The Claiming by Cooper
Chapter 283

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan) Chapter 10 (Taylor)

I don't like feeling as if I need my brother and father's protection. I'm a true Alpha now, I need to be independent, but neither of them seem to care about that. This rogue Alpha has them both on edge.

In truth, it doesn't make sense to me that this Alpha would want me. I've only just become an Alpha. How would he even know about me? If he's a rogue, as they say, it makes more sensethat he is referencing Jordan.

However, my father made a good point to me last night when I argued that.

"He may only know about Jordan, Taylor, but what if he and his pack come this way to get to her and here you are, all alone, a female Alpha who is unprotected and easy pickings."

"I'm not easy pickings, Dad," I had said. "Taylor, I have never once questioned your strength, determination, or abilities. However, no one, not even me in my prime could stand against an entire pack alone. Packs are strong because we stand together. You are currently a pack of one. And while you are a strong Alpha, my daughter, you are NOT the strongest pack. At least, not yet."

He was right, of course. It irks me, but he's right.

It's early afternoon the next day when Griffin comes racing back into my pack lands.

"Taylor, the council is calling all of the new Alphas to come to the Alpha meeting early. You need to head to Jordan's pack today."

"What? Why?" I ask. I still have SO much work to do in this pack and being that it's only me, it's taking a long time. I'm hoping to have a decent start on a packhouse before the Beta Trials so I can lure some of those Betas to my pack. I already have my eye on a couple of them.

"The council met with Nolan this morning," he says as my father joins us. "They are concerned about all of the start-up packs. Apparently, the rogues were living in the decimated packs and are now homeless, roaming around. And, not only that, I hear they've been killing bears."

My father s*ucks in a breath and looks at me with concern in his eyes. "If they're killing bears..."

"Right, it's not a huge leap for them to start killing wolves," Griffin finishes.

"So, not only am I in danger because I'm a female Alpha, but also because I have a start-up pack? UGH! I have too much work to deal with this!" I say, turning around and looking at the state of my pack. "I'll help you, Taylor, but you can't go against the council, you know that. Let's get you to the Alpha meeting and see what the council says. It's not just you whose pack will be impacted. Think of Jaxon and his mate about to have a new pup and I heard their neighbors, Tobias and Flavia just had theirs. They won't want to be out in the wilderness alone with rogue wolves attacking. It'll be too dangerous," my father says, once again being the voice of reason.

I look at him and I can see that he's ready to fight me on this. It wouldn't be the first time. I'm a lot like my father, head-strong and determined. But in this, he's right. Again.

"How long before I have my father's Alpha intelligence?" I ask him, a smile twitching at my lips.

He pulls me in for a hug. "You already do, you just need the experience that comes with time and age," he says, k*issing the top of my head.

I turn and look at Griffin. "I take it Jordan is expecting all of us early?"

"Yes. I'm planning to arrive this evening as well," he says, and I snort.

"Which I'm sure has nothing to do with that pretty blond Beta mate of yours," I say.

Griffin smiles. "I'll take every opportunity I have to spend time with Ella."

"Let me grab my bag and we can head over," I say to my father, knowing he'll want to escort me to Jordan's pack. "Thanks for letting us know, Griff," my dad says, slapping hands and pulling Griffin in for a hug too before he leaves. "Dad..." Griffin complains.

"There's no one here to see it but your sister and she already knows I hug all my children. Get over it."

I stand behind my father and mouth, 'Get over it' to my brother, skipping out of his reach when he tries to grab me. My siblings and I have always enjoyed antagonizing each other.

I laugh as I make my way inside my small house, collecting my clothes and taking a look around before locking it up. It won't help if the rogues attack here, but it makes me feel better.

As we walk to Jordan's pack, I look at my father.

"What are your thoughts about the bears?" I ask.

He looks at me. "I'm concerned about them. They are going to be a problem if we're not careful. Bears aren't like wolves. They may live in clans, but they don't have the same attachments that we do. However, they are stronger than we are. One bear can easily take out three wolves. So, it's concerning on multiple levels that these rogues are attacking bears. If they decide that we are their enemy, it could become a real problem for all of us."

"What about the Beta Trials? Do you think all of this will impact the Trials?"

"It's possible. I'll be interested to see what the council says about that, too. They may decide to hold off on Beta Trials..."

"Seriously?" I ask, huffing. I really need more people in my pack.

"Or...."

my father

says, giving me a look for interrupting him. "They may increase the security of the Trials. Although how that will work, I'm not sure," he says.

I think about it for a minute. "Bring in the fighters. They are the best of the best, right? Have them work the Beta Trials. There's not enough of them to put one in each pack, but they could oversee and provide protection at the Trials," I say.

My father wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a side hug. "And that, my darling daughter, is why I say you already have the Alpha intelligence. That's exactly the way an Alpha should be thinking."

"Thanks, Dad," I say.

I know my father values and appreciates me, but somewhere deep inside me, I wonder if I'm lacking somewhere since he didn't want to leave the pack to me. It has to be more than just me being a female. So, more than anyone, I want to succeed in order to show my father that I am good enough to be an Alpha, that I am strong enough to run my own pack. That I can do this on my own and I could have done it if he had chosen me as his heir. As we get to the border for Jordan's pack, my father and I howl, waiting for the patrols to come to us and let us through. Once they let Jordan know that we've arrived, they let us pass and we head to the packhouse where I'm sure she's got us set up to stay for the next few days.

Suddenly, my father's nose goes up into the air.

"Your mother's here," he says excitedly and begins racing toward the packhouse. Even from here, I see my mother come out onto the back patio, her nose in the air, searching for her mate. When she spots him, she begins running toward him and they meet halfway, my father swinging her around and k*issing her as if he hasn't seen her in weeks rather than a couple of days.

I smile as I pass them, my heart hurting a bit that I haven't found my mate. I wonder if I have to prove myself to the Moon Goddess too before she'll give me my fated mate. Or maybe, maybe she didn't give me one. I waited, hoping to replace him, but more and more, it feels like he's not out there, like maybe she doesn't think I deserve a fated mate, which is why I'm trying to get Jace to think about becoming chosen mates. His mate rejected him, and I don't seem to have one.

Those thoughts are running through my head as I step into the back of Jordan's packhouse. As soon as I do, I smell the most delicious scent of fresh cut pine. It smells so good, that I have to stop and take a deep breath. I try to replace

where the scent is coming from, but it's all over the packhouse, some places stronger than others.

"Taylor, you okay?" Jace asks, coming up to me.

"What is that smell?"

He frowns. "What smell? Does it stink in here?"

"No," I say, closing my eyes and taking another deep breath. "It smells like freshly cut pine," I say.

When I open my eyes, Jace is looking at me intently. "Isn't that one of your favorite scents, Tay?"

"It's my very favorite scent," I tell him smiling.

"Come on then, let's go replace your mate."