The Claiming by Cooper Book 2
The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 60
Mason
It’s been several weeks since we returned from the beach. We are due to have a pregnancy test in a few days. But before that can happen, we have a concerning alliance meeting.
“Some of our pack members who have been watching Alpha Gunnar’s pack have gone missing.” Alpha Zaire says.
“What do you mean, missing?” Antonio asks. Annabel is due any day and I can tell that he’s nervous about anything to do with Gunnar and his pack. While I have the biggest target on my back, all of our packs are at risk. Annabel being so close to her delivery date along with Jara losing our child, has him on edge.
“I felt the tether to one of my men snap.” Alpha Saul says.
“How many men did you have out there?” I ask.
“Three. I haven’t heard from any of them, but I only felt the tether break for one.” Saul says.
“We need eyes on the pack.” Seth says. “Does anyone else have any pack members that they are in contact with?”
“I tried to make contact with my person earlier today, and I couldn’t reach him.” Asher says.
“Same. I tried both of mine and got nothing.” Jonas says.
“F*uc*k! So, no one has eyes on Gunnar?” I ask.
“That’s correct, Mason.” Luke says.
“But only one is dead?” Davis asks.
No one else has felt their pack member die. I look at Elijah and before I can say anything, he is up and moving. We need to increase our patrols.
“Jara, where are you?” I mind link her.
“My office.” She responds immediately, helping my nerves to calm. “Why, what’s wrong, Mason?”
“It seems Gunnar has captured all the alliance members that have been watching his pack. I need you to get all the she-wolves in our pack to your office. I have no idea if or when he’ll attack, but I want to know all of you are safe. I’m sending guards to you. They can watch all of you together.”
“Okay. I’ll get them right now.” She says.
I refocus on the conversation. “…send more pack members.”
“No, that doesn’t make sense. If they have captured our pack members, we need to make a plan to find them and rescue them before more end up dead.” Luke is saying.
“But, while we’re there, we could check the pack. At least we’ll know if everyone is still in Gunnar’s pack.” Saul says.
Davis, Quinton, Luke and Jonas decide to go searching for the missing pack members and to check Gunnar’s pack to see if he is there.
Once that’s decided I’m about to hang up, when Councilmember Jason speaks up. “If I may, and I know there is a lot going on already, but I wanted to give an update on our research regarding Alpha Typhon.”
I sit back down. I know they have been doing research on his blood and tissue, but I haven’t heard anything about the results.
“What we found is that Typhon had two viruses in his system. The viruses, while not exactly the same, mirror the rabies and distemper viruses found in dogs. Both of those viruses effect the central nervous system and the brain, and both can cause death. I have our scientists continuing to do research, but we still don’t know why unmated males get feral-fever at a young age or why females have reduced or eliminated the risk of feral-fever. The scientists are currently working under the a*s*sumption that females, for whatever reason, carry an immunity to both viruses, and when in close proximity to the male population, as with a mate bond, they act as a vaccination of sorts to their mate and in some instances, their pack. It’s still in the research phase, but it may be that stronger females, such as Lunas, have a greater ability to vaccinate the pack, to term the phrase.”
“Why do I get the feeling, Councilman, that you will be asking for blood from our Lunas in the near future?” Asher asks.
“Hmm, yes, well, that would be beneficial. It would give our scientists something to work with, a way to prove their theory.” Jason says.
“I don’t mind, Asher. If it helps our pack, I should do it.” I hear Mignon say, immediately followed by Asher’s sigh. I know he wants to avoid this. He wants to protect his mate.
“Is it just a blood sample that you need, Councilman?” I ask.
“Blood and saliva, yes.”
“I know Jara would be willing to help. But she has Alpha blood. It might be helpful if, say, Mignon also gave blood and saliva to see if all females have this impact or just some. Personally, I think it’s only some, or possibly it’s their role in the pack. My Gamma’s mate, for instance, did not keep my pack members from going feral. But it seems that Asher’s and Antonio’s packs are stable, and their Lunas were omegas.” I say.
“My pack is remaining stable too, now that Layan has gotten stronger.” Davis says.
“And mine. Isabella is of Alpha blood though, so it may not be a good example.” Jonas says.
“We’ll take as many samples as the she-wolves are willing to give. I know that Nina has already offered so we can test the effects over time as well.” Jason says.
“Anything else for today?” Antonio asks, and we all chuckle. He’s obviously anxious to get back to his very pregnant mate.
“Mason, keep in touch daily. If you’re attacked, get word out, we’ll send reinforcements. That goes for everyone, but Mason is most at risk, I think.” Seth says.
Everyone agrees and I thank them. Seth is right. Me and my pack are definitely most at risk.
It’s only two days later, in the middle of the night, that the attack comes.
I’m curled around Jara, sleeping peacefully, when the howls go up. Before I’m even out of bed, I can hear the thrashing in the packhouse downstairs.
“Get to a safe room!” I tell Jara a moment before swinging our door open, shift, leaping off our fourth story banister, landing in the middle of the packhouse floor, surrounded by Gunnar’s pack members.