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.

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

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 cousins from Alpha Quinton and Luna Sophia’s pack aren’t even eligible to compete for the Alpha spot, but I’d be shocked if they didn’t

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

pack being the fourth.” I say. It’s not necessarily needed, but in

if Taylor gets a pack and my alliance with her brother Griffin. As cousins, we’re already family. It’s not

the things he just said, the one sticking in my head is Jaxon being mated to

dawning light of morning, I see

do you say that?”

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

I mean she’s okay, I barely know her, but I just don’t like the idea of

18 and I saw them huddled together the night before the race. I think he and Griffin are the same age, so

better knowing

when we see Taylor standing on the side

“Taylor,

leaning over and sucking

your wolf, Tay.” He tells her but she shakes her head. “No, I can do this.” She

same no matter what form you cross the finish

neither of you have.” She says, stubbornly, looking at

pacer almost the entire time. He’s a great

on you two. We’re all so close I can taste it. I just need to catch my breath

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

and I can feel my anticipation of finally being so close to

are doing points for the race?”

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

the points are most valuable at the end when it decides your spot for

“Exactly. “ 

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