The Claiming by Cooper Book 3
Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 31
Davis
I’ve been so worried about McKenna since she entered the territory. She seemed so carefree, so happy at the idea of being caught by her mate. I’m not sure what changed, but whatever it was, it wasn’t for the better.
When the gun went off announcing the beginning of the hunt, we all ran toward the cave. I have to admit, Jonas and Jared have a considerable advantage over me and Quinton. Katerina ran us ragged in her hunt. We all searched, nearly non-stop for her. With barely any sleep, one day of rest wasn’t enough. I had planned to sleep in my bed one more night until I heard McKenna’s heart- wrenching howl. I knew then that it didn’t matter how tired I was, she needed me, an Alpha, and possibly her future mate. And I wasn’t going to let her down.
As I run toward the cave, the Alphas and Jared pull ahead of the others, being faster and stronger by nature. However, Jonas and Jared pull ahead of both me and Quinton. At first, I thought they were working together, something that I know Mason and Elijah did last year in Jara’s claim. But as I watch, I realize they are both here for themselves. They both want a mate and since they weren’t invited to Layan’s claim, this is their one and only chance this year.
When we get to the lake, I smell a trail moving away from the cave. While Jonas and Jared begin racing up the cliff to the cave, I turn, heading left, deeper into the territory as I follow McKenna’s scent. I haven’t gotten far when the howl of the hunt goes up behind me. Someone else has decided that this trail is the one to follow and their howl will only bring others.
I begin running faster, wanting to catch her before anyone else does. Her trail is erratic, running in different directions, brushing against bushes and around trees before moving off again. I can’t tell if she’s running scared or if she’s actually trying to throw us off her trail. Either way, it’s working. I can tell the wolves behind me are getting confused with her scent trail moving in different directions and rarely moving in straight lines which is more typical for an animal being hunted.
Quinton is close by, having followed the same trail that I did. I’m not paying attention to my surroundings, simply following the scent when I realize, I’m almost back to the lake. She doubled back and now, she’s crisscrossing or scent lines. This is definitely intentional.
I hunt without success the rest of the day. Periodically, I hear the howls of the hunt as someone thinks they’ve found her. I always listen, but I don’t believe it. I’ve found several hiding spots with her scent, but she’s not there. She’s throwing us off, pulling the same stunts that Jara did when she was in the territory.
As night begins to settle, I follow a trail back to the lake. I decide to head up to the cave, just to see what she may have left as clues there.
As I climb, I realize that never before has a male been in more than one claim each year. With the lottery, it was highly unlikely that you’d get pulled for one claim, much less more than one. The only possibility of that was last year and three years ago when Jara and her sister were in the claiming and every eligible male was able to join in the hunt. Last year, however, there were days between the claims. After each claim, they would clean the territory because of the slaughter that took place.
I wasn’t picked in the lottery last year, so I was only in Jara’s hunt. And now, I know why it’s not a great idea to be in more than one. I’m exhausted. And if I don’t claim McKenna, I’ll be going up against a very well- rested Elijah in Layan’s claim. There’s little chance that I will be able to defeat him in my current condition and that doesn’t take into consideration how I’ll be at the end of this hunt.
When I get to the cave, I see someone has lit a fire. There are a couple of omegas loitering around, probably hoping to see something from up here. I walk in and look around.
I go to the wall of Lunas. That’s what we’ve all started to call it. I see the addition of McKenna’s line. I’m not surprised that she’ writes about being alone. Wolves are not solitary creatures. We don’t like being alone. It’s why we live in packs. I know last night was hard on her, but her words make me feel that maybe our howls to her last night helped her get through her loneliness.
I find a quiet spot, and lie down, closing my eyes and listening to the sounds of the night and the territory. I can hear the hunt continuing for those that are still fresh. I would guess that somewhere, Quinton is finding his own place to rest as he too as up with all of us last night, keeping McKenna company and letting her know she isn’t alone.
The howl of the hunt goes up all through the night. Each time it does, I listen, wondering if they’ve really caught her trail or if she’s managed to double back on them again.
I have a fitful night’s sleep, but I imagine that McKenna’s isn’t any better. She, unlike me, can’t even rest unless she plans on getting claimed.
The next morning, I get up and shift, catching a couple of rabbits to before shifting back and beginning my hunt again. With only 50 of us in the territory, we’re not on top of each other. It helps to be able to search without the scent trails getting overwhelmed by the scents of males traipsing through the forest.
I spend the rest of the day searching for McKenna. Howls continue to go up periodically, but none are from Alphas, so I listen, but don’t expect that McKenna will be found.
I hunt all day and into the night, finding scent trails, following them, until I no longer can tell the direction she was going. Some trails smell more fresh than others while some start fresh but end up smelling older.
It’s early in the morning and I’ve just caught another scent trail when I hear the howl of the hunt go up. This time, I know it’s an Alpha, which means, someone has found her.
Almost immediately, I hear a second howl. Someone else, possibly Jared, but maybe Quinton has caught her scent as well and is on the hunt.
I begin to quickly move in the direction of the howls, listening to the crashing sounds of the forest. If I’m right, McKenna is running scared. Someone has flushed her out of her hiding spot or wherever she was and she’s running, running away from them straight toward me.
I slow down, listening, trying to figure out what direction she’s going in. I know from her scent trails that she is erratic in her running patterns, so I wait, and I listen.
When I finally realize where she is and the direction she’s running, I take off. It takes everything in me not to howl. I know if I do, I’ll alert her to my presence, and she’ll dart off into another direction. So, I keep my lips firmly closed as I run.
When I get close enough that I can hear her choppy breathing, I move to put myself directly in her path. I hear a slight whimper from her just before I see her. She’s running but she’s looking behind her. I can hear the crashing of the forest bushes and low hanging branches as the wolves come racing after her.
I set my feet firmly on the ground. She turns, just in time to see me before she runs into me full force.
She screams, startled by my presence.
“Gotcha!” I say as my arms go around her. From the corner of my eye, I see Jonas, Quinton and Jared come rushing up behind her from different directions. I don’t waste a moment. I pull her head to the side and sink my teeth into her marking spot. Her hands grip me for a moment before my venom floods her system knocking her out.
I hold her, my teeth in her neck as her body collapses. I watch as the others get closer from over her shoulder. I growl at them, letting them know that she’s mine. All three of them hold their hands up in surrender before bending over and gasping for air.
I pull my teeth from her neck and scoop her into my arms.
“Damn, I thought I had her.” Jonas says.
Jared looks at him. “So did I.”
Quinton just shakes his head before turning toward the entrance and beginning the long walk back.
I raise my head to the sky and howl my dominance over my mate and these other wolves that thought they could claim what is mine.