Chapter 53


    The iming by Cooper (Jara & Mason)


    Mason


    I help Elder Jason prepare the funerals for the ten imants.


    I don’t know if it was Jara’smand or if the others were just lucky, but the ones that were alive when


    the medics got here all survived their surgeries. Jara has spent the day at the hospital ensuring the


    survivors know she’s there and helping them as best she can.


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    “This is exactly what I was talking about the other day, Elder Jason. Ten senseless deaths and for


    what?” I say as we build the ten pyres. I pause, wiping the sweat off my face. I’m not the only one out


    here. Many others are here. Several packs lost pack members this morning. Not surprisingly. Typhon


    isn’t here. I wonder if he’ll even show up tonight for the services.


    “This isn’t survival of the fittest.” I say, continuing my train of thought as we work. “If it was, we wouldn’t


    be pitting omegas against ranked members, warriors against Alphas. It’s unfair to the weaker members


    of the packs. How is it fair to these men, who were here for a good reason, just wanting to find their


    mate? They didn’t even stand a chance.”


    “I’m aware, Alpha, but my hands are tied. At least this year. I just have to hope that enough of you


    survive and change can be made before next year’s iming.”


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    “Oh, I n to not only survive, but to walk out of the iming territory with my mate in my arms and my


    mark on her neck. When I do, you can expect that together, we’ll bring about that change.”


    Elder Jason looks at the others around us who I know are listening. I don’t care. I don’t care if every


    one of them thinks they will im Jara.


    They won’t. I won’t allow it. She’s mine.


    “Bold words, Alpha.”


    “What kind of Alpha would I be if I wasn’t bold, Elder.”


    We finish building the pyres andy the dead, now wrapped in their shroud, on them. Throughout out


    the day we’ve heard more soundsing from the iming territory. I can only hope that Elijah and my


    other pack mates are safe. I haven’t felt any of their tethers snap, but it hasn’t even been 12 hours and


    it’s already a blood bath.


    When we’re done, I head inside and shower, changing into something more somber. I’ve made sure


    that Jara was sent food today, but I haven’t eaten more than a quick sandwich that I grabbed off a tray


    and ate on my way outside. I’m famished.


    When I get downstairs, I get some food before heading out. When I get there, I see that


    Jara is already there. She must have found a ce to shower, as she isn’t covered in blood, but she’s


    wearing the clothes T brought her earlier. They are too big on her, the shirt falling to her mid-thigh, the


    sweatpants look rolled up around the waist and the ankles but she’s still having to hold them up. I can


    tell from here that she doesn’t care. She’ s still in mourning for the ones we lost today, angry for the


    ones in the hospital.


    I move to stand beside Jara, hoping she’ll let me give her support, hoping she’ll lean on me. She’s a


    strong woman, but she’s hurting. It takes everything in me to not pull her into my chest and wrap my


    arms around her. Instead, I brush my fingers against hers.


    She immediately takes my hand, gripping it as if I’m her lifeline.


    Most of the males from Jara’s iming are here, Typhon the notable exception. I think one of the dead


    pack members is his and he can’t even be bothered to be here to send him off properly.


    Elder Jason gets up on the stage in front of the pyres. He announces the names of those that died this


    morning and the packs that they are from.


    When he’s done, he asks if anyone would like to say anything. A couple people get up and speak about


    their friends or pack mates. When it’s done, Elder Jason lights the pyres, one after another.


    As we watch the fires take hold, Jara lifts her head to the sky and howls a sad and mournful howl. The


    sound of it slices through me, making my heart ache. Many males here lift their heads and answer her


    howl. From inside the iming territory, several others answer as well.


    We wait until the fires die down, watching the fiery ashes drift into the night sky. The mournful howls of


    those inside the iming territory continue. It’s almost as if they have stopped fighting for a little while


    to give homage to their dead pack mates. I hope that’s what it is. I hope that this isn’t because arge


    number of the imants were k*illed today.


    “I can hear Seth.” Jara says, leaning against me.


    I wrap my arm around her. “Were any of them from your pack?” I ask. I know one of the ones in the


    hospital is from Seth’s pack, Jara had recognized him.


    “No, thankfully. But he still mourns their death, just as you and I do.”


    “Do you want me to walk you back?” I ask her as the others move to go back inside.


    She doesn’t say anything for a moment. Then she turns to me, and I can see the tears in her eyes. “I’m


    afraid, Mason. What if this is you? I don’t know how…” Her voice breaks and I pull her against me.


    “Shhh. I told you, I’m not nning on dying.” I don’t want her to know that Typhon has given an Alpha


    command to his pack to kill me.


    “But I don’t want to make it worse for you, Mason. I don’t want everyone to turn against you. You can’t


    fight them all.”


    “Well, I know my pack and Seth’s won’t turn on me. What’ s left of Alpha Antonio’s pack won’t either.


    There are a couple others.”


    She scoffs. “That’s not even half of the imants, Mason.”


    I take her face in my hands. “Do you trust me, Jara.”


    “Of course, Mason.”


    “Then trust me that I won’t let anyone keep me from you. If you want, you can give me your Alpha


    command to not die. Apparently, it works really well.”


    I smile when she chuckles.


    But that doesn’t stop the tear that leaks out of her eye and slides down her face before dripping onto


    my hand. I reach over and kiss the side of her eye where the tear fell. “Enough of that. I will okay. I’ m a


    lot stronger than most of the Alphas here. Most aren’t true Alphas, you know that. Antonio is gone, Seth


    isn’t in your iming, I think there are only two others.”


    She nods, putting her forehead against my chest. “Swear to me that you won’t die, Mason.”


    I kiss the top of her head. “I swear.” We stand there for a moment. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”


    “It’s so lonely there now. So quiet. The guards are fine, but they have a job to do.”


    “Maybe the guards will let me walk you inside.” I say, looking at Luke, her guard.


    “I’ll need to get permission.” He says.


    “While Luke gets permission from Elder Jason, do you mind if we go check on the guys in the


    hospital?”


    “I think that’s a great idea.” We turn and head to the hospital.