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.

‘when’, “how will you choose your Beta? Are you planning to go with

Beta and Gamma, but there are also many out 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 with Alejandro. And your

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

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 in wolf packs, it’s always good to have allies and it’s actually a

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

the one sticking in my head is Jaxon being mated to Noelle.

morning, I see

you say

“She’s that uppity Alpha female type you spoke

bothers me to think of Jaxon with Noelle. I mean she’s okay, I barely know

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

feel a lot better knowing Noelle isn’t an option

a bend in the path when we see

slows. “Taylor, are you

says, leaning over

but she shakes

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

have.” She

behind if it wasn’t for Jaxon. He’s been my pacer almost the

taste it. I just

turns to me, nodding. I nod back and he

I can feel my anticipation of finally

doing

points in groups of ten. Top ten group to finish gets 100 points, next group gets 90 and so on until the last group gets

points are most

“Exactly. “ 

sun has come up enough that I can actually see the finish line ahead of us.