The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 41 (Evangeline)

This week has been much like the previous week. Each day the training gets harder and my body is more and more tired. And I’m not the only one.

Then, after three days, I found out that Jordan is getting one-on-one sessions with Nolan in between the two sessions we’re getting. How the woman is still standing is beyond me. If that’s what it takes to be an Alpha of a pack, maybe I don’t have it in me.

As I look around though, I see that everyone is struggling, not just me. I have to give Jaxon credit. He may have bitched and moaned the first couple of days, but he never once gave up, he never even gave a hint of slacking off. The man is incredible and he’s all mine.

We started sparring against each other on day three, using our kicks and punches to take each other down. As soon as contact was a requirement, Jaxon refused to spar with me any longer.

“I’m not hitting you, Evangeline.”

I’m Evangeline when he’s trying to get a point across or being serious. I’m Eve when he’s being flirty or sweet. “Jaxon, what if we get paired against each other in the contest?” I asked him. “Then I back out. I’m not fighting against my own mate. I won’t hit you. If you want to go on offense and spar against me, fine, but I refuse to hit you, even in training,” he says to me.

“He’s right, Evie. Go spar with your mother. I’ll spar with your… with Jaxon,” my father says.

I watched as my father had gone at Jaxon hard, pushing him, forcing him to go on defense quickly. But Jaxon held his own, sparring hard against my father, getting in more hits than my father did.

my father had shaken

sure that you are her mate, but I can respect a man who refuses to hit his mate, even in sparring, especially when that woman is my daughter. So….I hope you’ll join us for Savate training next week in my pack. I know Evangeline

be my honor and privilege, Alpha,”

found out that my father had told Jaxon that he knew that I was spending the nights with him and

crawl up the stairs to our rooms

my rules,” my

training, maybe you’ll change your mind. We both sleep better when we’re together, just like I assume that you

told me that my father had stomped off after that. I know it’s true, and my father does too. It’s just a matter of how much he’s willing to give. “He’s already making a concession to have me train with

family is invited, especially since my family has

more months, Evangeline. Speaking of, what do you want to do once you’re 18? I mean, I want to celebrate, but once we can actually

about the contest?”

fight, just like I am. I mean, where do you want to live? We should consider that now. If you want to live outside of a packhouse, I need to start thinking about buying or renting a house. Which pack do you want to live in? All those things. I mean, our living arrangement is temporary, since one or both of us will win pack, but we should decide where we’ll live.

asking these types of questions, it makes everything more of a reality. I’d considered leaving my pack when I became an Alpha, but other than my father being overprotective, I hadn’t considered

below my ear that he knows is sensitive and makes me shiver. “Think about it. We have some time, but I want us to be together. I want my

about your father having any say in whether or not I sleep by

be willing to leave your pack?”

where you are, Eve. That’s my home, at least until

arms around his neck. “Damn, Super Hotty, you’re not only gorgeous, but

when my father’s throat

s*trip me down and take me right here outside the dining hall!” I say, completely