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.”

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, I’ II be moving to

too young to enter the contest, but I doubt she cares. She’s perfectly happy being a Luna or even a Beta female. Her

anyone know what is going to happen to Alpha Quinton’s children?” I ask. His children

contest for the position of Alpha that they are planning to open up the positions of Beta. His sons will be eligible to participate in

the contest itself?” My father asks and we all refocus on him. My brother raises his hand. My father doesn’t look nearly

what happens if we win? Usually, Alphas

Another good question.

be acceptable for any winner to begin clearing out the areas of the pack lands and beginning to rebuild the packhouse

that, no one has any questions, so

contest will run over several months. It will incorporate several types of contests including 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

members who are here hoping for their chance to become an Alpha of

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

goes

that one of the ten areas being considered as pack lands

all the pack lands, that one will be in the best shape when it is claimed.” My father

My father nods

which lands go to which of

rankings that the final ten receive over the course of the contest. The person with the highest score will chose their territory first and so on until

few more questions before my father

be seeing you girls on the running paths quite a bit over the next few

Maggie and I

set 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 the fastest time I’m heard of is

“Damn.” Maggie says.

to train and then on Mondays, we take the day off and do our homework for

all of the kids go to the same school, they will know what is going on, so hopefully they will allow us to get our schedules early

“Sounds like a plan.”

I start to walk into the packhouse, our mother