I had a mate. I assumed that if I did, that

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

you intend to rule your pack, to be in charge of everyone and everything, then I can tell you now, this will not work. It’s not

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 you’re ready to talk, to spend time getting to know each other better, I’ll be here. You have my

(Nolan POV)

very different ideas of what it means to have a mate than I do. She’s a new

the clearing behind the packhouse, I see Jordan, Jace, Elijah, Alpha Jaxon and Luna Evangeline just finishing the ceremony to bring Jaxon back into the

Jaxon, I was wondering if I could impose upon your 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 scent, one that

as Jace steps closer to Jordan

not here, Jaxon will let you stay,” she says, turning

make you work for

train these weaklings while Jordan is gone,” he says, giving me a smile that looks a lot like Jordan’s, only she never smiles that