The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 300

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 27 (Jace)

As soon as Jordan pushes forward, I know what she’s planning. She feels responsible for these bears, even though they are fully capable of taking care of themselves, especially in a large group. But, knowing they are not immune to the rogues’ bites, she wouldn’t want any of them getting injured.

I watch as she leaps over a massive bear that must be Balor. I’m not sure I can make the same leap, so I slide in between him and what smells like Apollo to move beside Jordan. I’m not letting her face these wolves alone. As soon as I’m beside her, the fur on my back goes up and I lower my head in the same menacing stance that she’s taking, making sure these rogues know that if they attack, we will kill them.

I can feel the shock of the bears around us as the wolves’ attention turns to me and Jordan.

I bear my teeth, snapping and snarling at the wolves, warning them off. The wolves back off, but only to allow their Alpha to come forward. This isn’t the same wolf that we met in Taylor’s pack. This is the second pack.

The Alpha wolf looks at Jordan a moment, then howls the howl of the hunt, obviously intending to try and take her. I leap at him, and that’s all it takes for the wolves to attack.

A wolf hits me from the side, pushing me away from the Alpha. I turn, snapping my teeth at them as another one comes up behind me. I hear a yelp and see a bear swipe at the wolf that was on my flank.

From the corner of my eye, I see Jordan leap at the Alpha, grabbing him by the back of his n*eck. He shakes her off, sending her flying through the air, but she’s back on my feet before he can jump on top of her.

I snap at the wolves surrounding me, watching as the Alpha continues to go after Jordan. His teeth are snapping at her n*eck, and I realize that he’s trying to mark her in wolf form. I know from Luna Jara that this used to be allowed in the claiming process. If a wolf marked another in wolf form, it seals the mate bond.

I leap at the Alpha, slicing my claws down his hind l*eg. He turns to attack me, but I’m tackled, another wolf jumping on top of me. More bears come running into the fight, swiping at the wolves with their huge claws and sending them flying through the air.

The Alpha is still snapping at Jordan and I’m trying to get to her, but it feels like the wolves are focusing on keeping me away so their Alpha can get to her and mark.

I’m snarling viciously, as I watch the Alpha’s teeth snap closer and closer to Jordan’s n*eck. Just as he lunges for her again, Balor moves, putting himself in front of Jordan and then roaring in pain as the Alpha sinks his teeth into Balor’s n*eck.

The wolf in front of me stops, stunned, and I reach out and rip this t*hroat out, then I quickly move to the Alpha, sinking my teeth into his hind l*eg, feeling the bone snap.

He howls in pain, releasing Balor before howling for a retreat. I look at Jordan who is shifting and rushing to Balor, then I take off after the Alpha. I feel the ground rumbling and I realize that several bears are following me, chasing the wolves off their lands.

I push h*ard, but the Alpha has an escape plan. It’s a crazy one, but it’s one that helps them escape. They leap off the cliff edge, plunging into the river below us. I stand there, watching until one by one, the wolves surface and swim to the other side of the river.

I lift my head and howl an angry howl of frustration, before turning and racing back to Jordan. When I get there, she has her hand against Balor’s n*eck. She looks up at me.

“Call Jaxon. Tell him we need Dr. Braxton and Kyra here right now. Get him to send them tonight,” she says, and I race into the cave where our bags are.

I expect sarcasm, or at the very least, aggravation at my middle of the night call, but when Jaxon answers, he’s all Alpha.

“What’s happened?”

“We were attacked by the second pack. The bears are not immune to the feral- fever. We need Dr. Braxton and Kyra here now. Balor, their leader, has been bitten,” I tell him as I walk back out to the main area where all the bears are now congregating around Balor and Jordan.

“It’s just a scratch, little wolf,” he says to her.

“No, it’s not. You and your clan are not immune to the virus,” she says, looking up.

“Has anyone else been bitten or scratched?” she asks the group, going into Alpha mode.