Chapter 187
The iming by Cooper Book 3
Layan’s Return by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Davis
I’ve been so worried about McKenna since she entered the territory. She seemed so carefree, so
happy at the idea of being caught by her mate. I’m not sure what changed, but whatever it was, it
wasn’t for the better.
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When the gun went off announcing the beginning of the hunt, we all ran toward the cave. I have to
admit, Jonas and Jared have a considerable advantage over me and Quinton. Katerina ran us ragged
in her hunt. We all searched, nearly non-stop for her. With barely any sleep, one day of rest wasn’t
enough. I had nned to sleep in my bed one more night until I heard McKenna’s heart- wrenching
howl. I knew then that it didn’t matter how tired I was, she needed me, an Alpha, and possibly her
future mate. And I wasn’t going to let her down.
As I run toward the cave, the Alphas and Jared pull ahead of the others, being faster and stronger by
nature. However, Jonas and Jared pull ahead of both me and Quinton. At first, I thought they were
working together, something that I know Mason and Elijah didst year in Jara’s im. But as I watch, I
realize they are both here for themselves. They both want a mate and since they weren’t invited to
Layan’s im, this is their one and only chance this year.
When we get to theke, I smell a trail moving away from the cave. While Jonas and Jared begin
racing up the cliff to the cave, I turn, heading left, deeper into the territory as I follow McKenna’s scent. I
haven’t gotten far when the howl of the hunt goes up behind me. Someone else has decided that this
trail is the one to follow and their howl will only bring others.
I begin running faster, wanting to catch her before anyone else does. Her trail is erratic, running in
different directions, brushing against bushes and around trees before moving off again. I can’t tell if
she’s running scared or if she’s actually trying to throw us off her trail. Either way, it’s working. I can tell
the wolves behind me are getting confused with her scent trail moving in different directions and rarely
moving in straight lines which is more typical for an animal being hunted.
Quinton is close by, having followed the same trail that I did. I’m not paying attention to my
surroundings, simply following the scent when I realize, I’m almost back to theke. She doubled back
and now, she’s crisscrossing or scent lines. This is definitely intentional.
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I hunt without sess the rest of the day. Periodically, I hear the howls of the hunt as someone thinks
they’ve found her. I always listen, but I don’t believe it. I’ve found several hiding spots with her scent,
but she’s not there. She’s throwing us off, pulling the same stunts that Jara did when she was in the
territory.
As night begins to settle, I follow a trail back to theke. I decide to head up to the cave, just to see
what she may have left as clues there.
As I climb, I realize that never before has a male been in more than one im each year. With the
lottery, it was highly unlikely that you’d get pulled for one im, much less more than one. The only
possibility of that wasst year and three years ago when Jara and her sister were in the iming and
every eligible male was able to join in the hunt. Last year, however, there were days between the
ims. After each im, they would clean the territory because of the ughter that took ce.
I wasn’t picked in the lotteryst year, so I was only in Jara’s hunt. And now, I know why it’s not a great
idea to be in more than one. I’m exhausted. And if I don’t im McKenna, I’ll be going up against a very
well- rested Elijah in Layan’s im. There’s little chance that I will be able to defeat him in my current
condition and that doesn’t take into consideration how I’ll be at the end of this hunt.
When I get to the cave, I see someone has lit a fire. There are a couple of omegas loitering around,
probably hoping to see something from up here. I walk in and look around.
I go to the wall of Lunas. That’s what we’ve all started to call it. I see the addition of McKenna’s line. I’m
not surprised that she’ writes about being alone. Wolves are not solitary creatures. We don’t like being
alone. It’s why we live in packs. I knowst night was hard on her, but her words make me feel that
maybe our howls to herst night helped her get through her loneliness.
I find a quiet spot, and lie down, closing my eyes and listening to the sounds of the night and the
territory. I can hear the hunt continuing for those that are still fresh. I would guess that somewhere,
Quinton is finding his own ce to rest as he too as up with all of usst night, keeping McKenna
company and letting her know she isn’t alone.
The howl of the hunt goes up all through the night. Each time it does, I listen, wondering if they’ve really
caught her trail or if she’s managed to double back on them again.
I have a fitful night’s sleep, but I imagine that McKenna’s isn’t any better. She, unlike me, can’t even
rest unless she ns on getting imed.
The next morning, I get up and shift, catching a couple of rabbits to before shifting back and beginning
my hunt again. With only 50 of us in the territory, we’re not on top of each other. It helps to be able to
search without the scent trails getting overwhelmed by the scents of males traipsing through the forest.
I spend the rest of the day searching for McKenna. Howls continue to go up periodically, but none are
from Alphas, so I listen, but don’t expect that McKenna will be found.
I hunt all day and into the night, finding scent trails, following them, until I no longer can tell the direction
she was going. Some trails smell more fresh than others while some start fresh but end up smelling
older.
It’s early in the morning and I’ve just caught another scent trail when I hear the howl of the hunt go up.
This time, I know it’s an Alpha, which means, someone has found her.
Almost immediately, I hear a second howl. Someone else, possibly Jared, but maybe Quinton has
caught her scent as well and is on the hunt.
I begin to quickly move in the direction of the howls, listening to the crashing sounds of the forest. If I’m
right, McKenna is running scared. Someone has flushed her out of her hiding spot or wherever she was
and she’s running, running away from them straight toward me.
I slow down, listening, trying to figure out what direction she’s going in. I know from her scent trails that
she is erratic in her running patterns, so I wait, and I listen.
When I finally realize where she is and the direction she’s running, I take off. It takes everything in me
not to howl. I know if I do, I’ll alert her to my presence, and she’ll dart off into another direction. So, I
keep my lips firmly closed as I run.
When I get close enough that I can hear her choppy breathing, I move to put myself directly in her path.
I hear a slight whimper from her just before I see her. She’s running but she’s looking behind her. I can
hear the crashing of the forest bushes and low hanging branches as the wolvese racing after her.
I set my feet firmly on the ground. She turns, just in time to see me before she runs into me full force.
She screams, startled by my presence.
“Gotcha!” I say as my arms go around her. From the corner of my eye, I see Jonas, Quinton and Jared
come rushing up behind her from different directions. I don’t waste a moment. I pull her head to the
side and sink my teeth into her marking spot. Her hands grip me for a moment before my venom floods
her system knocking her out.
I hold her, my teeth in her neck as her body copses. I watch as the others get closer from over her
shoulder. I growl at them, letting them know that she’s mine. All three of them hold their hands up in
surrender before bending over and gasping for air.
I pull my teeth from her neck and scoop her into my arms.
“Damn, I thought I had her.” Jonas says.
Jared looks at him. “So did I.”
Quinton just shakes his head before turning toward the entrance and beginning the long walk back.
I raise my head to the sky and howl my dominance over my mate and these other wolves that thought
they could im what is mine.