The Claiming by Cooper

Jara

“This entire process is archaic and barbaric!” I say for the hundredth time.

“Sweetheart, we agree with you. But there’s nothing we can do. Your father and I have tried everything. After Mila….”

I sigh. I know my parents tried everything. After the death of my sister by her mate’s mistreatment, they tried to have me removed from the claiming pool. But the elders wouldn’t hear of it. They insisted that, as the last unmated Alpha female, I had to participate in the annual claiming.

“We won’t let what happened to Mila, happen to you, Jara.” Seth, my brother, says to me. He is going into the claiming this year as well. Since he is not eligible to hunt for me, he is guaranteed a spot for the Beta female that is in the running this year. He could choose to be in a claim for one of the omegas, but we all know he chose the Beta’s claiming.

Of all the years for me to turn 18, it had to be a year where there are more than double the normal contestants AND a Beta female as well as myself. Every unmated male in the country will be at this year’s claiming.

While all she-wolves are placed in the first claiming after they reach adulthood, males entering the annual claiming are generally between 18-25 years of age. After that, a male werewolf, especially an Alpha who hasn’t taken a mate, will go feral and have to be put down. However, any werewolf who has lost their mate, is also eligible to enter the claiming.

Because there are so few females, hundreds of males come to the

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claiming event every year. It is the only legal way to claim a mate. Any male, regardless of rank, that tries to claim a female outside of the claiming will be put to death or, if he marked the female, he will be imprisoned, and the female will be placed in the next year’s claiming. Since my claim will be open to everyone, it has the potential for over 200 savage wolves to try and hunt me down.

My claim will be open to any eligible male. And while they may try

me, Seth. Not every Alpha is like you. They don’t all want a mate to love and cherish, like I know you will. Some of them will only see me as a breeding machine and a way for them to look good

a way, Jara. I promise. My word as

nice sentiment and one I know he means, but it’s not possible. The werewolf laws in this

who and how many males will be entering my claim. This gives me a short amount of

that the envelope is larger than it has been for the last three years.

claiming pool. That means that I was right, every eligible male has entered

come to sit on either side of me as my father sits across,

hundred and thirty-six.” I suck in

Seth and three more, assuming Seth claims his mate, and that leaves me with two hundred and thirty-two. How many of those are Alphas?” I ask. This is already more than my sister

“Fifty-three.” My stomach clenches. Fifty-three? My only possible chance of getting out unclaimed

Fifty- three or fifty-two, it’s still too many for me to take on. I was hoping

to my mother, and he puts his head in his

says, looking up

and not be eligible as a claimant. I can’t do that to him. I’ll just have to be better

time to go in, Jara. I’ll do anything I can to help you get