Chapter 175


    The iming by Cooper Book 3


    Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)


    McKenna


    I had gone to my room after speaking to Luna Jara about Layan. I can’t believe my mother left me in


    the dark about so many things. Important things. How am I supposed to be any sort of mate or Luna if I


    don’t know what’s going on? So, I had called my mother.


    Title of the document


    “Hey honey, how are you? How’s the iming going?” She had asked me.


    I was quiet for a moment thinking about what Katerina told me before tears had started falling again. I


    had forced myself to stop crying beforeing inside the house but when I heard my mother’s voice,


    they had started again.


    “McKenna? McKenna, baby, what happened?” My mother’s worried voice came through the line.


    “Why didn’t you tell me momma? Why didn’t you tell me about what really happened with Layan and


    what really was going on in our previous pack? Why did you hide that from me?”


    “Oh sweetheart. Who told you?”


    “It doesn’t matter. It should have been you that told me, especially about Layan. Mom, I thought she


    was acting to get attention. Acting! I thought her panic attacks were all a ploy to get more males


    interested in her. Mom….I feel like a fool.”


    “Oh, hun. I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, wanted to let you know before you left. But after we got here to


    Alpha Luke’s pack, you’ve been so happy. His pack is so much better than our other pack. The males


    here are better men. I didn’t want you to be scared going into your iming. I wanted you to be excited,


    to enjoy the thrill of the hunt the way it’s supposed to be.”


    “But mom, what if I went into this thinking everything would be great and something happened? I would


    have beenpletely unprepared. I need to rethink all of the men I’ve already put into my im.”


    “Sweetheart, no. You chose them for a reason. Follow your heart and your gut. Don’t let what has


    happened in the past effect your iming. I want you to enjoy yourself, have fun and find a mate that is


    perfect for you.”


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    “I thought I wanted an Alpha, but…. what if….” I can’t even finish. It was an Alpha that did those


    horrible things to Layan.


    “You listen to me, McKenna Allen. That man went feral. The Lunas have made sure that this event is


    much safer thanst year and probably any year since the iming process started. If you need to


    speak to those Alphas again to decide that your instinct is correct, do it. But don’t remove them


    because of your fear of what they might do. That’s not fair to them or you.


    “Is it true what they said about dad wanting to share you and possibly me with the ranked members in


    the pack?” I had asked quietly.


    She sighed heavily. “Yes. He was your father, I didn’t want you to know that he was thinking such


    disgusting things. I wouldn’t allow him or anyone to do that to you.”


    “That’s why we ran? Thank you, mom, for always looking out for me. I love you.”


    “I love you too, sweetheart. Do you need me toe there? I will if you need me.”


    “No, I think I’ll take your advice. I’ll speak to the Alphas.” I say, thinking of one in particr that I want to


    talk to.


    “Okay sweetheart. Call me any time.”


    I hadn’t chosen another person for my iming since that call. Today, I needed to speak to Alpha


    Davis.


    When I leave the stage after our morning meeting, seeing the disappointment in the eyes of many that


    have been spending time with me, I approach him.


    “Alpha Davis, may I speak with you?”


    “Of course, McKenna.” He says and we walk away from the others.


    “Is everything alright? I’ve been surprised you haven’t chosen anyone else for your iming in thest


    several days.”


    I look down, not sure how to ask what I want to ask.


    “Alpha Davis, I just recently found out about what truly happened to Layan. I didn’t know when I arrived


    here. I’ll admit, it has scared me.”


    “I think that’s understandable.”


    “You were the first person that I felt like I made a connection with. That first night, I had so much fun


    dancing with you. I felt carefree and rxed, and I had a really good time.”


    “I did as well.” I look up at him and see him watching me intently.


    “I also didn’t know why my mother ran from our previous pack. She didn’t tell me the entire story. I


    didn’t learn about that until I learned about Layan.”


    “And now, you’re afraid of having an Alpha im you?” He asks, guessing at my concern.


    I nod, not looking at him. I feel his finger tucking my hair behind my ear before moving to my chin and


    lifting my head to look at him.


    “I don’t know what I can say to ay your fears. What I would tell you is that I know all of the Alphas in


    this year’s iming very well. They are all great men and great Alphas. Any of them would make a


    good mate to you or the others in this year’s im. None of us even feel close to going feral. I know


    becausest year, I wasn’t sure I’d make it to this year. But here I am.”


    We look at each other for a moment. “Are you nning to remove me from your im, McKenna?” He


    asks me.


    “I don’t want to. I just…. now that I know things that I didn’t know before….”


    “Can I make a suggestion? Well, two really.”


    I look at him, wanting to hear what he has to say. I really did feel like we had a connection. I don’t want


    to think too much about that, in case he doesn’t im me, but I know I don’t want to lose the


    opportunity to be mated to this man.


    “First, get to know us. You still have time, and you have all the power here. Tell Councilman Phillip that


    you’d like some individual time with all of us. Get to know us more than you have. And, second, don’t


    change who you are. You’re like a breath of fresh air.”


    “Thank you. You should know… I thought Layan was faking how scared she was. I didn’t know what


    had happened to her, but that’s no excuse. Luna Jara told me that if I’m going to be a good Luna, that I


    need to make sure I have the full story before I make judgement on someone. I don’t know if I’ll ever be


    a Luna, but even if I’m not, I n to take her advice.”


    “It’s good advice and it says a lot about you, McKenna, that you’re willing to learn from your mistakes.”


    I’m terrified to ask the next question, but I know I need to. “Does me telling you that change how you


    feel about me? Do you want to exclude yourself from my im?” I ask him quietly.


    “No. I’m proud of you, for being smart enough to listen to what Luna Jara told you and strong enough to


    tell me, even though you are obviously concerned about my response.” His handes to my face,


    cupping my cheek.


    “Both of those are qualities that I would want in my Luna.” I feel the tightness around my chest release,


    and I smile for the first time in days.


    “Thank you, Alpha.” I say to him.


    “You kissed me. McKenna. You should call me Davis.”


    This time, I look up into his eyes. “Can I kiss you again, Davis?” I ask boldly, feeling so much better


    after having talked to him.


    He shakes his head, smiling. “No, because I’m going to kiss you this time. McKenna.”


    And oh man, does he ever.