The Claiming by Cooper

It was hours before Layan finally woke. When she did, she looked around and immediately broke into tears. We all moved around her, hugging her and letting her know that she's safe here. "Your parents are on their way." I say, because I don't know what else to say. I'm angry that I couldn't keep her safe, that she and the rest of us are being forced into this entire process. "Will.... will you stay with me until they get here?" She asks quietly.

"I'll stay here as long as you want me, we all will. Claiming be d*mned. That pack of savages can go hang for all I care."

A ghost of a smile crosses her face before she turns her face away and ! see tears dripping from her eyes to the pillow. "How about, I lay here with you, so you know, even in your sleep, that you're safe?"

She turns and looks at me, before nodding. I crawl into the bed beside her.

"And I can lay on your other side, so you're wrapped in love and protection." Hana says, crawling into her bed on the other side.

"Come on, Annabel. You can join us too." I make space between myself and Layan and Annabel crawls in between us. I wrap my arm around the two of them and feel Hana lay her arm across them, holding on to me. We've wrapped them in our embrace.

Layan falls asleep first, then Annabel. Hana looks up at me. "What are they going to do with her?" She asks quietly.

"I don't know, but I have no intention of letting them put her back into the claiming territory. She needs to go home with her parents."

"I'll stand with you. No matter what it takes, we make sure she

goes home."

"No matter what it takes." I say to her.

Two days later, we found out what they planned for Layan. She was released from the hospital in the morning, and Elder Carson called a meeting in the early afternoon. According to Mason, he's been replaced, but his replacement won't be here until tomorrow. Apparently, he intends to continue acting like he's in charge until they arrive.

Elder Carson calls Layan to the stage. She gives me a terrified look and Hana and I take one of her hands and walk her onto the stage. I turn and nod for Annabel to join us. We will be presenting a unified front to these males. They do not get to choose what happens to Layan.

"We are all aware of what has happened to the Omega Layan. And while these unfortunate events have caused a delay in the claiming process, the claim will go on."

Unfortunate events? This man is delusional. An unfortunate event is breaking a leg, not being mauled.

"Tomorrow morning, Layan will go back into the claiming territory." I hear Layan whimper behind me as she breaks down into tears. Annabel rushes to her, holding her as she crumbles to the ground. "No." I say, my voice ringing out over the crowd, causing them all to go silent.

"Excuse me?" Elder Carson says, turning to me.

"I said no. Layan is in no condition to go back into the claiming territory. She will be allowed to go home with her family." I point to where her parents are standing and only now see that Layan's father is supporting her mother who looks horrified with this

Dividing into pages now

announcement.

"Alpha Jara. You have no jurisdiction here. The claiming process..."

"I. SAID. NO! And I have more authority here than you do, Elder. Believe me when I say, that girl will go back into the claiming territory over my dead body." I hear a collective gasp from every male in the crowd at my declaration.

"And any of you savage beasts that think you can get to her, will have go through me." I snarl at them.

Hana comes to stand next to me. "And, you'll have to go through me. I'd rather die than let any one of you lot claim her. None of you deserve her."

Seth comes to stand in front of the stage where we are standing. "And you'll have to go through me. I believe the omega deserves to go home with her family. Let her heal."

"And you'll have to go through me." Mason says, making eye contact with me before turning to stand beside Seth.

"And me." Alpha Antonio comes to stand beside them. One after another, the true ranked members come to stand side by side, willing to protect Layan.

Elder Carson snarls at me. "Fine! We will wait until my replacement shows up tomorrow. He can decide. Good luck if he decides to put her back into the claiming territory." He says before stomping off.

I wave Layan's parents over and her mother comes and wraps her arms around her. Layan looks at me. "Will they really put me back in there? I can't, Jara. I can't..." She breaks down sobbing.

I squat down next to her, stroking her hair while her mother tries to comfort her. "I was serious, Layan. You're going back in there over

my dead body. I won't allow it, no matter who declares it. Go with your parents back to your room. Hana and I will be there soon." I turn and look at Annabel. "Will you..."

"Of course." She says and begins walking back with Layan and her mother, her father walking protectively behind them, watching the males in the claiming.

I walk up to Seth and Mason. "Thank you, all of you." I look at the others that stood for Layan. "I appreciate all of you standing up for Layan."

A chorus of 'You're welcome, Alpha' and 'she deserves to go home' answer me. They all start to walk off and I turn to Seth and Mason. "I really appreciate both of you standing up for her. I'm not sure the others would have done it if you hadn't."

"Do me a favor, Jara." Mason says, taking my hands. "Don't threaten to fight to the death."

I pull my hands out of his. "I meant what I said, Mason. I wasn't today, nor will I tomorrow, allow them to hurt that sweet girl more than she already has been."

He takes my hands again, holding them as I try to pull them away again. "I know that. But it won't come to that. I won't allow it either. But my stomach felt like it dropped to my feet when you threatened to give your life for her. I know you would, but please, know you won't have to. I will stand for you and her. I swear."

"Same goes for you, Hana." Seth says to her. "You're both too important to risk your lives."

"Our life isn't any more valuable than hers." Hana tells Seth.

"Agreed." Seth says, pulling her against him. "I don't want to see any of you injured or hurt. But I definitely don't want to see any of

you dying of fighting to the death either. I'm with Mason, I'll fight, you stay alive. Promise me, Hana?"

"And you promise me, Jara. Let us fight for her. You be the strong woman you are, but no giving your life for Layan or anyone else. Deal?" "Mason..."

He pulls me in for a fierce kiss. "Promise me, Jara."

"Okay, Mason, I promise. If you stand for her, then I won't fight."