The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 32 (Jace)

I go back to the room and while I wait for Jordan, I get clothes and go bathe in the nearby lake. I’m just getting back when she walks in, looking thoughtful. “Everything okay?” I ask her.

“Yeah, how was today? Did you find anything?”

“We found some well-used trails, hunting trails we think. Their scent is way off, Jordan. They smell unclean, like they never bathe after taking down game and the blood and guts are just on their bodies, rotting. It’s disgusting.

Apollo and the other bears had it worse than we did with their enhanced sense of smell. But at least I know what I’m looking for now. I’ll recognize that stench from now on. Dad wanted to keep hunting, but I told him you ordered us home,” he says, looking at me.

I didn’t actually order them, but Jace was right to use that if needed to get his dad home. Luke hasn’t seen the wolves in action yet and while we’re all pack hunters, they attack when they have no business attacking, like with the bears.

“What about the doc. It looked like he was able to get a vaccine started,” I ask her as she looks through her limited clothing.

“Yes, and I called to get us rooms at the hotel for the next couple of days. Your family will help patrol the clan’s borders while we go figure everything out with the Elders,” she says, and I watch as her head drops.

“Is this about the Alpha that Dr. Braxton thinks is Alpha Typhon’s son?” I ask her.

if I should give my mother a head’s up or not. I’m not even

ask her, moving to her and tucking her hair behind her ear, letting my finger trail down her n*eck. I hold

guess I would. Either way, it’s going to be a kick in the gut

head, my mind going back to the time of Typhon and his attack on Luna Jara. “Even though I was young, I remember. It was

her, seeing her watching me closely. “You need to have your father on the phone as well. I don’t know how your mother will take the news,

“Are you still protecting your Luna,

in my heart, Jordan,” I say, feeling my t*hroat closing up at the memory. “She held me while I watched my mother give up on this life, she held me while I screamed for her not to leave me. She did

“Jace,” she says softly.

shake it off. I don’t

leaving you wasn’t about you not being good enough, Jace. It was about her own heartbreak, and you have every right to be angry at her for that. She wasn’t thinking of you in that moment. Most likely she wasn’t thinking of anything other than the pain and emptiness of losing her mate. I don’t know how that feels, but I do

see her pity. Her hands slide up my chest, but I don’t want

I expected that the change of subject

was going to make you my Beta, and if so, he wants the Gamma position,” she says, her voice staying

enter the Beta Trials?” I ask, trying to stay focused, but her warm body pressed against mine and her soft voice so close

asked that too. He said he would rather be my Gamma, than a Beta to another pack and

was given a raw deal, but he never complained about it. His adopted brother got

as your Beta?” I ask, my brain spinning with Jordan’s sweet peppermint scent. “I

my head. “I want to be your partner, your mate. I don’t care what title that gives me. I don’t care if a lose my title altogether. I just want you, Jordan. I can still help you run the pack if I’m a

my hair and gripping it just enough that it

that I’m ready to accept you as my mate, Jace, but I, Jordan Stern, rescind my rejection