The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 65 (Evangeline)

After spending a couple of hours talking with my parents, I promise we’ll come visit. I warn my father again about crossing me.

“I’m willing to give you another chance dad, but this is your last one. There won’t be any more chances. You either trust me and Jaxon, or that’s it. I want you in our child’s life, but not at the risk of my mate. He doesn’t deserve the treatment you’ve given him, and I won’t allow it.”

“I’ve been very honest with Jaxon, Evangeline. Someday, when we have more time, I’ll have the same conversation with you, if you’d like. In the meantime, I’ll just be thankful to have you around again and if you decide to give birth in your old dad’s pack, I know your mother and sisters will be thrilled.”

“What about you, dad?”

“I’d be thrilled as well, of course. I can’t wait to meet my grandson,” he says before pulling me into a hug. “I love you, Evangeline.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

It wasn’t much later before the announcement comes for everyone to meet outside to get the information on the next competition.

Nearly everyone has remained to get the information on the next competition. Flavia is the only Alpha that didn’t make it to round 3. Half of the remaining contestants are Alphas, many more are ranked members and then there are a few remaining warriors.

As we walk outside, Jaxon takes my hand.

of individuals. Ten of us will become Alphas, but after that, we’ll need to choose our Beta and Gamma. I’m not sure the remaining Alphas will compete, but I’d like to start making a list of the other ranked members and

Elder Jason walk up

announces and we all cheer. He waits for the applause to die down before

that much additional preparation

stops, looking at the group of us. “In one month’s time, we will complete the sensory portion of the contest. The thirty remaining contestants will arrive the day before the contest begins. You will be randomly selected for your slot in the contest and assigned a flag color. Each day 10 of you will have the opportunity to showcase your sensory skills as well as your speed. You will each have one hour to collect as many flags as you can get from within the old claiming territory. The only clues you will have will be visual, auditory and olfactory. You must use your senses to find and collect as many of your colored flags as possible while you are in the territory. The maximum number of flags will be 10, giving you six minutes in between to find the new station, collect your flag and move on. At the end of the hour, the number of flags you have collected will be counted and you will obtain one point per flag. If you collect all 10 flags and complete the task in under an hour, you will get

puts me at an advantage or disadvantage, being pregnant,” I say quietly to Jaxon. “You’ll be great, baby,” he says, putting

is a tie, and the top 20 individuals cannot be identified, day 4 will be a timed contest to see who can get all 10 flags the fastest. All contestants will run in at the same time and the first ones

be eliminated in the next contest?”

become the new Alphas, and based on

additional questions?” Councilman Jason

is adjourned. You will meet back in one

the competition. “If my math and pack lines are correct, each pack how has between two and four individuals

“Let’s make a list at dinner. I know there

but I think we’re the only two packs with that many still in the competition.” Dinner is just the two of us. As I look around, I see what looks like a lot of mate pairings, Maggie and Caleb, Reid and Ainsley, Tobias and Flavia, Rowan and Enzo. Lazio looks lost as he gets his food

I call, tapping the seat beside

around. “Now that there are fewer

find your mate. You’re still young and maybe she’ s even younger,”

be around her to smell

he

members, smart. It looks like all