The Claiming by Cooper

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 56 (Jaxon)

I wake, curled up with my mate on the morning of day two of the sparring battles. Hopefully, if all goes well, we’ll both wake up tomorrow, having moved on in the contest. Both of us had a fairly easy time with our opponents yesterday. Joanna was a tough competitor, but I’m ready to win, today and in the last three events of this contest.

When we get to breakfast, it’s the same as yesterday. Everyone is quietly eating, contemplating today’s events and what they need to win. When we’re done, we head out to the leader boards to see who we are paired with today.

The first thing I notice is that they now have a “1” next to everyone that won their match yesterday and a “0” next to anyone that didn’t. So, now, it’s obvious to everyone who needs to win today to move on, and those that, if they lose today, will be done with the contest overall. A make a note that Jace lost to Tobias yesterday. He has to win the next two days or he’s out of the competition.

I start hearing people calling “Alpha” and I turn to see Jordan striding up to me.

I turn, pulling her into a hug. “Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask her.

“I took a couple days to come root on our pack.” She walks around me to hug Eve before looking up at the scoreboard. I see her frown. I turn and look back, quickly going over the list of our pack members that lost and I can’t imagine she’d be surprised by anyone except Jace.

I turn back to her. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, I’m just surprised to see several of our pack members with zeros next to their name.”

“Our pack did have the most contenders of any other pack,” I say.

“By one,” she says, giving me a look like I’m exaggerating things. “Griffin’s pack has eleven in the competition.”

She makes a face, still looking at the leaderboard. “I see Taylor beat Lazio, Evangeline.”

“Yeah, he said she’s pretty tough.”

make a good Alpha,” Jordan

flashed on the board. As soon as I see mine, I turn, heading for the tables. “Well, I guess…. Jaxon? Jaxon! No, Jaxon!” Eve says, having seen

Tobias from

we

looking at him. “You got put

says and I nod. We’re both asked if we’re sure as our mates

just as

If you insist on doing this, let me forfeit. You’re only doing this

to see Jace. He lost to Tobias yesterday and there is a real possibility that I will

Flavia in the same situation that

done that,” she says, leaning into

Alphas, we’ll run our pack as co-Alphas. I don’t care what our names are. You can be the TF

“TF?”

making until tomorrow now. I’m still planning

TM is Top Male?” she

trying to get her out of the frustration that

what, Alpha. If you win tomorrow, I’ll let you be on top. How

softly. “That’s the kind of incentive I’m looking for,” I

I pull away, I

be. I understand why you did it, and I love you for it. I’ll feel better

let’s go see who is battling

take her hand and walk back to where Jordan is talking to some of

I guess my reason for being here just got more exciting. I didn’t know you

fight my mate,