The Claiming by Cooper Book 5
The Beta Trials by Cooper (Jace & Jordan)
Chapter 43 (Jordan)
After agreeing to let Luke and Brynn stay and continue to hunt the rogues from Balor’s Clan, I take Jace and Victor into the cave where Jace and I were staying.
“I’m sorry to drop the bomb on both of you like that. It wasn’t my intention, but I didn’t like Jusan talking to Jace that way,” I tell them.
“That’s okay. I’m just glad you considered my request,” Victor says.
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“I’m not saying that it’s a done deal. This is a trial period. I would completely understand if you decided to continue in the Beta Trials since I’m not guaranteeing you a Gamma spot long-term,” I tell him.
“No, I already told you that I’d rather be your Gamma than another Alpha’s Beta,” he says to me.
Jace reaches over and pulls him into a side hug. “You really are a great brother,” he says.
Victor snorts. “With Melinda as a sister, neither of us really had a choice,” he says.
I give them a moment, then return to the conversation. “We’re heading back today. I’d like for you to return soon as well,” I tell Victor.
“I can come back with Dr. Braxton. I’d like to talk to him about these viruses and make sure I have a clear understanding of what we’re up against and how it could impact the pack,” Victor says, his face completely serious.
Damn, I may have to keep Jace in the Beta position, or accept him as my mate, just so Victor can keep his job. He obviously takes it seriously. “Okay. I’ll make an announcement tonight when we return, but I want to have a quick ceremony now. And Jace, you know you’ll be doing double duty. I need you working with Elijah to learn the Beta role and teaching Victor the Gamma role.”
“No problem,” he says, and I know he means it. He and Victor both care about our pack and making sure that the pack is safe and protected. Honestly, if I ever do decide to take Jace as my mate, I may still keep him in the Beta role. I’m not sure I’ll ever trust someone as much as I trust him.
I don’t have a ceremonial knife, but Dr. Braxton has plenty of scalpels, so I used one of those, telling him he can use whatever blood is on the scalpel to test or study or whatever he does. Since we don’t have a cup, I say the words to make Jace my Beta, having him repeat them back and swear his all*egiance to me and the pack. Without the pack members drinking his blood, the position won’t be permanent, but he and Victor know that.
I tell Jace to tilt his head back, intending to let my blood drip into his m*outh. Instead, he pulls my h*and to his m*outh and keeping his eyes on me, he l*icks the blood off my palm, snapping the Beta connection into place and breaking his Gamma connection.
I know that I’m blushing a deep shade of red and once again, I’m thankful for my mother’s dark skin. Victor clears his t*hroat and Jace lifts his head, but takes his time releasing my h*and, sending warmth straight to my c*ore.
I pull my h*and away before I embarrass myself by scenting the air with my arousal and I turn to Victor. “Since your brother was rude, I’ll use the other h*and for you.”
Victor tries not to smirk, but he bumps Jace with his elbow as I begin. Jace, however, has a very smug look on his face.
Victor gets serious as he says the words that will make him my Gamma, even temporarily. He stands straight, pulling his shoulders back and when it’ s time, he tilts his head back and I drip my blood into his m*outh. When I feel the Gamma bond snap into place, I pull my h*and back. Jace grabs it and l*icks the wound, healing it.
“Okay, team. We have a lot of work ahead of us and the possibility of many transitions. I know of at least fifteen wolves that will take the opportunity to move into new packs with my family members. We have to make the announcement, and then prepare for the meeting.”
I look at Jace. “Did Councilman Jason say where it was going to take place?” I ask.
“No,” he says.
“I heard Alpha Griffin offered, but I don’t know it if was accepted,” Victor says. “That’s smart. We could actually have the event in between the three packs, ours, Griffin’s and Taylor’s. But we’ll see what the council wants to do.”
“I also heard that they’ve asked Caleb and Magdalena if they could have the Beta Trials in their pack. Of all of them, it’s the most prepared for a large group and because we’ve been there so much, we know the rogues haven’t been.”
“Well, aren’t you a wealth of information, bro,” Jace says.
“Don’t think I’ll be giving this position back easily. If you fail at being a Beta, I intend to be such a good Gamma that Alpha won’t have a choice but to move you into some other role…Lead Omega maybe,” he says smirking, and Jace reaches out to swat him.
He ducks out of the way, laughing. Victor and I are the same age. There’s a bit of an age difference between him and Jace, but it doesn’t seem to have affected their relationship. Of course, I’ ve realized recently how fun Jace can be, something that Victor seems to know from experience.
