Chapter 278
The iming by Cooper Book 4
The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)
Chapter 05 (Jace)
I hate leaving Jordan, not only because I know that Nn is now staying in our packhouse, but also
because I know she’s still unsure of my feelings for Taylor. I could tell she didn’t want to send me, but
with Carter out of the picture, at least for now, it was either her or me, and she needs to be here since
she just got back.
I race to Taylor’s new packnds, feeling the change when I cross our borders and begin running in
unchartered territory.
I run until I smell her and then I howl, letting her know that I’ming to see her. She may not know
that she’s at risk, but it’s better to announce myself.
When I find her, she’s on the roof of a house, hammering and fixing a hole, I guess. She stands, wiping
her hands and smiling before leaping off the roof andnding neatly on her feet.
As I get close to her, I shift,ing to a stop in front of her.
“Jace, what an unexpected surprise,” she says, her eyes taking in my naked body. It’s unexpected and
now that I’ve told Jordan that I want her, it’s unwanted. Unfortunately, the head below my waist doesn’t
agree with the one above it and he begins to respond to her admiring look.
“Do you have a pair of shorts, Taylor?” I ask.
“Not that will fit you. Besides, you don’t need to put clothes on for my benefit,” she says, taking a step
toward me. “Taylor, I have something important to talk with you about.”
She stops, looking at me. “I hope it’s to tell me that you’ve reconsidered my offer.”
Her offer of taking each other as chosen mates.
“I’ve told you I’m trying to make things work with Jordan, Tay. And what I have to talk about is more
important than mate bonds, chosen or otherwise.”
She raises an eyebrow at that before turning. “Come on, then. I don’t have a lot yet, but I have tea and
coffee, and I have a towel if you’re sure you want to cover up,” she says, smirking at me over her
shoulder.
“I’m sure,” I tell her.
Once we get settled, I fill her in on the rogue situation and on her risk of being out here alone, not
knowing which Alpha female the rogues were talking about.
“You need to take extra precautions, Taylor. You can’t be out here on your own,” I tell her.
“What do you propose I do, Jace? My sisters have both found their mates, Griffin is running our family’s
pack and Caleb is doing exactly what I’m doing, building his own. I haven’t found my mate, we haven’t
had the Beta Trials yet, so who do you suggest I havee out here to help me, to keep me safe? It’s
just me, Jace. There isn’t anyone else, unless you decide to give up on Jordan and ept me.”
“I can’t do that, Taylor. I’ll help you in any way I can, but we don’t know if she’ s the target any more
than we know if you’re the target. What about your parents? Alpha Seth…”
“They’re splitting up their time, Jace. They have five children. Three are starting their own packs, Griffin
is a new Alpha and one of my sisters is a new Luna to an existing pack. It’s a lot of change all at once
for them. I can’t ask them toe babysit me because I’m afraid of an encroaching Alpha. Besides,
what sort of Alpha would I be if I walked away from my packnds because of a threat of another
Alpha? I wouldn’t be worth the title I just earned, and you know it.”
I do know it.
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“At least, stay with your brother ore stay with Jordan until the council
convenes. This is more than just an Alpha threatening you, Taylor. If they get to you and you’re out
here alone and this rogue forcibly marks you….I wouldn’t want that to happen to you, Taylor. We may
not be together anymore, but I will always care about you.”
She snorts derisively. “As a sister? As a friend?”
“Taylor…”
I’m saved from having to answer her by another howl. I’m up and ready to fight, but Taylor grabs my
arm. “It’s Griffin.”
I nod. “Jordan was calling him. Don’t be surprised if your father shows up. Luna Jara was calling him as
well as the council.”
She sighs. “Dammit, there’s no way they will let me stay out here alone.”
“You shouldn’t anyway, Taylor. Don’t risk it. At least not until we talk to the council and find out what
they want to do. Maybe they will establish guards, or patrols, or who knows what,” I say, as Griffin and
another wolf I identify as Beta Elijah rush up to where we have stepped outside the small house that
Taylor has made into her home.
Griffin shifts and quicklyes over to Taylor, grabbing her arms and looking her over as if expecting
to find a forced mate mark on her already.
I nod at Elijah as he shifts.
“Jace, I’m surprised my son isn’t here,” he says.
“Yeah, we can talk about thatter,” I tell him and Elijah’s focus narrows on me a moment before he
nods. “Taylor, I’m sending over patrols. I know you won’t want toe back to my pack, although I
wish you would, so I’m sending patrols over here.”
“I think Jordan was nning to do the same,” I tell him.
“We talked and have it worked out. We’ II alternate so you’re never alone, Taylor,” Griffin says seriously.
I watch as Taylor gets ready to make some sarcasticment about not needing help when we hear
another howling from the opposite direction.
Taylor’s head falls forward and her hands go to her hips. Griffin pulls her into a hug. “You had to know
Dad wouldn’t allow you to be out here alone with the threat of some rogue Alpha male threatening to
mark you.”
“I know,” she says, just as Alpha Seth’s wolfes racing up to us. He shifts faster than I would have
expected and then he pulls Taylor into his arms. “Are you okay? Have you smelled anything off?”
Without giving her a chance to answer, he looks at Griffin. “Are you sending patrols over to guard your
sister?”
“DAD!” Taylor says, and everyone stops at the Alphamand in her voice. I look down and smile.
Taylor truly was always meant to be an Alpha.
“I am Alpha here. It may not look like much, but you will not disrespect me by talking to Griffin as if I am
the sister that needs to be protected, not as the Alpha of this packnd.”
Alpha Seth looks at his daughter for a long moment. “You’re right, of course. My apologies, Alpha. But
you are still my daughter, I love you, and I will not allow anyone to forcibly mark you or hurt you,” he
says to her.
I watch as Taylor softens. She has always been a daddy’s girl. “Thanks Dad.”
“Now, what’s the n?”
Taylor turns to head back inside her little hut of a house.
“I’m going to head back to my pack. Alpha Mason and Luna Jara will being back soon and I’m
guessing that the Council will be making ns toe to one of our packs to meet with all the Alphas,”
I say.
“I’lle with you,” Elijah says. “We’ll see you soon. Thank you, Jace, foring to warn my
daughter,” Alpha Seth says.
“Of course,” I say, nodding at Taylor before turning away.
“Tell me why it’s you and not my son who is here,” Beta Elijah says quietly when we’re far enough away
from the others.
I look at him, not sure if I should say anything, but he’s the Beta of our pack and his son’s decision
impacts the entire pack.
“Carter is considering joining The Beta Trials,” I say.
“Son of a bitch,” he says before shifting and racing toward our packnds.