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.

will you choose your Beta? Are you planning to go with the

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

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

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

mated to Noelle, Alpha Antonio 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,

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

the dawning light of morning, I see

say that?” He

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

of Jaxon with Noelle. I mean she’s okay, I barely know her, but I just don’t like the

sure that she’s mated to Alpha Paolo anyway. 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

feel a lot better knowing

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

slows. “Taylor, are you

says, leaning over and

her but she shakes her head. “No, I

are the same no matter what form you cross the finish

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

pacer almost the entire time. He’s a great

is. We’ve run together before. Go on you two. We’re all so close I can taste it. I just need to catch my breath and then you’ll

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

a while and I can feel my

they are doing points for the race?” I ask

to finish gets 100 points, next group

has it’s benefit?” I ask, knowing that the points are most valuable at the end when it decides your spot

“Exactly. “ 

and the sun has come up enough that I can actually see the finish line ahead of us. I can’t believe