The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 4

Jaxon

“Talk to me about the three guys I shouldn’t underestimate.”

She taps the paper. “Cillian, Enzo and Reid. Cillian is the youngest son of Alpha Asher and Luna Mignon. Both his sisters, Flavia and Gabriella, will be in the contest, but he’s the biggest threat. Not as high, in my opinion, as the others we’ve discussed, but you need to watch him.

She taps the next name. “Enzo is the son of Alpha Antonio and Luna Annabel. Alpha Antonio, as you know, is a true Alpha, so don’t underestimate Enzo, even though he’ll be under 17 when the competition begins.”

“What about his sisters?”

“Noelle and Valentina. Noelle is already 18 and Valentina is almost 18,1 think their focus will be elsewhere.” She says.

I

Lazio, will just be turning 16 and making the minimum cutoff. He’s the

didn’t make the list?”

an Alpha heir. So, I think she’ll drop out before the contest ends. Phoebe and Haley are strong, but not strong enough to be on this list, by my standards.” She adds

are some others, like Carter who may give you a good run, but they didn’t make

and supposed to be Jordan’s Beta when he comes of

not mad that Carter is competing to become an Alpha? I’m surprised Beta

of opportunity comes along once in a lifetime. I’m pretty sure that every Beta and Gamma heir and maybe even some of the current Betas and Gammas are ready to compete. I would never be angry at someone having their chance to become an Alpha. Ella will be competing too. I just

sister has put together for me. “You’re amazing, you know

cheerleader.” She says, wrapping her arms under mine

going to make

back, looking at me.

join my meetings with Jordan to strategize how to run longer, slow and steady wins the race, and in our discussions of the other competitors, going over their strengths and weaknesses. Jordan spars with us long after afternoon training ends each night, giving us pointers and making all three

to what used to be the Claiming territory. I’ve heard stories of the old claimings. It sounds archaic. I can’t imagine Jordan having to basically run for her life against 200 men like my mother did just so she could choose her own mate. And rather than me being able to find a she-wolf that I want to spend my life with who also wants to be with me, I would have had to hope that

makes it to the end, there will be stations where they will have water, food, bathrooms and areas to rest for those that need a quick catnap. I have no intention of stopping for more than

me. She got herself assigned to the first rest area and once everyone has passed it, she is free to come back and wait for me to cross the finish

to the back of the main packhouse. There is a second house down the road which I understand was built specifically for the year my mother, Aunt Hana and our Beta Layan were in the claiming. It was a dangerous

Jace, so we walk out together. When we get outside, we stay toward the back. Both of us are tall, so we can see over the heads of almost everyone. Plus, there is a stage set up with a microphone and six large speakers set around the area where we