Victor hasn’t found his mate yet, but I hope he does soon. He’ll be a good mate and he deserves to be happy. I just hope that large age gaps between mates don’t run in his family.
Once we’re done, Jace and I pack up and go to say our goodbyes. I see Luke walking up to Victor, having felt his connection to him change with his position as Gamma. I watch as Brynn sheds tears, hugging her son and Luke hugs him t*ightly, telling him how proud he is of him.
“It’s just temporary,” Victor says, ducking his head, embarrassed by the interaction.
“That depends on you, little bro,” Jace says, slapping a h*and on his shoulder. “Just like my position as Beta depends on me,” he says, looking at me.
I narrow my eyes at him. I know what he’s trying to say. He’s telling me he wants to be my mate, not my Beta. I give him an arrogant look and watch as his smile grows wider.
I shake my head and walk to where Balor is hovering over Dr. Braxton and Kyra. More Kyra, but since she’s working with her father, and Balor is so large, his massive hulk is looming over both of them.
“Balor, I want to thank you for your hospitality, and I look forward to seeing you at the Beta Trials,” I tell him.
“Kyra says those are scheduled to start in about a month, but she and her father will be there early. Any chance me and mine can show up early as well?” he asks and Kyra smiles as she works.
Balor sees me looking at Kyra and looks at her, seeing her smile, too. “I don’t see why not. It would be smart, given your sense of smell, that we’d have you come in early to check the area for the rogue traffic. I’ll talk to the Council and if you agree, I can be your liaison.”
“You can liaise all you want, Little Alpha,” he says, and I watch Kyra’s l*ips press together. Maybe I shouldn’t, but she needs to prepare herself for what is to come, so I step up to her.
“Kyra, it’s very likely that during the Beta Trials there will be a lot of she- wolves flirting with your mate. He won’t be wearing your mark and he’ll be moving around the entire arena. I suggest you prepare yourself for that ahead of time and talk to Balor about how the two of you want to handle that. Because I’ll tell you now, if you act out, you will get booted from the grounds. There is too much at stake and the Council will not allow a jealous, teenage she-wolf to be causing problems. I know it’s h*ard, so take the next month, talk to your mate and figure it out. And I would also suggest that you begin to develop trust in your mate. Learn that no matter how much others flirt with him, or he flirts with them, he is yours. He’s been very clear about that, but he’s a flirty bear and you need to come to terms with it before the Beta Trials.”
She listens to what I’m saying, looking at Balor as I talk and then back to me, lowering her head. “Thank you, Alpha. I’ II talk to Balor and consider what you’ ve said.”
“Good, now come give me a hug.” When she does, I hug her t*ight. “I’ll see you soon,” I say, looking up at Dr. Braxton and Balor. “All of you.”
Jace and I head back to the car. As soon as we get in the car, he takes my h*and.
We aren’t far down the road before I pull my h*and out of his and reach over, rubbing my h*and on his t*high. I smile as I see his p*ants go t*ight and he shifts around.
“Need some help with that, Jace?” I ask, stroking my h*and over his h*ard length.
“Jordan, what are you doing?” he asks, his voice deep.
I unbuckle my seatbelt before unbuckling his. I unb*utton and unzip his p*ants, pulling his boxers down and letting his length free. I lean over, k*issing his n*eck, loving that he lifts his chin giving me access.
“I’m hungry Jace, and I’m going to take my fill of you while you drive us home,” I say, and he growls deep in his c*hest. I lean over him, stroking him while he pulls his p*ants lower to make room for me. Then I take my time, l*icking and s*ucking him until I know he can’t take anymore and I finally take him deep in my t*hroat, letting him find his release. His h*and grips my hair t*ightly as I l*ick his delicious t*aste of honey roasted almonds until he’s clean. Then I sit back, wiping the corner of my m*outh with a thumb and l*icking it clean while Jace watches me.
“You are so f*ucking s*exy,” he says, and I smile, holding the steering wheel while he pulls his p*ants back on. Then he grabs my hair, turning my head so he can see the road and k*iss me at the same time.
The rest of the drive we spend hours talking about nothing and everything while Jace periodically pulls my h*and to his l*ips k*issing it as I lay my head on his shoulder.
I’m sadder than I would have expected when we pull into our pack lands returning home.
**Hi everyone. Just a quick note to let you know that I’m going on vacation so this and all of my in-progress books will be slow to update for the next 7-10 days. Thank you for your patience and for reading.