The Claiming by Cooper

Jara

When Elder Jason arrived at our housing to meet with Layan, she asked for me to stay for his interview.

He agreed, but I could see that he was hesitant about having me there.

However, I liked him as soon as he started talking to Layan. He gently pushed his Alpha aura over her,

calming her so he could talk to her. Omegas respond to Alphas, and this is a true Alpha. He knows just

how to handle her. He was gentle in his questioning of her, paternal even, and she responded well to

him.

In the end, he asked her what she wanted. She tearfully told him that she wanted to go home with her

family.

“I can’t guarantee that you won’t be required to come back next year, but I can and will allow you to go

home with your family this year.”

Layan jumped up and hugged Elder Jason, crying against his chest. He held her while she cried, stroking

her hair. When she pulled away, he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.

“Do me a favor, though?” He asked her kindly. He could command her, but he was being very careful and

gentle with her.

She nods at him.

“Get some counseling. If you need the name of someone, let me know. The Elder council will pay for it.”

He says, looking at her parents. They are both omegas and would never be able to afford it on their own.

“If you need anything at all, you let me know. Here is my card.” He

says, handing his card to Layan.

“Thank you, Elder Jason.”

“You’re very welcome. Your job this year is to heal, young lady, okay?”

“Okay, Elder.”

While they were talking, I slipped outside. One of the guards had told me that Mason was here if I

needed him. I wanted to share the good news with him more than anyone. I rushed outside and into him

arms.

When I told him Elder Jason was going to let her go home, I felt him relax. His strong arms wrapped

around me, making me feel safe and cared for. I wrapped mine around him, holding on to him as the

stress of the last few days washed over me.

“Alpha Jara.” I tense as I hear Elder Jason behind me.

I pull away from Mason and turn to him. “Thank you for your help with Layan. She is a sweet girl.” He

says, turning to look behind him back at the house. He rubs his hands over his face, scrubbing it like he

wants to wipe away what happened to Layan.

“I need to speak with you, Beta Hana and the last omega, Annabel. You seem to be leading this group of

females. I thought it best to speak with you about a time to meet. Also, the males have asked if you and

the others would be willing to continue your social gatherings until things are finalized with the claiming.”

I look at Mason then back at Elder Jason. “Annabel has a small group, but I believe she is showing some

favoritism toward a few on her claimants. Hana and I have a much larger group to meet with. Would you

be willing to let us decide who we are willing to have in our social gatherings? If so, I think I could

convince the

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others to continue the social gatherings while you make your decision.”

He sighs, thinking over my request. “You seem to have all the power in this process, Alpha Jara. If that’s

how you want it, that’s how it will be. At least until my decision is announced.”

“Thank you, Elder. And how about you join us for lunch today and we can discuss what is on your mind?

I’ll have a definitive answer for you then about our social gatherings and maybe we can have one this

evening.” I tell him.

“Very well, I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

He turns and begins walking away. “Not too much longer, Alpha Mason.” He says, as he walks off.

I turn and look at Mason. “He’s right, but I needed to know that you were okay.”

“I’m okay. And hopefully, I’ll see you later.” I tell him.

“I make the cut for your social gathering?” He asks, pulling me against him.

“You, Alpha Mason, are at the top of the list.”

“Good to know.” He says before kissing me lightly. I want more, but it’s the middle of the morning and I

know there are wolves milling around nearby, I can hear them, and so can Mason.

“I’ll see you later.” He says, before turning and walking back toward the main house.

I help Layan pack her things and we say our tearful goodbyes as her family helps her into the car.

“I can’t thank you enough, Alpha Jara. I know you and Beta Hana protected my daughter when she

needed it most. I can never repay you for that.” Her father tells me as he hugs me goodbye.

“It’s what any good Alpha would do. There’s no need to thank me.” I tell him.

He pulls back, looking at me. “You are a good Alpha. You’ll make one hell of a Luna. I can’t wait to see all

the good things that come to the pack where you end up.”

“Thank you, sir.” I tell him.

After they leave, I sit down with Annabel and Hana. I explain what Elder Jason asked and that he will be

here at lunch time to discuss next steps.

“Do you think the claiming will continue?” Annabel asks me.

“Yes, I do. There are still three of us. Too many of the ranked members are close to going feral. They

can’t afford to send us home.” I tell her.

“She’s right.” Hana says. “They need us, especially the Alphas.”

“Do you think we can say we only want a few claimants in our social gathering?” Annabel asks.

“I think we can ask for whatever we want. It’s that or they get nothing.”

“I only want three in mine. But if Elder Jason agrees, I’ll have my social gathering with those three.”

“Would one of those three be Alpha Antonio?” Hana teases her.

Annabel smiles. “Of course, just like Alpha Seth will be one of

yours, right?”

Now it’s Hana’s turn to blush and she looks at me through her lashes.

“It’s okay. If he wasn’t my brother, I’d want him in my social gathering too.” I tell her.

“I wish there was a way for us to choose our mates, or at least who is in our claiming. I know they did it

this way to ensure omegas have as equal an opportunity as Alphas, but I’m sure Layan would never

have chosen that Alpha for her claiming.” Hana says.

“That’s a great idea, Hana. Maybe after all this is done, we can start pushing for change. We’ll have a

year to try to and enact some sort of change. We could do that for Layan and every other female who

comes up for the claiming.” I say.

When Elder Jason joins us for lunch, he is clear that the claiming must continue.

“I know the three of you must be nervous about your own personal claimings. I want you to know that I

intend to have every male here reassessed before any of you go back into the claiming territory.”

He looks at Annabel. “I know you are next, and this must feel very scary for you, but I will do everything

in my power to ensure your safety.”

Once again, his Alpha aura comes out, rolling over Annabel and helping to soothe her fears. Even Hana

seems impacted by his aura. I notice his surprise that I am not.

“The males in your lottery will be re-assessed tomorrow. Any of them that do not pass will be eliminated

from your claiming and new males will be selected. But everyone entering your claim will have passed

evaluation within the last 24 hours.”

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“Thank you, Elder Jason.” Annabel says to him.

He nods before turning to Hana. “Once Omega Annabel’s males are screened, then we’ll move to yours.

Once those males are assessed, we will assess the rest and ensure everyone in the final claiming

passes assessment.”

He looks at all of us one at a time. “If, at any point, you have concerns about someone in your claiming,

please bring it to my attention. I will happily have them re-assessed and, if necessary, removed from the

claiming process.”

We finish our lunch and Elder Jason lets us know that he’d like us there tomorrow when he announces to

the males that Layan has left and that they will all be re-evaluated before the claimings

reconvene.

I walk Elder Jason to the door. “What’s on your mind, Alpha?” He says as soon as we walk outside, and

the door closes behind us.

“Elder, are you aware that the male that claimed my sister is here, wanting to claim me as well?”

“I am. Alpha Typhon petitioned the Elder council to participate in this claiming.”

“So, unless he is found to be feral, there is nothing that I can do to keep him out of my claiming?” I ask.

He puts a hand on my shoulder. “No, Alpha Jara. I’m afraid there is nothing that I can do. However, I will

let you know, my vote was no when we cast our votes to allow him in. But I was overruled.”

“I understand. Thank you, Elder.”

I watch him as he walks back to the main house, before I turn and head back inside.