The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 17 Jaxon

The next morning, I woke feeling great. My future mate may not realize that she’s my mate yet, but she’s definitely feeling the draw. I need to take this time before she turns 18 to show her that we can have everything together. I’m not really sure what would happen if we both win. Would they let us combine territories? Something to worry about later. Today, I get to see my mate again.

I’m getting out of bed as Jace comes out of the shower. “Hey, man. What are you up to today?” I ask him.

“I’m going to check in with Jordan and see what needs to be done for the pack. With all of us here, I want to make sure that nothing goes undone.” He says.

“Spoken like a true Alpha.” I say to him.

He shrugs. “We’ll see even if I don’t get a pack. I’m still one of the lucky ones that have a position in a great pack. Your sister is a great Alpha.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m well aware of how good my sister is at running the pack.”

He looks at me. “Sorry, I’m so used to defending your sister to others that it just conies naturally to me.”

“Defending her to whom?” I ask, standing up.

“Oh, come on Jaxon, you know what everyone says about her. That just because she’s a woman, she can’t run a pack.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard and considering the strength of the Lunas in the packs, I’m surprised that there is that much discussion about it.” I say. Yeah, I hear it, but apparently not as much as Jace does.

“It’s not that they don’t think she’s strong, for a LUNA, just not as an Alpha.”

I growl low and menacing. “Next time someone says something about my sister, ask them if they feel strongly enough about what they’re saying to challenge her. If not, they need to shut their fucking mouths. If they do challenge her, they’ll see just how much of an Alpha my sister truly is.”

that.” He

on the Taylor front?” I ask

Still status quo.” He

if you get your pack? Are you going to ask her to be your Luna?” I ask

win her own pack.” He

is one woman in this competition that could win one of the

but what’s

you

my sister. There’s a draw there.

deserves to have a mate who is

may be the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said. Alphas take Gammas, warriors, even omegas

climbing an uphill battle with the older men in our packs and some of the younger ones. They aren’t outwardly against her, but they don’t feel that a woman

why you’re in this competition? So, you can officially

away, not answering

your motivation? Then what the hell

He snarls at

This is my sister we’re

has nothing

face. “So help me, goddess, if you hurt

space and freedom to choose someone that

you feel, then maybe you’re right and my sister does deserve someone smart enough to realize that no matter what, no

know she’s worth it. It isn’t her that’s the problem.” He snaps, grabs a

mutter as the

to get some food. I find Teagan, Rowan, and Raelyn sitting around the table. Raelyn looks sad and Teagan and Rowan look like they are

arms around her and kissing the top

the side to look at her, seeing a tear

let us down,” Rowan says to

“Why?” I ask, frowning.

she didn’t come in the top 100,”