The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 27 (Jace)

As soon as Jordan pushes forward, I know what she’s planning. She feels responsible for these bears, even though they are fully capable of taking care of themselves, especially in a large group. But, knowing they are not immune to the rogues’ bites, she wouldn’t want any of them getting injured.

I watch as she leaps over a massive bear that must be Balor. I’m not sure I can make the same leap, so I slide in between him and what smells like Apollo to move beside Jordan. I’m not letting her face these wolves alone. As soon as I’m beside her, the fur on my back goes up and I lower my head in the same menacing stance that she’s taking, making sure these rogues know that if they attack, we will kill them.

I can feel the shock of the bears around us as the wolves’ attention turns to me and Jordan.

I bear my teeth, snapping and snarling at the wolves, warning them off. The wolves back off, but only to allow their Alpha to come forward. This isn’t the same wolf that we met in Taylor’s pack. This is the second pack.

The Alpha wolf looks at Jordan a moment, then howls the howl of the hunt, obviously intending to try and take her. I leap at him, and that’s all it takes for the wolves to attack.

A wolf hits me from the side, pushing me away from the Alpha. I turn, snapping my teeth at them as another one comes up behind me. I hear a yelp and see a bear swipe at the wolf that was on my flank.

From the corner of my eye, I see Jordan leap at the Alpha, grabbing him by the back of his n*eck. He shakes her off, sending her flying through the air, but she’s back on my feet before he can jump on top of her.

I snap at the wolves surrounding me, watching as the Alpha continues to go after Jordan. His teeth are snapping at her n*eck, and I realize that he’s trying to mark her in wolf form. I know from Luna Jara that this used to be allowed in the claiming process. If a wolf marked another in wolf form, it seals the mate bond.

I leap at the Alpha, slicing my claws down his hind l*eg. He turns to attack me, but I’m tackled, another wolf jumping on top of me. More bears come running into the fight, swiping at the wolves with their huge claws and sending them flying through the air.

The Alpha is still snapping at Jordan and I’m trying to get to her, but it feels like the wolves are focusing on keeping me away so their Alpha can get to her and mark.

he lunges for her again, Balor moves, putting himself in front of Jordan and then roaring in pain

then I quickly move to the Alpha, sinking my teeth into his hind l*eg, feeling the bone

look at Jordan who is shifting and rushing to Balor, then I take off after the Alpha. I feel the ground rumbling and I realize that several bears are

but the Alpha has an escape plan. It’s a crazy one, but it’s one that helps them escape. They leap off the cliff edge, plunging into the river below us. I stand there, watching until one by one, the wolves surface and swim to

an angry howl of frustration, before turning and racing back to Jordan. When I

Kyra here right now. Get him to send them tonight,” she says, and I race into the cave where

at my middle of the night call, but

“What’s happened?”

the feral- fever. We need Dr. Braxton and Kyra here now. Balor, their leader, has been

little wolf,” he says

it’s not. You and your clan are not immune to the

been bitten or scratched?” she asks the group, going

bears nod or acknowledge that they’ve been bitten. “We have multiple injuries, Jaxon. Get them here, now.” I say into the phone. “On it. I’ll send Luke, Brynn and Victor as well. They can help patrol the clan’s lands while Dr. Braxton works his magic.” My adoptive parents and brother. I wonder if there is a reason behind his

the packs before you moved in, according to Balor. You and Tobias need to be extra careful if you go out

cover the phone. “Dr. Braxton, we have an emergency. We need you

and then Jaxon is back on the phone. “They’ll be

borders, and two are doctors who specialize in this virus. I’m asking you to allow them entry so we can help Balor and the others,” I say. “Let them through,” Balor says as he starts to sit up. Jordan sits back and I can feel how much she wants to help him, but as a leader who understands the need to look strong in front of their pack, she’s letting him do this on his

clean that wound on your n*eck, Balor,” Jordan tells him. I know what she’s doing. She wants to stay close to him, hoping that whatever immunity she has transfers to him. “We’ll take care of him, wolf,” a she- bear says, stepping up to Balor. The look she gives Jordan is one of obvious disgust. She apparently doesn’t like wolves. Or maybe she doesn’t like the attention that her leader is giving to Jordan. Either way, there’s no warmth

jumped in front of me during the fight, protecting me from those wolves, Theia. I didn’t you jumping in front of me,” Balor snaps at her. “As a matter of fact, her Gamma, Jace, was right there beside her in

snarls at that but steps

like being called

you that the wolves were my guests. Disrespect them again, and

will you join me?” he

nods and