Chapter 10
The iming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Mason
After spending an hour with Beta Hana, I’m tempted to rethink my desire to enter her iming. That is
until we nearly walk into Elijah and Jara. He is escorting her to dinner, just as I am escorting na,
although I doubt the reason he was chosen was the same.
Hana hade right out and asked if there was anyone in the room who did not intend to be in her
iming. I was the only one to raise my hand and therefore, I was the only one that she spent any time
with during her social hour.
Title of the document
If I thought that Hana’s outfit tonight was meant to cause the males to drool with lust, Jara’s is
downright riot-inducing. I can’t help it as my eyes drift down her practically see-through dress. The
nude color underneath barely covers her and since it’s the same color as her skin, it’s nearly
impossible to see where heryer of material ends, and her actual skins begins. If these two don’t
cause a rut, it’ll be a f*uc*king miracle.
And as I see the smug look on Jara’s face, the same one I saw on Hana’s when she walked into her
social gathering tonight, I know that’s exactly what they are hoping. They want us to kill each other off,
so they don’t have to go through their iming. I make a mental note to never underestimate either of
these women.
“Alpha Jara. You look…. breath-taking. And since you seem to be dressed for dancing, may I put in my
request now for a dance?”
She takes a moment to look me over. “Alpha Mason, my brother spoke highly of you.” She turns to look
at Elijah. “Both of you.”
That surprises me, and I can see Elijah’s shock as it quickly crosses his face before being reced
with his usual calm demeanor. I didn’t know Seth would speak highly of anyone wanting to im his
sister. I’m hopeful that will give me an in with her.
N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.
“Your Beta also spoke highly of you during our conversation. So, I’ll save you a dance. Don’t disappoint
me. Alpha.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it…. Alpha.” I say, making her lips twitch.
She gestures for us to precede her into the room. The minute Hana and I walk in, the entire room goes
deathly quiet. I catch Seth’s eye and nod my head as
Elijah and Jara step up beside us. When they do, the animosity in the room ratchets up significantly.
Not only were we given special attention during their social gathering, but the two most eligible women
in this year’s iming are on our arms. Add to that, they are dressed to cause pandemonium and
chaos and it looks like their n is working.
Seth walks over as the guards take a more protective stance around all the females.
“What the f*uc*k are you wearing, Jara?” He asks quietly so only those of us in her immediate vicinity
can hear.
“It’s called a dress, Seth.” I can see the muscle in his face ticking as he clenches his jaw.
“Is there a reason you chose this particr dress for tonight?”
“Of course, brother. I want these pompous, arrogant, haughty males to see what they are going to be
missing out on when they are unable to im me. If they are incapable of maintaining a level of
decorum in a room with five females dressed for an evening out, then they are unworthy of me or any
of us, wouldn’t you agree?”
Goddess this woman will be the death of me. And given the atmosphere in the room, that may not even
be a figurative statement.
Seth puts his hands on his hips, looking down a moment before shaking his head and sighing. “I love
you, Jara.”
“And I thank the goddess every day that you’re my brother, Seth.” She says, leaning in to kiss his
cheek.
“Oh, and speaking of, may I introduce you to Beta Hana.” Jara expertly steps away from Elijah, linking
her arm with her brother before turning toward us.
“Alpha Seth. Your sister speaks highly of you, and I can see that her praise is not unwarranted.”
“Beta Hana.” Seth says, taking her hand and kissing it. The look he gives her is just possessive enough
to have me stepping away, but not so possessive that Hana dismisses him.
Instead, I turn to Jara. “May I escort you to your table, Alpha Jara?”
“Yes, thank you Alpha Mason.” She turns and looks at Elijah. “Thank you again for the conversation.
Beta Elijah.” He nods, heading toward our a*s*signed table. Since we were in the pool for the social
gatherings, we were not eligible for the pool of individuals that get to have dinner with one of the
contestants this evening.
I escort Jara to her table and before she sits, she turns to me. “I look forward to our danceter, Alpha
Mason.” I pull her seat out and wait while she sits, her guardsing to sit on either side of her.
“It will be my honor. Alpha Jara.” I notice the enraged looks the others at her table give me before I
head to my table. I’m not sure if she’s intentionally putting a target on my back, or if she really is
interested in spending more time with me. Either way, I’m getting more time with her than most.
I go sit beside Elijah. “So, you got to spend the entire hour with her?” I ask as soon as I sit down. I had
put us on the side of the table so we could watch both Hana and Jara during dinner.
“I did. She recognized that I was the one that started purring for Layan, and she came to thank me.
Afterward, we talked, and the hour went by very quickly.”
I turn and look at my Beta. “And you put in a good word for me? That was generous.”
“She knew us, knew I was your Beta.” I turn back and look at where Seth is sitting with Annabel.
“That must be because of Seth.”
“Maybe, but whatever he said, she knew both of our names and wasfortable enough to ignore
everyone else in our room for the entire hour.”
“Interesting.”
“It seems like you and Beta Hana hit it off well.”
I snort. “She walked in asking if there was anyone in the room who wasn’t intending to im her. I was
the only one that raised my hand. So, she spent the entire hour with me, ignoring everyone else.”
Elijah bursts outughing at that. “They are both something else, aren’t they?”
“Definitely worthy mates.”
“Have you changed your mind about iming Beta Hana?” He asks me. I know he’s hoping to not have
topete against me.
“Honestly, I considered it until I saw Jara again. She’s the one for me. I want her.”
Over dinner, I notice Elijah watching Layan. I can tell he wants her. I’m not sure what the draw is.
Maybe because he’s a Beta, he doesn’t feel the need for as powerful a mate as I do. The girl is sweet,
but not Luna material.
“Are you going to ask her to dance?”
“You know I am. Tonight may be my only night. Her lottery will be pulled tomorrow and if I’m not in it, I
won’t have another chance.”
After dinner, the tables are being moved aside and the live band they brought in gets set up while most
of us mill around, waiting for a chance to speak to one of the contestants. Because I’m watching Jara
so closely, I see when Typhon moves in on her.
I’m instantly moving toward her. She’s been very clear that she does not want him anywhere near her
and if I know Typhon, he’ll try to use his Alpha aura on her guards to get closer to her. Before I have a
chance to get to her, Seth is beside her.
“Typhon. I think my sister has been very clear about her feelings for you. Get the f*uc*k away from her.”
Seth says.
“Jara, don’t be like this. I just want to get to know you.”
“Funny, if you’d ever have allowed my sister to visit, or us to visit her, you wouldn’t need to get to know
me now, would you?”
I didn’t know he’d kept M away from them. He’s more of a prick than I realized. Who keeps someone
from their family? A murderer, I guess.
Just as he takes another step forward and Seth looks like he’s about to attack him, I step up on Jara’s
other side. “I believe everyone here is aware of Alpha Jara’s dislike of you Typhon. And if you need me
to remind you of Rule #2, it is the female’s discretion to spend time with us, not the other way around.”
His lip curls in a snarl. “You can’t ignore me forever, Jara.” He says as he lets his gaze drift slowly down
her body before turning and walking away.
I can feel the tension in her body rxing beside me.
“Are you okay, Jara?” Seth says, not looking at her. I can only imagine that he wants to pull her into a
hug, but it would make her look weak, and she can’t afford that in this environment. My respect for Seth
increases even more.
“Yes.” She says, just as quietly.
As the music starts to y, I have to smile. It’s perfect for an Argentinian Tango, and based on how
Jara is dressed, this is exactly the dance she was hoping for. I turn to stand in front of her, holding out
my hand.
“May I have this dance. Alpha Jara?”