The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 26 (Jaxon)

After I leave Evangeline, I go back to my room. Jace is sleeping and I’m too wound up to sleep, so I take a quick shower and head downstairs to see if there is any food.

I grab something to eat and walk outside, looking at the entrance of the old claiming territory. I wonder if our time here will change Eve’s feelings about this place. I could see myself choosing this territory for my pack now that I have these memories here. Eve and I could revisit the lake and relive this night as often as we wanted if this was our pack.

When I hear some people packing up to leave, I’m a bit surprised. It’s still early. I head around the side of the packhouse to see who it is. When I see that it’s Evangeline, I call out to her, wanting to say goodbye before they leave. I thought she’d be sleeping.

When she turns, I know something is very wrong. The sweet, happy face I left just an hour ago is gone, replaced by one that looks devasted.

She subtly shakes her head at me and climbs into the car. I begin running, wanting to know what happened, why she suddenly looks so sad and won’t even talk to me.

As I race to the car, her father takes off. I chase them for a few minutes, knowing I won’t be able to catch them and even if I did, what would I do?

I watch, feeling helpless, as Eve puts her hand up against the window, as if she’s saying goodbye.

Oh, hell no!

I turn, racing back inside. I lift my nose in the air and follow my sister’s scent to her room. I can smell that she’s just getting out of the shower, so I bang on her door.

‘Jordan, it’s me. Open up.’ I mind link her just as the door opens. I push past her into her room.

“You’ve got to help me,” I say, not giving her a minute.

“Jaxon, slow down, what’s going on.”

“It’s Evangeline. We spent the night together, the most amazing night of my life. I just left her an hour ago, she was all smiles and happiness and then, I just saw her leaving with her family just now and she looked devastated. She wouldn’t talk to me, and they left. They just left Jordan!”

I walk to her, grabbing her by the arms and shaking her with the fear of losing my mate. Her hands come down onto my arms.

“Breathe, Jaxon. Breathe.”

I know she can see the desperation

can’t lose her, Jordan. I

our pack. Go get your things, let Jace know we’re leaving,

her

coming out of the bathroom. “Where

I are leaving. She wanted

leaving? She said we weren’t leaving

of plans, I need to her to help me with

come too, then,” he

long as you’re ready in 15 minutes.” I tell him and begin

to tell me what this is about?” he asks, watching me as he packs

just had the best night of my life. Everything was great. An hour later, everything is terrible, and I don’t know what happened. I need Jordan to help me

you ask Evangeline?” he

“I would have, if her family hadn’t already left.

“You said you had the best

into the bathroom and grabbing

scent, kind of night?” he asks,

“Yeah. So?”

using his Gamma tone and getting my attention. I turn and look

take offense to his underage daughter coming back to her room with an Alpha male’s scent all over her after being out all

mate bond, same as I

children when the children feel the mate

shouldn’t be. Melinda is

age. The issues may be different, but the parental response is the same. The parent either doesn’t believe in the mate bond or

it,” I tell

I’m saying is, her parents, an Alpha and a royal

snarl, gritting my

need to be careful

I say, grabbing my bag. I know that

I get downstairs, Jordan is waiting for