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.

Beta? Are you planning to go with the family lines or

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

run. “Let’s say I took their son, Wade, as my Gamma, well now I’ve also created an alliance with

then you will have an alliance with three of the 20 packs, your pack being the fourth.” I say. It’s not necessarily needed, but

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

the one sticking in my head is

morning, I see a smile breaking

say that?”

uppity Alpha

don’t now why it bothers me to think of Jaxon with Noelle. I mean she’s okay, I barely

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

knowing Noelle isn’t an option

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

slows. “Taylor,

over and sucking

her but she shakes her head. “No, I can do this.” She

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

of you have.” She says, stubbornly,

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

so close I can taste

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

while and I can feel my

doing points for

finish gets 100 points, next group gets

points are most valuable at the end when it

“Exactly. “ 

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