The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 24

Jara
The night before Mignon enters the claiming territory, we all sit around in our living space. I decided to make some popcorn and try to bring a festiveness to the event. I could tell that now that it had become a reality, the girls were starting to get nervous, especially Mignon.
So, we put on our pajamas and sat around eating popcorn until late into the night. While I didn’t think Mignon would sleep, I didn’t want to keep her up unnecessarily. She needed to be awake enough to check out the territory tomorrow.
The next morning, I can see that someone helped Mignon choose her attire. It’s perfect for running through rocky, forest-like terrain. Since none of us knows what to expect, it’s better to be prepared for running through undergrowth that could cut you or trip you up.
“Should I have an outfit like that?” Layan asks, looking at Mignon’s clothing before we leave.
Hana and I look at her. “I would say yes. What do you have for your claiming?” Hana asks her.
Her eyes are wide and look terrified. “A dress.”
Hana and I look at each other. “We have some time to figure something else out.”
When we arrive at the main house, the energy and tension in the air is palpable. Mignon, Layan and Annabel all move closer to me and Hana. As ranked members, it is natural for omegas to seek our protection when they are frightened.
Our guards surround us as we walk into the main hall. Every claimant is here. They have created two walls with a narrow pathway for us to walk through to get to the back of the building. Our guards push them back, making room for us to pass.
The entrance to the territory is about a mile behind the stage that we’ve been using as a meeting place for the last week. Only Mignon and her claimants are allowed to pass beyond that point. I ignore this. Hana and I had already discussed having one of us with Layan and Annabel and one of us with Mignon until she enters her territory. As soon as we walked into the room and felt the testosterone pumping through the air, I knew we were right. I leave Hana with Layan, Annabel and their guards and continue on with Mignon.
Elder Carson rushes up to me. “Alpha Jara, you cannot go up there with Mignon. It is forbidden.”
“Says who, Elder? You? You don’t seem to have control of this. circus you call a claiming so I’m not leaving Mignon on her own. until she’s in the claiming territory. Did you want to fight it out? Let’ s see who wins.” I challenge him.
His teeth clench, but I don’t care. Guards or no, the energy here is too much. At any moment, omegas are going to start rushing to get to one of us. As soon as the thought enters my mind, it starts.
I hear the snarls and I push Mignon behind me. I see Hana doing the same with Layan and Annabel.
I have three males rushing toward me. The guards with us raise their weapons. From the corner of my eye, I see Beta Asher rushing toward us too. Maybe I should be more concerned about him, being that he’s a Beta, but I feel like his only plan is to protect Mignon, not mark her. That thought is confirmed when he steps up beside me in front of her.
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“I’ve got you, baby girl.” He says in a soothing voice to her, but he never takes his eyes off the three that are coming straight for us.
When they are close enough, I take a step forward and using every bit of my Alpha aura, I shout at them. “STAND DOWN!”
As one, the three yelp and fall to the ground. I snarl as I approach. them. “Calm yourselves.” I say, pushing more of my aura over them.
“Careful Jara.” I hear Mason’s quiet voice from nearby. I’m not surprised that he is here to try and protect me.
As I get closer, I see that one is an omega and two are warriors. “SUBMIT!”
The omega immediately complies, showing me his throat, but the warriors fight my command.
“I said SUBMIT!” Both of the warriors yelp before showing me their
throats.
“Calm.” I say and push a soothing aura over them, needing them to relax. I have no intention of killing them. It’s not their fault that they are in this testosterone induced mess.
I watch as their panting slows to a more manageable breathing. And I see when their sanity returns, their wild, black eyes returning to a normal color.
One of the warriors drops to his hands. “Sorry Alpha.”
“It’s not your fault.” I say walking over and squatting down in front of them. “Are you alright? All of you?” I look from one to the other and they nod.
“Go let your wolves out. Go for a run. Get rid of some of this
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energy. You’ll be okay.” I tell them.
When I stand, I realize that everyone is watching me. The entire area has gone so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. I look to where Hana, Layan and Annabel were attacked. Several wolves lie dead at their feet. I feel Mason come up behind me as the three males get up and begin walking back to the main house.
“That was quite an impressive show of strength, Alpha.” He says as we watch them walk away.
“It was nothing more than any Alpha worthy of their title would do.”
“Except there are very few Alphas that are strong enough to command another Alpha’s pack members.”
I turn to look at him. “I didn’t want to kill them.”
“And that is just one of the many things that makes you an amazing Alpha.”
I look over to where I left Mignon. Beta Asher was whispering in her ear as he holds her to his chest.
Elder Carson gets the dead werewolves removed and then he’s back, announcing that it’s time for Mignon to enter the territory. We’re only an hour behind but I make sure that he announces that tomorrow the claimants won’t enter until 9am.
I walk Mignon to the entrance of the territory.
She turns to look at me. “I’m scared, Alpha.”
I take her hands and look into her eyes. “Didn’t Beta Asher tell you where to meet him?”
“Yes.”
“So, here’s what you do. Find the place he wants to meet you. It’s near water, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good, find the place, then start creating trails in all different directions away from the water. Make sure you cross the water if you can and exit farther up from where you entered. That way if others find your scent, they won’t know exactly where to go to find you. Make them really work for it. Then, find a place to hide where only you or your wolf can fit. If the worst happens, and someone else gets to you before Beta Asher, get to your hiding place. He’ll find you, I know he will.”
She reaches out to hug me. “Thank you, Alpha. For everything.”
“I’ll see you on the other side Mignon.”
She pulls away and turns, ready to enter the claiming territory. As the gun fires for the beginning of the claiming, she takes off running. I watch her until she disappears into the forest.