The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 11 Evangeline

I’m exhausted and everything hurts, but I’m actually enjoying myself. Jaxon is funny, intelligent and he never breaks the pace. He sets it and sticks with it. He’s a great running partner. I had thought that I might need to shift into my wolf, but at this rate, I think I can do the entire run in my human form. I’d be willing to push it anyway, just to continue talking to Jaxon.

When we hit the last rest stop, I ask again what time it is. It feels like the night is only about halfway done when they tell me it’s 5am. I’ve been running 23 hours straight. Ten miles to go, three to four hours left, and I’ve done it. I’ve passed the first cut.

“Who’s ahead of us?” Jaxon asks as we pass through.

This time it’s Alpha Paolo, Alpha Asher and Luna Mignon’s oldest son who is stationed at the rest stop.

“Tobias is a few minutes ahead of you, and Taylor is only about a minute ahead of you. She’s out of steam. I was surprised she didn’t stop.”

“Not her style.” Jaxon says as we run through.

As we run back out into the darkness, I look at Jaxon. “Almost there “

“Almost! We can do this.”

“Definitely.” I say. 

“Okay, when you’re ready, it’s your turn to ask first.” He says to me.

I’d been thinking about it, so I’m ready. “If you win…”

“When I win.” He corrects me.

I stress the ‘when’, “how will you choose your Beta? Are you planning to go with the family lines or choose from those competing

with those packs. For me. I’ll already have an alliance with Jordan, then, let’s say your brother Lazio doesn’t win in this tournament. If he were to compete in the Beta trials and I chose him as my Beta, well, now I also have an

Gamma, well now I’ve also created an alliance with

of the 20 packs, your pack being the fourth.” I say. It’s not necessarily

if Taylor gets a pack and my alliance with her brother Griffin. As cousins, we’re already family. It’s

in my head is Jaxon being mated to Noelle. “She’s not your

of morning, I see a smile breaking across

do you say

bit. “She’s that uppity Alpha female type you spoke of

Noelle. I mean she’s okay, I barely know her, but I

Griffin are the same age, so he’ll be 18 in the next couple of months. If she makes it to the

knowing Noelle isn’t an

a bend in the path when we see Taylor standing on the side

slows. “Taylor,

She says, leaning over and sucking

her but she shakes

rules are the same no matter what form you cross the finish line.”

have.” She says, stubbornly, looking at

if it wasn’t for Jaxon. He’s been my pacer almost the entire time. He’s a great running partner.” I tell

taste it. I just need to catch

me, nodding. I nod back and he picks up our pace again, back

and I can feel my anticipation of finally being so

know how they are doing points for the race?” I ask

gets 100

I ask, knowing that the points are most valuable

“Exactly. “ 

enough that I can actually see the