The Claiming by Cooper

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 73 (Evangeline)

I know Jaxon is trying to keep me calm and I’m trying to do the same. Funny, it’ s his kiss and telling me he loves me no matter what happens that settles me.

We’re in this together, no matter where we end up.

“Without further ado, the first winner and top ranked Alpha is… Alpha Tobias.”

I smile. Jaxon has said that Tobias was his biggest competition this entire contest, and he was right. We clap as Flavia jumps up and hugs her mate before he walks up to the stage. His family are all on their feet, clapping for him. I turn and see that Flavia’s family is as well.

Tobias goes up on stage and shakes Councilman Jason’s hand before being given a thick piece of paper with a ‘T’ in the center, marking him as the first winner. Once he has taken his spot at the front of the room, Councilman Jason turns back to us.

“The second ranked Alpha in our contest is…. Alpha Jaxon.”

I feel Jaxon jerk beside me, and I feel tears pooling in my eyes. I stand, hugging him and congratulating him as the room erupts in cheers. He kisses me passionately enough to have me swaying when he releases me, but I continue standing and clapping for my mate as he head to the front of the room. I hear his family whooping and hollering for him, as is mine. Makayla runs over and hugs me tightly as my tears begin to fall.

Jaxon goes up and shakes the councilman’s hand before getting his number, ‘2’, and going to stand beside Tobias. They shake hands and turn back to the crowd. Jaxon looks at me and winks.

“Our third winner is Alpha Stefan,” Councilman Jason says, and the cheering begins again. This time it’s Brooke, Jaxon’s cousin, and Taylor and Caleb’s sister, that jumps up to congratulate her mate.

Once he’s in place, Councilman Jason steps back up.

“Our fourth winner is…Alpha Taylor.”

There’s a moment of silence before the room erupts into applause. Taylor’s family is practically jumping for joy for their daughter and sister, Jordan’s family, too, is on their feet for their cousin. Taylor looks properly stunned as she goes up front and takes her number ‘4’. Now there are two female Alphas. Cousins.

I look at Jaxon and he smiles at me. There’s still a chance for me.

Everyone has just settled down when the next announcement comes. “Our fifth winner is… Alpha Caleb.”

Caleb’s family erupts all over again having two of their children/siblings chosen as Alphas one after the other. Maggie jumps up, hugging him. I watch as he hugs her, kissing her while he high fives his brother Griffin who has already taken over from their father. That’s three Alphas who have their own packs from one family.

It takes a bit longer for the room to settle down after that, but finally it quiets down enough for the next announcement.

“Our sixth winner is…. Alpha Reid.”

I watch as Ainsley, his mate jumps up to hug him and I see Lazio also standing to clap for his newly found mate’s brother. As Reid makes his way to the front of the room, I look at Jaxon. There are only four slots left.

Jaxon’s gaze holds mine and I realize, I’ m okay if I don’t win my own pack. Jaxon and I will have our pack. Ours. Not his, not mine. What do we need a second pack for? What would we even do with one? I can’t be an Alpha to a pack that isn’t next to his and at this point, it’s unlikely that I’d get lucky enough to have the one pack that borders the one we want.

I can see the worry in his eyes. Worry for me. Worry that I’ll be disappointed if I don’t get my own pack. But I already have my own pack, with him.

at him, letting him know I’m okay. ‘I love you’, I

for me, burning in his gaze as he mouths the words back to

refocus on the announcement just in time to catch

around to see who is still waiting. Lazio hasn’t been called. And neither has Enzo. I begin mentally rooting for both of them to be called in the final

as if I wished it into being,

winner is Alpha

not sure if she’s had a chance to tell them that they are mates, or if they are following her lead, but they cheer for my brother anyway and for that, I’m

winner is…. Alpha

her feet too. On his way to the front, Collin changes direction and

daughter. Raelyn is obviously older than Collin, but

to become a ranked member in one of our newly formed packs, The Beta Trials will be announced in the next month or so. We want to give our new Alphas time to adjust to their new living environment before we begin another round of competitions. I would suggest that everyone who is interested pick up a flyer on your way out tonight or tomorrow before you leave. And if there are certain Alphas in particular that you’d like to become a Beta for, I’d suggest you

feet clapping again. Enzo pulls Rowan into a passionate kiss before jogging up to the stage to get his

Councilman Jason steps up to the microphone again. The group often

to the ten winners.

roll out a board that has what looks like a velvet map

them, are ones that are currently established. The ones with an X are open for you to choose as your pack lands. As I mentioned before, we will go in order of your ranking. Alpha Enzo, I’m afraid you will have

sure you save me the one my mate wants, or she’ll have my balls,” he

love you, Enzo. No matter where we live,”

love you, too,

responsible for an Alpha getting neutered before he had his pups,” Tobias says, walking forward confidently and slapping his number on the pack

have chosen the pack

“Correct.”

as one of the council members begins making notes on their computer,

up to him, and he takes my hand,

I smile. “Yes.”

the number. “Then let’s

aunt’s pack used to be. I hear Luna

choose the pack lands to the south of the mountain.

“Yes,” we say together.

me and then I go back to my seat while he goes back

their numbers where they want them. Stefan took the pack up north away from

Enzo sigh when he realizes that it won’t be the one

Jordan’s packs while Caleb took the one that we’ re currently in, the old

in life and running water and electricity are high up on the list,” Caleb

two whisper together for a moment before he chooses a pack that is in

ends up with the one on the opposite side of Griffin’s pack, keeping Rowan close to her

then music is turned on and everyone begins walking around congratulating each other and

about ways that we can support each other since our packs will border each other when my