Chapter 173
The iming by Cooper Book 3
Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Jara
I was so happy when everyone at Layan’s iming tried to calm her. What a difference fromst year.
Hana and I couldn’t have been less enthusiastic, but both McKenna and Katerina seem happy, excited
even. Layan proved once again how much inner strength she has by getting on that stage and
choosing her first two candidates. I don’t think anyone was surprised by her choices.
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Elijah caught up to us as we left and walked with us, well, mostly Layan back to our housing. Unlikest
year, anyone is wee in the house. However, everyone is also aware that there are three Alphas
and Lunas staying here with their new pups, so no one is stupid enough to try to force their way inside.
I go up to our room, finding my mother who has just put the twins down for a nap. I’m so lucky and
thankful to have her here.
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She puts her finger to her lips, telling us to be quiet. Mason and I walk over to the cribs, stroking our
babies’ cheeks and hair before leaving them to sleep.
When we step out of the room, my mom turns to us. “I heard from Seth. He and Hana will being
later this week. Hana is dying to get here to support Layan.” “Of course she is.” I say, knowing I’d be
the same.
“Let’s go grab some lunch while it’s quiet.” Mason says.
We all walk to the kitchen, and I hear some quiet chattinging from outside. I don’t think anything of
it until I hear Layan’s name. Being the protective woman that I am, especially with my friend, I walk to
the door and see Katerina and McKenna talking.
“It’s not personal, McKenna. He wants Layan. I think it’s sweet.”
“I just don’t understand. Why wouldn’t he at least put his name into our imings? I mean, he’s a Beta.”
McKenna says.
“What difference does that make?”
“I’m just saying, when I was in my previous pack, ranked members always wanted ranked members.”
I step outside, already done with this conversation. “Your previous pack, McKenna, also wanted to
enve you and your mother, force you into a mate bond and were willing to use both of you as
breeders. Your mother left when she started hearing that your father and Alpha were nning to share
her with the other ranked members in the pack. Is that the life you want for yourself? To be shared,
even if it’s against your will, with all the ranked members of your pack?” I ask her. She frowns. “No,
that’s not what I meant, Luna.”
“What did you mean then?” I ask defensively.
She shuffles ufortably. “It’s just, well, it seems like she’s trying to gain sympathy. She had the
attention of every male in the iming today. That doesn’t seem like something someone would do if
they are as shy as she ims to be.” She says. I’m pretty sure that my mouth hits the floor.
“You do know what happened to herst year, right?”
She has the audacity to roll her eyes. “Yes, I’ve heard that she was marked by an Alpha that was going
feral while he was in his wolf form. I get that it may be a bit traumatic, but really, it’s not like she was
forced to keep him as a mate. He was put down.”
I can feel my temper ring. Luckily, Katerina steps in. “Is that all you were told?” She asks her.
McKenna looks between me and Katerina. “What else is there?”
Katerina looks at me. “I’ll tell her Luna, but not here. I know Layan’s upstairs and could overhear us.”
She tells me.
McKenna is looking more and more confused. “That’s fine. But I will say this. Elijah loves Layan. Her
rank doesn’t matter to him.”
I turn, going back inside as Katerina pulls McKenna away, closer to the forest. I go into the kitchen and
Mason’s armse around me.
“What’s got you all riled up, my little Luna?” He asks in the mind link.
“McKenna.”
I feel his confusion. “What about her?”
I sigh. “To be fair, it doesn’t appear that anyone told her about what truly happened to Layan. I’m not
sure how that’s possible, but I think it is. She was basically saying that Layan was putting on a show
today to gain sympathy.”
He sucks in a breath before kissing my neck. “Easy Jara. I know how protective you are of her. If she
didn’t know, then you can’t put the me solely on her.” It’s not much longer before Katerina and a
sniffling McKennae back inside. Shees up to me.
“I’m sorry Luna, I didn’t know.”
I take her hands, pulling her aside and look at her. “There is a strong possibility that you will be a
Luna, McKenna. If that happens, you have to make sure that you have all of the facts before you judge
someone. No matter your role in a pack, others will look to you to lead them as one of the only females.
But if you happen to be imed by a ranked member, let this be a lesson to you about how to handle
yourself in the future. Get the facts before you pass judgement on someone.”
She nods, and I pull her into a hug. “Lunch is ready.” I tell her.
“I’m going to go to my room. Honestly, I feel a little sick after what Katerina told me.”
“Which is perhaps why your mother didn’t give you the entire story.” I say to her. She nods again. “I
definitely would havee here feeling differently. Even what you told me about the ranked members
sharing my mother and possibly me, she never told me that. I knew that pack felt off, but she protected
me from all of that. I just knew that things were bad between her and my father and that’s why we ran.”
“You’ll have to open your eyes and begin to see those types of things for yourself now, McKenna. You
need to see past what is right in front of you into what the underlying reasons might be behind a
person’s actions. There’s usually a reason why people act the way they do. It just may not be the
reason that they portray to those around them.”
“Thank you, Luna. I appreciate you giving me a chance to prove to you that I’m worthy of being a Luna.
If I’m imed by an Alpha, of course.”
“Let this be another lesson to you, McKenna. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
She nods and heads up to her room.
When I go back into the kitchen, I see most everyone is at the table eating. I grab some food and join
them.
“Better?” Mason mind links me.
“Better.” I reply.