The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan) Chapter 42 (Jace)

When we get back to the clan, you don't have to be a doctor to see that the vaccine is working. Not only is Balor out of his cave, but the other bears are no longer being held in such a tight quarantine, although it does appear that they have been given a limited space with which to move.

"Alpha," my father calls, jogging up,

Victor right behind him. I watch as both of their noses twitch and my father gives me a look. I must not have washed Jordan's scent off completely. Doesn't bother me, I want her scent on me and mine on her. I hope they can smell me on her, too.

"I'd like to stay and continue to hunt the rogue wolves from here. We know they have to be nearby, and I'm concerned that if we leave, they will come back and cause more problems for our new friends," he says.

"Is that what we are?" Darryl asks, walking over.

"We hope so," I say, stepping up. "Third in charge doesn't answer that question," Jusan says following behind his brother, who rolls his eyes.

"Actually, I'm short a second and since Jace's brother offered to take on my Gamma role, I'm going to temporarily move Jace into my Beta position and Victor into my Gamma position," Jordan says, shocking

me.

I frown, looking at her. She didn't mention anything about this to me while we were at the hotel.

'Sorry, we'll talk more later,' she says in the mind link.

'Yeah, we will,' I say and school my features. But I see that Victor has puffed out his chest, and the look on his face is much prouder than it was a moment ago. He really does deserve the Gamma position. Who knows, if Jordan doesn't accept me as her mate, maybe she'll keep me in the Beta position and leave Victor as the Gamma. He'd be good at it.

"My second in command DOES get to answer for me and in this he's absolutely right no matter his rank. I would have assumed that the bears wanted an alliance with the wolves now, too. Perhaps I was mistaken?" she asks, turning to Darryl.

My mate. F*uck, I love this woman. Without saying it, she has basically put Jusan in his place, challenging Darryl to acknowledge their desire for an alliance.

Darryl, surprisingly, turns and smacks his brother upside the head. "If third in charge doesn't get a say, then the man with no rank should keep his mouth shut! The pup was trying to create a partnership. One that you know Balor wants, so stop being antagonistic," he says, and Jusan begins to sulk, crossing his massive arms over his chest.

"Of course we want an alliance. I'm not going to war with my mate's people, not unless they go to war against her," Balor says, walking over with Kyra riding on his back. If his hands weren't on her arms that are wrapped around his neck, I'd swear he wouldn't even know she was there. "Anyone who doesn't agree can leave the clan," he says, giving Jusan a hard look. "Balor, no," Kyra says.

He turns and looks at her over his shoulder. "I waited a long time to find you, little wolf. I may not have known what I was looking for, but now that I found you, I won't let anyone get in the way of me being with you. I know I've got some time before you're an adult, but that doesn't mean I don't want to spend as much time with you as possible. Anyone that doesn't understand that, isn't welcome in my life."

"Well, that's good to hear, because I have a proposition for you," Jordan says to Balor.

"What kind of proposition," Kyra says, jealousy and possessiveness clear in her tone.

Balor smiles and pulls her hand to his mouth, k*issing it. "Easy, little wolf. I don't want to have to fight Alpha Jordan for you. I like her, respect her, and I think you do too."

"Even if you're mated to a bear, Kyra, you're still a wolf. Your father would be disappointed if he knew you were disrespecting an Alpha. She may not be your Alpha, but she is an Alpha," my mother says, scolding Kyra.

"Mine," she grumbles, cuddling against Balor's n*eck.

"No one questions that, Kyra. I don't want to hear that you are disrespecting Alpha Jordan or any other Alpha or ranked member again. Every wolf here

knows that you are mated to the bear clan leader. That does not mean that you get to be disrespectful. You need to find a way to be comfortable with your mate, knowing that neither of you will wear the other's mark until you are of age," Dr. Braxton says walking up.

I can see Balor struggling to allow Dr. Braxton to scold his daughter, but Dr. Braxton is right. All of us understand the pull of the mate bond and at her age, she's not mature enough to handle it well, nor is she old enough to do anything about it.

Kyra looks at Jordan. "I apologize for my behavior, Alpha Jordan," Kyra says and unlike some apologies, I can tell she means it.

"Apology accepted, Kyra. The mate bond is a powerful thing. Trust me when I tell you that I'm not interested in your mate, not like that anyway."

"How are you interested in him? You mentioned a proposition?" Kyra asks as Balor pulls her off his back and puts her on the ground in front of him, wrapping his big bear arms around her and k*issing the top o her head.

"Jace had a really good idea earlier and I spoke to my council about it. We'd like to know if you, I'm assuming you, and anyone else that you'd like to bring, would help us during our Beta Trials," I say. "Help how?" Balor asks, watching Jordan.

"Well, it would give you and anyone you bring a chance to meet some of the wolves in the different packs, specifically the two Alphas and their mates that will be living near you, one of those being my twin brother. It would also provide an opportunity for your bears to see if any of them happen to be mated to our wolves, since that's apparently a thing. Besides that, it would give you time with Kyra," Jordan says. "I'm hearing a lot about what it would do for me, but not what it is you want from me," he says.

"We want you to help us guard our pack members during our test for Beta positions. We'll have other warriors there, but it would not only be a show of solidarity to the rogues, but it would give us a sense of security to know that you and, if you choose, your clan mates were there to help protect our pack members while they compete."

Not surprisingly, Balor looks down at Kyra. "Will you be there, little wolf?"

She smiles up at him. "Dad and I were already planning to be there, to test the contestants and make sure no one has been infected. The Trials are anticipated to run three to four weeks, Balor," she says excitedly, but then her face falls a bit. "I mean, if you can get away that long."

He strokes a finger down her cheek. “I will be protecting you as much as anyone, so I will be there as long as it takes to ensure your safety,” he says.

She leaps into his arms, and he wraps his arms around her again, his eyes closing in a way I'm very familiar with. There is something about holding your mate in your arms that soothes and calms you in ways that nothing else will.

Balor looks at Jordan. "I'll ask around, but once word gets out that it's possible for wolves and bears to be mated, you may have more bears than you know what to do with."

"I'm in," Jusan says, surprising me and apparently his brother as well, who raises an eyebrow at him. Rather than respond, Jusan looks away, refusing to meet his brother's eyes.

"We'll be happy to take as many as you give us," Jordan says, turning to my father. "Now, about these rogues..."