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.

was done, my father had

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 wants you

my honor and privilege, Alpha,” my

in and whispered something to Jaxon that I hadn’t heard. Later, I found out that my father had told Jaxon that he knew that I was spending the nights with him and that it would not be acceptable

you’re not paying attention. We can barely crawl up the stairs to our rooms at night. I’ve seen you carrying Makayla more than once when she falls asleep

rules,”

up with training, maybe you’ll change your mind. We both

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

especially since my family

of, what do you want to do once you’re 18? I mean, I want to

you mean about the contest?”

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. It’ll most likely be another six months after your birthday before we know the winners,”

with Jaxon, but when he starts asking these types of questions, it makes everything more of a reality. I’d considered leaving

time, but I want us to be together. I

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

you be willing to leave

want to be where you are, Eve. That’s my

Hotty, you’re not only gorgeous, but romantic too? How

my father’s throat clearing

take me right here outside the dining hall!” I say, completely exasperated with