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

your 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

my Gamma, well now

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

packs. And that doesn’t include if Taylor gets a pack and

in my head is Jaxon being mated to Noelle. “She’s

light of morning, I see a smile breaking across

you say

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

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 him with

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. If she makes it to the top 100, I’m guessing

knowing Noelle isn’t an option for

just rounded a bend in the path when we see

“Taylor,

She says, leaning over and sucking

but she

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

haven’t shifted, neither of you have.” She says, stubbornly, looking at

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

taste it. I just need

back and he picks up our

quiet for a while and I can feel my anticipation of finally

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

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

the points are most valuable at the end when it

“Exactly. “ 

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