The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 170

Layan’s Return Chapter 15: Layan

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Layan

I told Mignon that I would watch her babies while she and Alpha Asher went to the council meeting. Katerina is watching Alpha Mason and Jara’ s twins, and we told Annabel that we could watch Ella, her daughter as well. So, we put them all on the floor in the living room together and took turns watching the younger ones while cooking breakfast and feeding the older ones. McKenna came down and helped as well.

“So, who do you think will go in first?” McKenna asks.

Katerina shrugs. “Not sure, but it would make sense that it was Layan.” She looks at me. “You only have to choose 10 males for your claiming and I’m guessing that you already have two picked out.” She says smiling

at me.

“You do?” McKenna asks. I haven’t spent any time with her before now so I’m not sure why she’s surprised.

I nod. “I do, but I also don’t want to go first. I guess it doesn’t matter what we want. they’ll pull our names from a bowl like they did last year ” I say. wiping baby food from Gianna’s mouth.

“Soooo, who are you choosing for your claim?” McKenna asks me.

“Beta Elijah and Alpha Davis.”

“Oh. Alpha Davis is your Alpha isn’t he?” She asks and there is something about the way she asks that has me looking up at her.

“He is.”

“Is he a good Alpha?” She asks.

“He is. He’s been very kind to me this past year.”

“Good. I intend to choose him for my claiming as well.” She turns to

Katerina. “What about you, Kat? Are you going to choose Alpha Jonas for your claim?”

“No, I spoke to him yesterday. I won’t be choosing anyone from my pack.”

That has my head shooting up.

“Are they mean?” I ask, my nerves kicking in.

“Oh no. It’s just….he’s been with my mom, you know? It’s too weird.”

McKenna shrugs. “As long as he will be faithful once we’re mated. I don’t care. It’s practically impossible to find any male that has experience, what with so few females and all.”

“How about you, McKenna? Anyone other than Alpha Davis that you are going to invite?” Katerina asks her.

“Yep. All four Alphas and the two Betas. I’m hoping to be a Luna, but I wouldn’t mind being a Beta female.”

“That’s only six.” I say to her, realizing that she plans to include both Elijah and Alpha Davis into her claiming. Something about Elijah ending up with McKenna doesn’t sit right with me.

“I know. The others I’ll have to talk to and get to know better, but we have two weeks, right? They are giving us two weeks to choose our claimants?” She says, looking between us.

Suddenly, I’m surrounded by my friends. They give me their strength as we walk over to the back of the main packhouse.

The stage is there, and we all stand beside it as this year’s claimants all begin to come outside. I see Elijah and he winks at me, calming me immediately. Then I see Alpha Davis and his nods his head, giving me his support as well.

I take a deep breath as Katerina and McKenna come to stand with us.

Councilman Phillip climbs the stairs to the stage and taps on the microphone, causing feedback which quiets everyone instantly.

“Thank you.” He says.

“Ladies, please join me on the stage.”

McKenna and Katerina climb up the stairs, but my heart starts beating rapidly. I can’t seem to catch my breath. Images of last year begin flashing through my mind. Running, being chased, being caught, the pain of being marked, and then…. My hand flies to my neck and I feel the scars of the residual mark as the darkness begins to close in on me.

There’s not enough air, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.

I begin to hyperventilate, trying to pull enough air into my lungs and that’ s when I hear it. I remember the sound from last year. The purring.

I look up and lock eyes with Elijah. He’s purring so loudly that I can hear him from here. Only a moment goes by before Alpha Davis begins purring as well, adding his calming sound to Elijah’s. The Alpha Luke, Alpha Jonas, Alpha Quinton, Beta Jared and before I know it, the entire field is purring at me, encouraging me to take the stage. Every one of the nearly 400 males is purring to help calm my nerves.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Then another.

When I open them, I look at the group of men who are encouraging me to remain calm. I nod my head and turn, pulling my shoulders back, letting go of Jara’s hand as I step up onto the stage.