The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 147

The Council Chapter 54 Mason

Mason

It’s been a week since Jara left the hospital. Every night, she lays down in our bed and every morning, she’s gone. The first night I woke up and she was gone I flew out of bed, racing around the packhouse, irrationally thinking that someone had taken her from me, worried that somehow Typhon had survived and was here to get her.

Elijah had found me and let me know that she had gone to Layan’s room. I had rushed to her room and opened the door, to find that Jara was curled up in Layan’s arms, sleeping.

Each night, I fall into a restless sleep with her in my arms and wake at some point in the night to find her gone. I always go to Layan’s room to make sure she’s there. Now, most nights, Isabella is there too, and they curl around her, protecting and comforting her the way that I should be.

Jara still barely says anything to me. I know she’s hurting, we both are, but her withdrawal is almost worse. She’s here in body, but not in mind or spirit. And she’d rather sleep with her friends than me, her mate.

I had thought that having her friends here would be helpful to her, but it became clear very quickly that seeing Hana, Annabel and Mignon all still pregnant was more detrimental than helpful right now. So, Layan and Isabella stayed, and the others had gone home.

I started back to work, needing something to take my mind off of everything. Davis had run things well for the few days I needed him to, but when his packhouse was rebuilt and ready for the pack to move into, he needed to go.

The pack is still running. There is food on the table every day, Layan and Isabella make sure that Jara eats, Joe makes sure that the warriors train

and Elijah makes sure that the patrols are running non-stop. I sit at my desk and shuffle papers trying to focus on anything other than my grief

Today we’re having the first alliance meeting since my attack on the Elders. I have Elijah joining us, so he can help me keep the pack going. I know I’m not as strong as I need to be. I still feel the gaping loss of my daughter and now I’m feeling the loss of my mate every day.

When Elijah comes in, we dial into the conference call.

“Alpha Mason, how is Luna Jara?” Alpha Luke asks.

“She’s…” I sigh. How is my mate? I have no idea. “She’s as well as can be expected.”

“Is having Isabella there a help?” Jonas asks.

“It is. She and Layan are taking care of her.”

“If there’s anything we can do, please let us know.” Alpha Antonio says.

Before I can answer him, we hear an unfamiliar voice on the phone. “Hello? Hello?”

“Hello, who is this?” Zaire asks.

“Oh, hi. I’m Ian, Alpha Asher’s Beta. He wanted me to join the call to let you know that Luna Mignon is in labor. So, he won’t be here. WE’RE HAVING A BABY!” He yells and his excitement through the phone is palpable.

The group cheers, except me and Elijah. I look at him and he reaches over, putting his hand on my arm. I grit my teeth against the pain. I should be happy for Asher, I really should, but I can’t. Not yet.

“I just let Nina know. She’s on her way.” Seth says.

“Thank you. Thank you everyone. I have to go!” Ian says.

“Have Alpha Asher reach out when the baby is born so we know momma and baby are safe.” Davis tells him.

“I will, bye!” He says, hanging up.

“Well, that’s one way to start the call.” Quinton says.

“Yes.” Seth says and his voice is considerably more muted than Quinton’s, knowing that this is hurting me.

“Let’s

get down to business. Has anyone else heard that Alpha Shawn and Alpha Conrad are packing up?” He asks.

“They’ve moved.” Alpha Saul says. “Earlier this week, both packs moved to Alpha Gunnar’s pack. They have all merged and are now one.”

“Did anyone hear anything after the death of the Elders?” Seth asks.

“No, but the patrols at Alpha Gunnar’s pack have tripled.” Antonio says.

“So, the other two packs are empty?” I ask.

“It looks that way.” Luke says.

“We should check it, just to be sure.” Quinton says.

“We need to be careful.” Zaire says. “Considering the mines in Emanuel’s pack lands, they may have done something similar in case we went to check it out.”

“Quinton, Ira sniffed out the mines before we could walk across them. Maybe we could send him with a group to see if the packs really are empty and make sure that they aren’t booby-trapped.” I say.

“That’s a great idea. We’ll get it set up. The sooner, the better. If they have

all moved to Gunnar’s pack, then he’ll be making plans for a counterattack. We need to be ready.” Seth says.