The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 284

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 11 (Jace)

Taylor and I searched the entire packhouse and even went back outside to search the pack lands. She’s caught the scent of her mate multiple times, but nothing that has led her to him. The longer we’ve searched, the more concerned that I’ve become. There are several people that come and go in this pack, such as Jaxon and Evangeline, but there is one in particular that is standing out to me.

I leave a disappointed Taylor in her room and go to find Jordan. I follow her scent to her office and knock.

“Hey Jace, come in,” she says, barely looking up at me.

I close the door, not sure what’s up with Jordan but knowing I need to prepare her for the possibility that is rolling around in my head.

“How was your time with Taylor?” she asks, and I can hear the hurt in her voice. So that’s what’s going on.

I pull a chair up to her desk and sit in front of her, waiting for her to look at me. I watch as she clenches her teeth together, sets her pen down, and then finally looks up at me.

“She smelled her mate. I was trying to help her find him.”

I watch the flash of happiness in her eyes. “That’s great! I mean… isn’t it?” she asks, frowning, watching me closely.

“Yes and no. And before you start thinking this is about my feelings for her, it’s not. I’m glad she found her mate, or at least, smelled him.”

Jordan leans back in her chair. “But you didn’t find him, so what? He’s someone that has been in the pack recently and left? Or maybe someone who came in for a delivery?”

“Not a delivery, his scent was all over the packhouse,” I tell her, and she leans forward again, looking down at her papers, shuffling them around.

“Who’s been in and out recently. We could narrow it down for her,” she says, and I reach out, putting my hand over hers. “Jordan.”

She stops, looking up at me. “What?”

I look at her a long moment.

“There’s a real possibility that her mate is Nolan,” I say, watching her closely.

She frowns. “No, she’s met Nolan. She must have during the training for the Contest.”

“She didn’t. Remember, even Nolan said he’s never met her. Jordan, I took her everywhere except the Alpha floor since your family is staying there. Nolan has been in and out of this packhouse for months. His scent would be everywhere.”

I pull my hand away from hers and she sits back in her chair again, thinking through what I’ve said.

“Does she know?” she asks me. “No. I didn’t say anything, not only because I’m not sure, but also, you’re my Alpha and my mate and while I know you haven’t accepted that, it still means something to me. I also know….” I grit my teeth but force myself to continue.

“I also know that you have feelings for Nolan. If he is Taylor’s mate, this could turn into a big f*uc*king mess, Jordan. We have rogues hell bent on getting to one of you. We can’t afford to have the packs at odds. We can’t afford to fight against each other. So, I came to warn you, to let you know so you could be prepared.”