The Claiming by Cooper
Chapter 149

The Council Chapter 56 Mason

Mason

After a month of absolute silence in my head from Jara, I can't get enough of her being back in my head. Last night, I slept for what was probably the first time since we lost our daughter.

The next morning as she lays wrapped in my arms, I ask her what had changed, and she told me about Mila coming to Melinda in a dream.

"You know, Mason. I would never have been able to willingly give up a child. But, if I had to lose one, then I'm glad to know that my sister got the child she never had in this life."

"Me too. If feels...better somehow knowing that your sister is looking after our daughter."

I sent Elijah a mind link, letting him know that I'd be spending time with Jara this morning.

"Take as much time as you need, Alpha. The whole pack can feel the difference in the two of you this morning. I'm glad things are getting better."

"Me too." I say before turning back to my mate.

"Tell me what I've missed." She says.

I had intentionally not told her that Mignon had her baby. When Asher told me that Mignon wanted to visit with her baby, I had told him no. I wasn't sure how Jara would respond, and it was too risky. Then, just a few days ago, Hana had her daughter. I hadn't mentioned that either and I had asked her family to keep it from her for now.

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So, I kiss the top of her head, holding her tightly before telling her about Mignon and Hana.

She shoots up, looking at me. "I missed their births? Both of them?"

"Yes, I was afraid it would be too upsetting for you, so I asked them not to say anything. I'm sorry if that wasn't the right thing to do." I tell her.

She leans down, kissing my lips softly. "It was exactly the right thing to do. You're right, I couldn't have handled it. But I think I can now." She says, nuzzling my face.

"What else did I miss?" She asks and her voice has gone soft, deep with desire. My body responds, but I'm careful. I don't want another incident like before.

She must feel the change in me. "I promised I wouldn't push, and I won't. But you did say there were other things that we could do until the doctor gave us the go ahead." She says smiling. It's the first time I've seen her smile in much too long.

She lays back down on my chest and I relax, stroking her naked back with my fingers, tracing the line of her spine as I talk.

"Alpha Shawn and Alpha Conrad moved to Alpha Gunnar's pack. The last time we checked, it looked like they were training hard. I expect that they will be planning an attack soon. Zaire, Saul, Davis and Quinton have been watching them. Asher, Seth, Antonio and I have been distracted lately."

She rolls into me, her hand coming up to cup my face. "I'm sorry I haven't been here for you." Her eyes are full of sadness but also determination. I know that look. My mate is resolute in getting herself back to where she was before we lost our daughter. We'll never forget our first child, but we can move forward. Together.

"There is something else that I'd like you to participate in when you are up

for it." I tell her.

"What's that?" She asks.

"The council wants to hear from Layan. None of them were there when she went into the claiming last year. We know that she needs to go back in, but they want to hear from her. One of the things that we put forth in our petition was to allow females to choose their claimants. Layan should have 20 in her claim, but I don't think she can handle that, and neither do Seth and Antonio. We were there, we saw how she came out. But, if I fight this, it could look like I'm trying to give Elijah the upper hand. He may be your Beta, but no one doubts that you, and the other Lunas will have Layan's best interest at heart."

"When you say they want to hear from her, what do you mean?" She asks.

"They want her to come before the council and talk, informally, although I'm sure it won't feel that way to her, to negotiate to get what she wants in her claiming versus what the council feels is in the best interest in the packs. As it stands, we've lost at least another 150 werewolves, fighting with Alpha Emanuel and with the others fighting against Alpha Zaire and Alpha Luke. That brings our numbers down to roughly 1350, not including the 50 she-wolves. That's it, that's all that's left of us and if we go to war with Gunnar, that number will decrease even more."

She leans over, kissing my chest, lost in thought. "We, as she-wolves, can't keep up with how quickly we're killing each other off. At this rate, there just won't be enough of us left."

"I know. And there are only three she-wolves going into the claim this year - Layan, Katerina and McKenna. Stella hasn't had a child since Jace, Tessa, your mom, Isabella, they're all too old to have children. Nearly half of the she-wolves left haven't come of age. There's a possibility of things improving over time, but we're at serious risk of decimating our species with this impending war."

"The one good thing is that now, we're doing a better job of keeping the feral-fever away in the packs. Jonas's pack has several members that are in their thirties and are showing no signs of feral-fever." She says.

"Yes, but to what end. If there are roughly twenty she-wolves that will come of age in the next fifteen years, that's not enough to save them all." I

say.

"No, but it will save some. And we're at least giving them a greater chance of survival. Who knows, maybe someday, we'll have enough she- wolves that they can choose their mates. Maybe, hopefully, someday the claiming will be gone and the fated mate bond will return. I know I would have chosen you, the other Lunas would have chosen their mates. Layan would choose Elijah." She says and I chuckle. "What?" She asks, looking up at me. Goddess, it feels so good to have her back. Just laying here talking to her, going through it all makes it easier for me to get my head around it.

"Apparently, Davis threw his hat in the ring. He told Layan he hopes he catches her, and she becomes their pack's Luna."

She pops up like I zapped her. "Shut the front door! Are you kidding me?" She asks.

"Nope." I say, popping the 'p' as I smile at my mate. My beautiful mate, who's wheels are turning at lightning speed again. The light may not be totally back in her eyes, but it's there, it's coming back. And suddenly, I need to show her how much she means to me, how much I love her.

I roll over, sliding myself over top of her. Her distracted look turns to one of singular focus. Me.

"What's on your mind, Alpha?" She purrs at me.

"You, my mate, and the sweet cream taste of your body that I've been missing."

"I certainly wouldn't want to keep a wolf from the feast that he's craving." She says.

I growl, making my way down her body, taking my time, enjoying two of

my

favorite things. Feasting on my mate's sweet cream and nutmeg taste and listening to the sounds of her screaming her pleasure.