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.

to go with the family lines or choose from those competing in

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

as my Gamma, well now I’ve

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

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 cousins, we’re already family. It’s not really important, since the packs all get along now, but things change over time and setting up alliances now

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

I see a smile breaking across his

you say

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

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

night before the race. I think he and Griffin are the same age, so he’ll be 18 in the

a lot better knowing Noelle isn’t

just rounded a bend in the path when we see Taylor standing on the

“Taylor, are

over and

wolf, Tay.” He tells her but she shakes her

rules are the same no matter what form you

you have.” She

if it wasn’t for Jaxon. He’s been my pacer almost the entire time. He’s a

you two. We’re all so close I can taste it. I

turns to me, nodding. I nod back and he

I can feel my anticipation of finally being

they are doing

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

are most

“Exactly. “ 

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