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.

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

there that would be really great at it. Not only that, if I take a Beta and Gamma from another family, I’ve just strengthened my alliances 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 alliance

I took their son, Wade, as my Gamma, well now I’ve also created an alliance with your cousin Nathaniel when he takes over

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

to Noelle, Alpha Antonio and Luna Annabel’s oldest daughter. Now, I’m also allied with her brother, Giovanni. So, I’d be allied to a quarter of the packs. And that doesn’t include if Taylor gets a pack and my alliance with her brother Griffin. As

head is Jaxon being mated to Noelle.

the dawning light of morning, I see a smile breaking

say that?”

that uppity Alpha

don’t now why it bothers me to think of Jaxon with Noelle. I mean she’s okay, I barely know her, but I just don’t like the idea of

I’m pretty sure that she’s mated to Alpha Paolo anyway. He’s nearly 18 and I saw them huddled together the night before the race. I think he and Griffin are the same age, so he’ll be 18 in the next couple of months.

a lot better knowing Noelle

just rounded a bend in the path when we see

“Taylor,

says, leaning over and sucking in

tells her but she shakes her head. “No,

same no matter what form you cross the

of you have.” She

He’s been my pacer almost the entire time.

can taste it. I just need to catch my breath and then you’ll

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

feel my anticipation of finally being so close to the

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

in groups of ten. Top ten group to finish gets 100 points, next group gets 90 and

coming in this early has it’s benefit?” I ask, knowing that the points are most valuable at the end when

“Exactly. “ 

actually see the finish line ahead of us. I can’t believe we’re