The Claiming by Cooper
Chapter 48

Jara

When I return to the main house, I manage to get through my social gatherings as I anxiously await my last one, the one that Mason is in. I fully intend to ask him to walk me back tonight and I hope he agrees. I want him to understand that I need to have a backup plan, in case I can't last the full seven days and in case he doesn't claim me. I refuse to allow someone like Typhon to claim me, and I wasn't kidding earlier when I said I would leave his b*lody corpse on the claiming field. I know the life I would be getting into if he were to claim me, and I'd rather die fighting than being locked away in his prison, forced to succumb to his vicious ways.

When it's finally time for my last social gathering, the group walks in and Mason gives me a small smile but doesn't approach me. I can see his hesitancy as if he's not sure where he stands with me. now. I want to give time to each of the candidates especially since I know most of them after the reassessment process. But I need to make sure that Mason knows that nothing has changed between us. Since everyone seems to know that I've been giving Mason special treatment, I take the chance that he won't deny me in front of others. I walk right up to him, taking his hands. I can see the shock on his face at my outward show of favoritism toward him.

"Alpha Mason, may I impose upon you to walk me back this evening?" His smile warms significantly.

"It would be my honor, Alpha Jara.”

"Good." I hold his hands a moment longer before turning and giving my attention to the others in the room. It's only an hour, but

it feels like forever before it's time for all of them to leave.

Mason stands behind me as the others exit the room. When they leave, I turn, taking his hand before exiting the main house. I wait until we're away from the house before I begin.

"I know you were hurt earlier..."

"I understand Jara." He interrupts me.

I turn to face him. "Do you, Mason? Do you understand that if I have a choice, it will be you, but I may not have a choice and if I don't, I have to make sure that someone I can live with claims me. Do you understand that?" I say and my voice has become shaky as the fear of my upcoming claiming hits me.

He pulls me against him, wrapping his arm around my waist. "No. one but me will be claiming you, Jara. No one."

"You don't know that. You can't promise me that. Who knows what will happen inside the claiming territory, Mason. You know the other Alphas will go for you first."

"Some will. If they were smart, they'd be more worried about finding you than trying to attack me. But those that aren't too bright will find that I'm not an easy kill." "This isn't a joking matter, Mason."

"I am deadly serious, Jara." I can in his eyes that he means it. He'll kill anyone who gets in the way of him claiming me.

"Okay Mason." We turn and begin walking again.

"So, if you could choose anyone, I would be your choice?" He asks and I can hear the smugness in his tone.

I need for him to realize that I mean this. So, I stop, turning toward him and taking his face in my hands. "Yes Mason. If I could choose my mate, of everyone here, it would be you."

I reach up and press my lips to his, giving him entrance to my mouth when his tongue slides over the seam of my lips. I don't know how long we kiss, but I get lost in the smell and taste of him. Somehow, I need to end up with this man as my mate.

When we finally pull away, breathless, he puts his forehead against mine and we just hold each other for a few moments.

"So, change of subject. That was quite a show of power today with Alpha Typhon."

I snort. "I will never let him claim me."

"Neither will I. But I was wondering if you'd be willing to try something with me.”

"What's that?" I say, stepping back and looking up into his grey

eyes.

He looks almost embarrassed. "I want to see if you can force me

to submit."

"What?"

He smiles. "I know, weird, right? But I've seen you push out your aura several times now. I know Typhon isn't a true Alpha, but your wolf is very strong. I wanted to know if she's stronger than mine."

I turn, looking around us. It's dark, but I wouldn't want anyone seeing Mason submitting to me. Not that I think my wolf is stronger than his. Equal maybe, but not stronger. But just in case, I move us off the mair walkway into a darkened area.

"Are you sure, Mason?" I ask.

He steps back. "Hit me." He says, smiling at me.

I push my aura out, pushing against his. "I know you're stronger than that, Jara. Give it to me. I'm curious and I want to know."

I begin pushing my aura harder against his. Our eyes are locked or each other, as I push my aura harder and harder. He never wavers. As I guessed, it's as strong or stronger than mine.

Finally, I pull back my aura. "That's it, that's all I've got."

He snorts. "That's it?" He asks me in a disbelieving tone. "Your aura is the strongest I've ever felt, Jara. Of course, I'd expect that Seth's is similar, but yours is potent. No wonder so many wolves fall to their knees in the wake of your anger."

"Your turn." I say, wanting to know if his is stronger than mine.

He shakes his head no. "When you submit to me, Jara, I want it to be because you want to, not because I forced you."

I think it's in this moment that I truly fall in love with Mason. There are so many things he could have said just now. So many things that he could have done. I would have been perfectly happy to test his aura, seeing if it really is stronger than mine, but he didn't and he won't. He wants my submission because I willingly give it.

And it's because of that, that I tilt my head, exposing my throat to

him.

His response is instant. I'm in his arms and his mouth is licking and kissing my exposed throat. It's a sign of love, of affection, of appreciation for the gift that I've given him. I feel his body shaking with the power that I've given him over me, his need to claim me so strong that I feel his canines grazing across my neck, sending

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shivers when they slide over my marking spot.

"Mason...." I whisper.

"I won't mark you, not yet." He says, his canines causing him to lisp. "But someday soon, my mark will be right here." He says and I feel his canines touch the spot where hopefully, in the very near future, they will sink into my neck, making me his forever.

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