The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 2

Evangeline

We’re all in the back of our packhouse while my father and my younger brother, Alejandro, stand on the stage to discuss the upcoming contest where I will finally be able to claim my own pack. A pack that I have to fight for because my father felt that my younger brother could run this pack better. So, there they are, on the stage, making the announcement.

“The contest will begin in three months’ time.” My father says and instantly, my sister, Magdalena’s hand goes up.

“Yes, Magdalena.” My father says and I know his patience with us is already running thin, but I don’t care. Both Maggie and I are older than Al. We should have had the opportunity to be the heir to this pack. Just because I don’t have the right package hanging between my legs doesn’t make me any less capable of being able to lead a pack.

“Why is the contest starting in three months? Hasn’t it already taken years to prepare for?” She asks. Good question.

“That is correct. However, the contest will be open to everyone over the age of 16. The Council and the current Alphas felt that it was only fair to give anyone that is not currently training at a warrior level time to get stronger in order to compete.”

My hand shoots up in the air. I’ m being petty, I know, but I don’ t care. I see my father sigh.

“Yes, Evangeline?”

“So, she-wolves can enter the contest? We are eligible to become Alphas? Is that correct?”

My father grits his teeth. “Yes, that is correct.”

I give him my best fake smile. “Good to know.”

I see my mother giving Maggie and I ‘the look’. Both of us ignore her.

I feel a strong arm go around my shoulder and look up to see another around Maggie’s. “Easy my sisters. Don’t keep challenging our father in front of the pack. Mother will kick both of you’re a*s*ses and you know it.”

“Don’t care.” I say.

would be worth it.”

easy-going brother. I adore him. While my relationship with Alejandro has always been strained because I felt I deserved what he was being given, I have no such animosity toward Lazio. He will also be in the contest, fighting to claim a pack of his own. If I don’t win,

a Beta female. Her personality is much more like my father’s, relaxed and easygoing. Maggie and I

to happen to Alpha Quinton’s children?” I ask. His children

are planning to open up the positions of Beta.

My father asks and we all refocus on him. My brother raises his hand. My father doesn’t look nearly as put upon when he nods at my brother

to those of us who are under 18, what happens if we win? Usually, Alphas aren’t eligible to

Another good question.

I’m sure it would be acceptable for any

that, no one has any questions, so my father

endurance, strength, agility, sensory acknowledgement and finally logical reasoning. Each of these events will be elimination rounds with only those with the highest scores moving into the next round. After each elimination round, we will be giving the contestants a break, a chance to rest and an opportunity to prepare for the next round of eliminations. So, that

the crowd of pack members who are here hoping for their

next round. You have three months to prepare for this challenge. The Council will be judging the contest and we have chosen the area that will be used for the run. Since it is close to the area that was once used for the claiming, that will be the area the contest will start and where future events will

hand goes

considered as pack lands

pack lands, that one will be in the best shape

goes up. My father nods

decides which lands go to which of the

contest. The person with the highest score will chose their territory first and so on until all

more questions

paths quite a bit over the next

Maggie

it up around our school schedules.” He says to us, smiling. “We’d better plan to give up our weekends though. One hundred miles can’t be run in one day. We’ll need to try to run it as fast as possible, but I think

“Damn.” Maggie says.

and then on Mondays, we take the day off

to the same school, they will know what is going on, so hopefully they will allow us to get our schedules early so we can

“Sounds like a plan.”

and I start to walk into the packhouse, our mother