The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 287

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 14 (Jordan)

I wish I could say I slept last night. I needed to sleep last night. I have a packhouse full of Alphas, Lunas, Betas, and Council members for the next few days and I need to be on top of my game, playing host, being a good Alpha, and still somehow running a pack. Not to mention, I may or may not be on the list of some rogue Alpha who wants to force a mate bond with me so he can take over my pack.

But, instead, all my mind did was replay that scene of Jace walking into the packhouse, holding Kaiden, his nose in his head of hair, breathing deeply and a look of happiness on his face. It is on endless repeat in my mind. Jace walking in, Jace’s desire to have a pup clearly written on his face, Jace’s look when he saw me, his eyes darkening with desire and then his t*ouch, a t*ouch that sent electricity through my body. It was as if I was dead before and now, I’ m so alive that I can’t even sleep.

When I crawl out of bed, dragging myself to the shower, I start to mentally prepare myself for the day.

When I step into the shower, I mind link Dalia, making sure that the breakfast food will be ready starting at 6 am for the visitors.

‘Yes, Alpha. Gamma Jace has already been down here making sure we had everything we need to make enough breakfast for everyone.’

‘Has he? And is there anything that you need?’

“No, Alpha. Gamma Jace made sure we had enough food already. He also double checked on our plans for lunch and dinner, and he approved our menus. Would you also like to see them?’

‘No, thank you, Dalia. If Jace approved them, then I’m sure it’s fine,’ I say.

I close that mind link and open one to Jace.

‘Thank you for checking on the food situation. What else needs to be done?’

‘You’re welcome and we didn’t talk about assigned seating. If you’re on your way downstairs, we can go over the room and where we want to put people,’ he says.

‘I’m still in the shower. I’ll be down in a few minutes.’

It’s quiet a moment and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he closed the mind link. I stop, soapy water dripping down my face from washing my hair.

‘Jace?’

‘Jordan, I really didn’t need that mental image when I’m trying to prepare myself for a day filled with Alphas and council members.’

Even in the mind link, I can hear the strain of his voice.

I smile as I put my head back into the water, beginning to rinse it out.

‘Sorry, I wasn’t thinking,’ I say.

“Yeah, well, now that’s ALL I can think about. F*uc*k Jordan, give a guy a break,’ he says, making me laugh out loud. It’s a heady thing to know that a strong man gets weak thinking about me naked. It’s not something I’ve ever paid attention to, mostly since the men in my life wanted my position and power, not me.

‘Sorry,’ I say, trying to keep the mirth out of the mind link.

Jace grunts. ‘Just….get down here when you can. I’ll get some breakfast wraps so we can work and eat at the same time.’

‘You’re the best, Jace.’ He’s quiet for a moment and I’m about to close the mind link.

‘I’m trying, Jordan. Trying to be the best I can for you.’

‘I’ll see you in a few minutes,’ I say, closing the mind link.

I quickly blow dry my hair and add some makeup before putting on a three-piece suit and heels.

I head downstairs and when I get there, I see Elijah and Jace working together on the seating arrangements.

“Hey, sorry I’m late,” I say.

Elijah looks up. “Not late, just in time, and all Alpha had up I see,” he says smiling at me.

Jace however, does a slow once over, from my head to my toes and back. I blush, because I can tell he’s thinking about me naked in the shower.

He grits his teeth and turns back to what he was doing, shifting his pants in a way that I wasn’t supposed to see, but I did.

“Do you want to take a look at this?” Elijah says, showing me the groups, they’ve put together.

“You’re mixing the Alphas up? Not keeping them in their families?” I look up at the two of them. “Why?”