The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)

Chapter 37 (Jace)

I’m not sure if Jordan’s look is about being nervous that she might end up alone and hunted, or if she’s worried

about being forcibly marked. Either way, I don’t have any intention of leaving her alone. We’ve just started making

progress with our bond, she finally rescinded her rejection. I refuse to allow anyone to mark her but me.

Her smile when I tell her I’m not going anywhere is everything that I’ve always wanted to see from Jordan. It tells

me she’s happy, thankful and willing to let me be here for her. Jordan isn’t the type to be vulnerable, so her

willingness to let me be here to support her says more to me than her willingness to experiment in bed last night.

Dr. Braxton finishes giving an update on the rogues’ packs and afterward, the Alphas begin asking questions. As

they talk, I reach under the table and take Jordan’s hand. She squeezes mine in return and laces her fingers with

mine. There’s a lot of conversation about the vaccine and Dr. Braxton talks about using Jordan, Jaxon and Luna

Jara’s blood to create the vaccine.

“What about the rest of us? If I understood you before when the viruses were ramp*ant, doctor, Jara’s immunity

should have been passed to the pack. If that’s the case, you shouldn’t have to take blood from my mate and

children only.”

“We know Alpha Jaxon has the immunity, but I’d like to take blood from Alpha Tobias, Alpha Evangeline and Alpha

Flavia,” Dr. Braxton says.

Both Tobias and Jaxon snarl at that. “No!” They say in unison.

“You can have all of my blood that you want, you vampire, but you won’t t*ouch my mate or our child,” Tobias says.

“Same,” Jaxon snarls. “My mate just had our son. You won’t be coming anywhere near either one of them.”

“It was a suggestion. I wouldn’t be injecting them with anything…”

“No!” they both say again, and I swear I can feel their Alpha auras through the video.

Dr. Braxton must too as he puts his hands up in defense. “Of course, I wouldn’t forcibly take their blood. It was just

a suggestion.”

“While Dr. Braxton figures out the vaccine issue, can I ask what we’re doing about our pack lands and the Beta

Trials? Half of us are on hold building our packs, and we need to have a plan. We need to know if the Beta Trials are

going to be delayed or if we can continue to plan for and build our packs,” Stephan says.

“We need to know that we can keep our pack members safe,” Councilwoman Gia says.

“And we need to be able to build our packs. The ten of us who won packs and our mates are all currently displaced

while we figure this out,” Alpha Reid says.

“You are, of course, free to go back to your pack lands. But you take on the risk associated with being out there

alone,” Councilman Jason says. “What kind of bullshit answer is that?” Alpha Caleb asks. “We all have mates. We

aren’t putting them at risk.”

“I suggest we all take the rest of the day, let Dr. Braxton work his magic on the vaccine. If he can come up with a

vaccine that will protect everyone, then we have no problem continuing with the Beta Trials,” Councilman Jason

says.

“And what about our packs? I’ve been lucky because my cousin and brother have given me patrols to help protect

my lands, but not everyone has that option,” Taylor says.

“Something for all of us to think about and as I said, we can reconvene tomorrow morning.”

“Jordan,” Luna Jara says, and I look at the monitor to see her face looking back at us. “Do you have a safe place to

stay tonight?”

“Don’t worry, Luna. I’ll protect Jordan,” I say.

(Taylor POV)

I get up after we end the conference call.

“Taylor?” Nolan asks.

“I need to go for a walk,” I say, moving to walk out of the room.

“Taylor. You heard Dr. Braxton. Don’t make me put a guard on you,” my father says from across the room.

I grit my teeth, noticing that the room goes quiet as the other Alphas watch to see my reaction. I can’t believe my

father just called me out in a room of my peers. If he wasn’t my father, I would never tolerate this type of

disrespect, but now I’m in a terrible position. Disrespect my father or stand up for myself.

“Alpha Seth, I don’t believe that you would have said that if you were talking about Griffin. I don’t hear you telling

Alpha Caleb that you’re going to put a guard on him. I think it’s very inappropriate of you to call out your daughter.

She’s just as much of an Alpha as your sons,” Nolan says, standing up to my father.

“You have no idea what it means to be a father and to want to protect your child,” my father snarls at Nolan.

I move to step in front of him, but Nolan puts his arm out, holding me back, practically pushing me behind him.

“And I’m beginning to understand why you didn’t name your first born as your successor. You continue to severely

underestimate your daughter. She is a strong, powerful, intelligent woman. She may be a bit more at risk than your

sons, but it is extremely inappropriate for you to specifically call her out in a room of her peers. She has earned her

right to be here, placing fourth out of hundreds of other competitors. If you still can’t see who and what your

daughter is, then I suggest you sit back and stop embarrassing her. You would never do that to your sons, and you

would never tolerate anyone treating you the way that you are treating her,” Nolan says. No one has ever said such

incredible things about me. I love that my mate, someone who hasn’t even known me that long, seems to

understand me better than my own father does.

My father looks like he’s about to say something, but my mother steps up and puts her hand on his arm.

“He’s right Seth. Taylor is old enough to make her own decisions. She may be your daughter, but she’s not your

little girl anymore. We raised her to be the strong Alpha that she is, and we will respect whatever decision you

make, Taylor,” my mother says, turning her attention to me. “If you need our assistance, you need only ask. But

until then, we will stay out of your affairs,” she says.

My father turns to her, ready to argue, but her angry snarl stops him.

“Thank you, mother,” I say, before taking Nolan’s arm and pulling him from the room. I’m afraid if I don’t take him

with me, that he and my dad will have a nasty fight.

I wait until we’re far away from the packhouse. “Thank you,” I say. “There’s no need to thank me,” he says,

reaching over to take my hand. “Yes, there is. My father put me in a bad situation, and you helped me out of it.”

“Your father was wrong.”

“But he’s still my father, and I didn’t want to disrespect him, especially in a room of other Alphas.”

“Which is exactly why I said that he underestimates you. You gave him more respect than he gave you.”

I shrug. I’m used to my father underestimating me.

Nolan stops, his hand pulling me back when I keep walking.

“You never trained with me. I think we should train together. I will teach you my skills and you can teach me yours,”

he says.

“What skills do you think I have that you don’t already have, Nolan? Isn’t that the goal of being a top fighter? That

you’re ready for anything?”

He shrugs. “Maybe I’ll make you a top fighter with me, Taylor. I don’t want those rogues marking you against your

will. But I don’t want you to think of me as your guard. I’d rather make you strong, make you powerful and

confident so you can fight and defeat that Alpha or any other Alpha if they attack you. That way, maybe, you can

think of me as your mate.”