The Claiming by Cooper
Chapter 154

The Council Chapter 63: Jara

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Jara

At the end of the battle, we lost nearly two hundred wolves in total. All but about 15 of Alpha Gunnar's pack with Alpha Shawn and Alpha Conrad were killed and we lost nearly fifty of our own wolves, leaving our numbers at right around 1200 werewolves left which makes us critically endangered of extinction.

We buried our dead, making our pyres and taking a week to give everyone an opportunity to say their goodbyes and grieve the loss of our pack members. Mason and I stood at the front of the pack every night. giving our remembrances of our pack members, letting others say anything they wanted to say about our lost brothers and then we'd light the pyres and watch as their ashes burned up, floating into the sky.

The last night was the hardest. That night, we said goodbye to our Gammas, Joseph and Stella. Jace stood by stoically, his hands in fists as he watched their pyres burn into the night. Luke and Mason had stayed with him, standing beside him until he was finally ready to come back inside.

That had been a month ago. Mason had asked Luke to be his Gamma and he had accepted. It was only about a week later that Luke and Brynn had asked if they could adopt Jace, knowing he had no family left.

Mason and I had talked to Jace, letting him know that no one could ever replace his parents and that there were many people in the pack that loved him, us included, but that Luke and Brynn had specifically asked if they could adopt him.

"Would I have to call them mom and dad?" He asked.

"No, we know they aren't your biological parents. If you choose to call them mom and dad or some version of that in the future, you can, but they

The Council Chapter 63: Jara

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won't force it. They know that you and Melinda are friends, and they want to make sure that you are raised with love and encouragement.

We had given him some time to think about it, but he had eventually agreed. It was a rough transition at first, but both Luke and Brynn were patient with him and gave him the space he needed. Melinda, on the other hand, couldn't contain her excitement and went around telling everyone that Jace was her new brother. She'd hold his hand and drag him around the packhouse, then the pack lands.

Whether it was intuitive on her part or not, she found a way to keep him from isolating himself from the pack. He wouldn't talk to many people, but somehow, Melinda always got him to talk to her.

The

Davis, Luke, Quinton and Jonas had found the missing pack members.

were in a dungeon, of sorts, in Gunnar's packhouse. They were all filthy and hungry by the time they were found, but they all survived and were able to return home.

!

The new council has been meeting regularly and is doing exactly what we'd hoped that they would, listening to us, the ones they represent. Mason and I don't always get our way, but the majority wins and overall, it seems to be working for the packs and the alliance. We still call it an alliance even though all of the werewolf packs left are included.

Annabel had her baby, a little girl as expected. They named her Noelle. She was born bald, so we expect that she'll have her mother's blond hair, but she got her father's bright blue eyes. Since both parents have blue eyes, it was highly likely that any children they have will have blue eyes, but Antonio's eyes are a startling blue, especially in his darker skin, and Noelle seems to have that too.

At our last Luna council, Mignon told everyone that she is pregnant again, but she doesn't know the baby's gender yet. We're all hoping for another girl, of course. Hana had scoffed that Mignon had beaten her again, so apparently, she and Seth are actively trying for another one as

The Council Chapter 63: Jara

well.

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Mason and I have been too busy to get to see the doctor. I knew I was pregnant when I couldn't shift, and I told him as much once the war was over and he had healed from the injuries he'd sustained. However, between burying our dead, bringing Luke and Brynn in as our Gamma couple, and figuring things out with Jace, we just hadn't made time to get to the doctor.

That is, until a couple days ago when my belly popped out, just like last time. One night I go to bed with a flat stomach, the next morning it's like my baby wants to announce itself to the whole world. Mason had noticed immediately and told me that we had to get in to see the doctor. He's worried that, after everything that happened with Mena's miscarriage, that something will happen this time too. And even though there is no strife between the packs, he's been overly cautious and protective. I don't mind. I have no intention of losing this baby.

So, today, we're headed to the pack hospital to get an ultrasound and see if we can determine the gender of our little one. I feel that same excitement twinged with a bit of fear from Mason, and I know that he feels the same from me. We're not worried about replaceing out that we're pregnant, that's a definite at this point, especially given my aversion to several types of food recently. But it's a matter of making sure that our baby is healthy and will be able to survive to term.

I'm lying on the bed in the room when the doctor comes in, rolling the ultrasound machine in with him. He goes through the same spiel with Mason about having to touch me and having to uncover my body to access my stomach. Mason nods and still growls when he touches me. I just shake my head. I'm guessing that will never change. I should ask the others if their mates are the same.

"Well, there's no denying that you're pregnant, is there Luna?" The doctor

there Luna?" 11

The Council Chapter 63: Jara

I chuckle. "Nope, it's pretty obvious."

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"Oh." He says frowning and tilting his head, moving the wand over my stomach, pushing it against me like he's trying to replace something.

"What? What's 'Oh' doc? Is Jara okay? Is our baby okay?" Mason asks and I can feel his panic adding to mine as we wait for the doctor to tell us what's wrong.

He turns and looks at us. "Everything's perfect. Alpha, Luna, you're having twins."

**Part III: Layan's Return will begin tomorrow.