Chapter 28
The iming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Jara
After sending Layan into the iming territory, I felt numb. This whole process needs to change. She’s
terrified and there’s nothing I, or anyone can do for her. Well, there is, but just not today. Not in time to
help her.
I decide to make a more concerted effort to get to know the males that will be in my iming. If I have
to be imed by one of them, I need to know which ones I’m willing to have im me. Typhon is
definitely out. Mason is definitely in. Other than that, 1 really haven’t given too much consideration to
the others in my iming.
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The rest of the day is one social gathering after another. It’s exhausting, but I put some effort into
getting to know the males that will be in my iming. At the end of the day, I have probably eight males
I’d be okay iming me other than Mason. None of them are Alphas. The only other Alpha I liked is
now in Annabel’s iming, Alpha Antonio. The other ones in my iming are all arrogant and not
worthy of their title.
At the end of the day, I’m exhausted, but I want to spend my usual time with Mason. There’s something
about him that rejuvenates me. Talking with him is easy and I can rx and be myself without having to
worry that he’ll think I’m trying to get him to im me.
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He’s very clear on my stance that I don’t want to be imed. Just like I’m clear on his that he has every
intention of iming me.
When he meets me, he walks up, tipping my chin up so he can look into my eyes. “You look exhausted.
How are you holding up?”
I can’t help but smile. This is why I like spending time with him. He sees more than the others. He sees
me, not just a female to im.
“I am exhausted, but the day is done.”
“Tomorrow will be another day?”
“Yeah, another day, just like today.” I snort.
We turn and start heading toward my housing. “I was wondering. I thought I’d see Beta Asher and
Mignon this morning when Layan went into the territory. And then I thought we might see them at
dinner tonight, but they never showed up.” He asks me.
“They left first thing this morning. Theypleted their bondst night and Beta Asher wanted to get
her to his pack where he felt it would be safer for her.”
“Makes sense. I’d want my mate away from this craziness too.” Mason says.
“I think they’ll do well together. He seems to really care about her.”
“That was my take too.” He says.
We’re both quiet for a moment. I get the feeling he’s letting me lead the conversation tonight.
“I’m worried about Layan.” I say. It’s been eating at me all day. Her fear. She doesn’t want to be chased
all over a territory. She doesn’t want to have to outsmart and outfight the males in her im.
Did you give her the same advice you gave Mignon?” He asks me.
1 can’t help but smile at that. “Not exactly the same. They are different people, so Layan’s advice was
more for her.”
“Then, I would think she’d do well.”
“As long as her fear doesn’t get the better of her. We can all smell fear a mile away.”
Mason looks thoughtful for a moment. “She would do well to walk around most of the territory today,
leaving her fear scent in as many ces as possible before the others go in tomorrow.”
I can’t help but smile. That’s exactly what I told her to do. He sees my smile. “And a good Alpha would
have given her that advice so she would have a better chance of getting through her im.”
He pulls me to him. “And you’re a good Alpha, Jara.”
“So are you, Mason.” I think for a moment, not sure I want to tell him what I’ve been thinking about
today, but I decide to be honest.
“You know,” I say, running my fingers over the open V in his button-down shirt, “I decided today that I
would look at every candidate seriously and see which of them I was willing to have catch me in my
im.”
His warm hands are holding my hips, his thumbs rubbing over my hips bones like he does when we’re
standing this close together. There’s somethingforting but also exciting about the feeling.
“And what did you think when you finally decided to give everyone a chance to prove their worth to
you?”
“There are less than 10 individuals that I’d be willing to have catch me in that im.”
“Ten out of 200. That’s a shame.”
“Well, closer to 100. The ones in Layan’s, Annabel’s and Hana’s ims aren’t included in those
numbers. There’s at least one in that bunch that I’d add to my list if he doesn’t catch his mate.”
One of his hands slides behind my waist, pulling me closer, his face leaning into mine. “And did I make
the cut?”
Feeling bold, I reach up, running my fingers over his cheek and smiling at the way his eyes close, and
he leans into my touch. “Yes. You are the only Alpha to make the cut, at least so far.”
Without opening his eyes, he asks his next question. “Anyone else I know on your list?”
“A couple warriors from your pack, a couple from my pack. And while I appreciate the omegas and their
desire for a mate, my choice is to have a strong mate at my side.”
His eyes open and the smoky grey of his eyes meets the amber of mine. “I couldn’t agree with you
more.” He closes the distance between us, and his warm lips cover mine. His hand slides up into my
hair as his tongue slides across his lips requesting entrance.
1 open my mouth and his tongue slides inside, out tongues dancing together in a rhythm that is
bing natural for me. As with every time he kisses me, his taste, his scent overwhelms me and I
feel myself leaning into him, holding on to him desperately as he makes my body feel things that I am
unustomed to feeling.
The kiss goes on, longer than usual and I feel heat begin to pool in my core and a wetness form
between my legs. I feel an ufortable itch, something that needs friction to relieve the pressure. I
begin nibbing myself against Mason, trying to find a relief to this pressure, to this itchy feeling that’s
only increasing as we kiss.
Mason pulls away, both of us breathless. “We should stop, Jara.” He says, panting as he puts his
forehead against mine. His eyes are closed as he tries to regain hisposure.
“I….I don’t want to.”
He moans, before taking my mouth in a fiery kiss. This is different from the other kisses. This is
dominant, possessive and it mes the fire growing deep in my core. I moan against his mouth, feeling
something hard and long against my stomach. I wrap my arms around him, pulling him to me, trying to
get closer to him, wanting more.
1 vaguely hear a throat clearing from somewhere nearby. Mason rips his mouth away from mine,
turning to growl at the intrusion.
“Alpha Jara is scenting the air. It’s not safe for her to be outside the confines of the females’ housing.”
Luke says.
I watch Mason’s stormy eyes clear, as realityes back to him. He shakes his head before turning
back to me. “Your guard is right. It wasn’t my intention to get so carried away. I don’t want to put you at
risk, and I don’t want to have to kill any more males that catch the scent of your arousal ande
looking for you.”
I can only nod at him. I feel dazed, like I’m in a fog and…iplete. I felt like we were moving to
something that would alleviate this ache in my core but now I’m left feeling unfulfilled.
Alpha Mason smiles at me. “When I catch you, beautiful, we’ll finish this, and you won’t have this pretty
little pout on your face when I’m done with you.”
He reaches down for one more quick, scorching kiss before turning me toward my housing. “Go, before
I change my mind and take you right here.”
I walk unsteadily toward the gates, stepping inside and walking to the front of the house. When I turn,
he’s there, watching me. He raises his hand in farewell before turning, shifting on the spot and racing
off into the forest.