The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 298

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 25 (Jace)

I already don’t like this bear. Well, I don’ t like any of them. Their welcome has been less than warm.

Jordan moves to take her bag off my shoulder.

“I’ve got it,” I tell her.

“Do you need help, pup? I can carry those for you?” one of the bears asks. ‘Jace, please. I know they’re on your last nerve already, but we’re here to make alliances. To do that, we need to be friendly,’ Jordan says in my head.

‘Tell that to our car, Jordan,’ I say, but slap a smile on my face and look at the bear.

“I’m good thanks, Pops,” I say. It worked for Jordan and Balor, maybe it’ II work for me and this guy.

“Don’t call me that,” he grumbles and shoulder slams me as he walks past me. Goddess almighty, my shoulder feels like he nearly dislocated it.

“You know our names, what are your names?” Jordan asks.

“My name’s Darryl, sweetheart. I’m Balor’s second in command,” one of the bears says to Jordan. I try to hold back the growl at him calling her sweetheart, but it doesn’t quite work. I swear I see him look at Balor who smirks back at him. They’re enjoying this.

“Darryl, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Alpha Jordan, as you’ve no doubt heard, and this is my Gamma, Jace,” she says introducing me.

“Gamma? Isn’t that like, third in command?” the shoulder-smacker bear asks.

I look at him. “That’s right,” I say.

He gives me once over, then snorts. “You’re awfully small to be a ranked member, aren’t you?”

“Leave the pup be, Jusan,” the fourth bear says to the one who truly is on my last nerve.

“My name is Apollo, little Alpha, and if we had ranks like you wolves, I’d be Balor’s Gamma,” he says.

“Which of you boys destroyed my car?” she asks them.

“You want to be careful who you’re calling a boy, little wolf. All of us are older than you,” Jusan warns her. I move, putting myself between him and her, not liking his threat. He notices but just smirks as if my protection means nothing.

“Well then, which one of you geriatric fossils is responsible for the demolition of my car?” Jordan asks again.

“Jusan, shut your f*ucking mouth and quit antagonizing my guest,” Balor says to him, then turns to Jordan. “I’m not geriatric.”

I see her mouth twitching with a smile. Somehow, her sass is getting her more and more on Balor’s good side. It’s just enough to let them know she won’t take their crap, but not so much to be offensive. As usual, Jordan is perfect. “Old enough to be my father?” Jordan teases him.

He stops suddenly, turning and stroking a finger down Jordan’s cheek. I snarl viciously, but Jordan holds out a hand to stop me, not looking away from Balor.

“If you haven’t experienced the sensations that an older, experienced gentleman can give you, little wolf, don’ t knock it. There’s a lot to be said for a man that knows how to give a woman pleasure until you think you’ve died and gone to your Moon Goddess’s realm.”

“And how would you know that these women have had this intense experience?” Jordan asks.

“They always come begging for more,” he says, and it’s almost a purr, but in Balor, it’s a deeper, resonating sound. “I don’t beg for anything,” Jordan tells him.