The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 30 (Jaxon)

I had been watching Eve while she was on the phone, worried about her after everything that has happened. My need to protect her is very strong. I want to do this right. I certainly don’t want to start a battle that will end in my sister taking our pack to war against Eve’s, but I also know that I can’ t and won’t live without her. Evangline is mine.

I think all of us are shocked when Alpha Jonas says that Luna Katerina wants to speak to me. Having just heard his and Melinda’s story, I have to agree, it’s not a good idea. But I take his phone and walk away, wanting privacy for whatever it is that Eve’s mother wants to say to me.

“Luna Katerina.” 

“Alpha Jaxon. I’ll be brief. My daughter thinks she’s your mate.”

“She is, we can both feel it,” I say confidently, feeling Eve walk to stand beside me. I wrap my free arm around her, pulling her against my side.

“How confident are you, Alpha Jaxon, that this is the mate bond and not some sort of crush?” she asks.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Luna. I realize that your daughter and I have things to work out, but we will do that. Your mate trying to keep us apart isn’t going to work. I can’t go three months without seeing her. She may not feel the mate bond as strongly as I do yet, but I’m guessing you’ve both realized that she isn’t willing to go three months without seeing me either. I don’t want to cause problems between us or our packs, Luna, but we need to find a better solution.”

is why I have you on the phone, Alpha, to find a solution. I want my daughter home. I have no problem with her staying with her grandmother for a weekend, even a week, but her place is

Eve and I, if she comes home, Luna. Are you and your mate planning to tuck her

sure where we will find a compromise, but I know my mate will not be okay with you sleeping

my

not have

she came back covered

same. I’m aware that Eve is under 18, but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t perfectly capable of making decisions about herself and her life. She’s in the contest to become an Alpha, after all. An Alpha that would have to make decisions about every member of her pack, not just herself. Do you truly believe that she isn’t capable of making those types of decisions, Luna? I realize that your mate feels that

is not what I’m saying. What I am saying is that neither my mate nor I will allow you to

trying to pull the phone from my ear, but I keep her tucked against

daughter, get to know her, talk about our future and what that might look like, talk about our options if one of both of us wins the contest, talk about how we can make sure that we both win and what we can do to support each other through this time. I want to take Eve on dates, I want her to come spend time in my pack, get to know my family, train with our warriors so she can become a stronger, better fighter for the next competition. So don’t presume that you know what I want from your

is totally off base. Of course, I DO want to

daughter

“Yes.”

but I think you were right to go see your grandmother. I think everyone needs some time to calm down. I’ll

put the phone out for Eve, but she shakes her head. “She’ll talk

up when I hear her call