The Claiming by Cooper

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 64 (Jaxon)

“Anything you need to say to Jaxon, you can say in front of me,” Eve says to her father.

I pull her to me, k*issing the side of her head while she glares at her father. My fierce protector. “Go spend some time with your mother, Evangeline. You know she’s dying to hear her grandson’ s heartbeat and hear all about your pregnancy. Your father and I will be fine.”

“Trust me when I tell you that your mother would have my balls if I did anything to upset you in your current condition,” Alpha Luke says to Eve.

“You forgot the part where I’d cook them up and force feed them to you,” Luna Katerina says, her brow arched, looking like she means every word. Both Alpha Luke and I flinch at that visual.

Eve turns to me, her lips twitching at her mother’s words while she k*isses me. When she turns back, she points at her father.

“I’m going to hold mother to that. You’ve been warned.”

We watch as they walk away, Luna Katerina putting her arm around Eve. “Will you walk with me?” Alpha Luke asks me.

I nod and we head toward the claiming territory, away from prying ears.

“First, how is everything with Evie’s pregnancy? She looks healthy and she moved on in the competition, so I’m assuming she and the baby are good?” he asks, looking at me.

“She’s really good. Our son is healthy, Evangeline is having a pretty easy pregnancy so far and she got through the last of the physical challenges in the top 10. Your daughter is amazing, I hope you realize that,” I tell him.

“I do,” he says, sliding his hands into his pockets and stopping by the entrance to the old claiming territory. “I do, and yet, I didn’t choose for her to be my successor, to be my Alpha heir,” he stops, turning to look at me. “I have a lot of regret over that.”

He should be regretful. Evangeline would make an incredible

good Alpha. He has the heart for

you choose her,”

for how it would

that. I see your sister and her struggles because she’s a female Alpha. I know her road is hard, harder than it should be. I didn’t want that for Evangeline. So, I made a decision that should have been hers to

hadn’t forced her hand,” he says, turning to

on after we’re gone,” I tell him. “I don’t care as much about being the Alpha, as I do about having your daughter at my side. I told her before, that as long as I had her with me, I’d become a rogue, if needed. I

says and I jerk. That was

Alpha on you. It’s not your fault, it’s mine. I just want her to have the chance that I didn’t give her, to be a leader in her own pack. I realize now that you are giving her that chance. I

That not only includes a pack, but also a family. I want her to have

And I hope you’ll put in a good word for me with Evie. I really don’t want to be pushed out of my grandson’s

a strong, confident, opinionated woman who loves me and her son. If I may, Alpha, I wouldn’t make her angry again. I’m not sure she’ll forgive you a third time, but I’m pretty sure she’ll forgive you this

and I think it’s about time you started calling me

Luke. So,

snaps up, looking at me, worry in your eyes. As we walk up, Luna Katerina smiles

that you had nothing

walk to her, leaning down and k*issing the top

fine, love. Did you

one?” Katerina asks, holding it like she’s not planning to give it back. “May I?” Luke asks, looking at Eve. She

passes it to her father. He sits down beside her, and I move to sit beside Katerina, across from Eve. “Dad,

Jace POV

move to the next round, which is good for Jordan, but right now,

Taylor, congratulations. Fourth place. You’re getting