The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 2

We’re all in the back of our packhouse while my father and my younger brother, Alejandro, stand on the stage to discuss the upcoming contest where I will finally be able to claim my own pack. A pack that I have to fight for because my father felt that my younger brother could run this pack better. So, there they are, on the stage, making the announcement.

Title of the document

“The contest will begin in three months’ time.” My father says and instantly, my sister, Magdalena’s hand goes up.

“Yes, Magdalena.” My father says and I know his patience with us is already running thin, but I don’t care. Both Maggie and I are older than Al. We should have had the opportunity to be the heir to this pack. Just because I don’t have the right package hanging between my legs doesn’t make me any less capable of being able to lead a pack.

“Why is the contest starting in three months? Hasn’t it already taken years to prepare for?” She asks. Good question.

“That is correct. However, the contest will be open to everyone over the age of 16. The Council and the current Alphas felt that it was only fair to give anyone that is not currently training at a warrior level time to get stronger in order to compete.”

My hand shoots up in the air. I’ m being petty, I know, but I don’ t care. I see my father sigh.

“Yes, Evangeline?”

“So, she-wolves can enter the contest? We are eligible to become Alphas? Is that correct?”

My father grits his teeth. “Yes, that is correct.”

I give him my best fake smile. “Good to know.”

I see my mother giving Maggie and I ‘the look’. Both of us ignore her.

I feel a strong arm go around my shoulder and look up to see another around Maggie’s. “Easy my sisters. Don’t keep challenging our father in front of the pack. Mother will kick both of you’re a*s*ses and you know it.”

“Don’t care.” I say.

worth it.” Maggie

what he was being given, I have no such animosity

she cares. She’s perfectly happy being a Luna or even a Beta female. Her personality is much more like

Alpha Quinton’s children?”

the position of Alpha that they are planning to open up the positions of Beta. His sons will be

any more questions before I go into the discussion of the contest itself?” My father asks and we all refocus on him. My brother raises his hand. My father doesn’t look nearly as

of us who are under 18, what happens if we win? Usually, Alphas

Another good question.

18, the pack lands will be set aside for them to claim when they turn 18. In the meantime, I’m sure it would be acceptable for any winner to begin clearing out the areas of the pack lands and beginning to rebuild the packhouse or surrounding buildings that we

has any questions,

Each of these events will be elimination rounds with only those with the highest scores moving into the next round. After each elimination round, we will be giving the contestants a break, a chance to rest and an opportunity to prepare for the next round of eliminations. So, that is

crowd of pack members who are here

will be a 100-mile run. This is the endurance challenge. Only the first 100 individuals to cross the finish line will progress to the next round. You have three months to prepare for this challenge. The Council will be judging the contest and we have chosen the area that will be used for the run. Since it is close to the area that was once used for the claiming,

goes up.

one of the ten areas being considered as pack lands for the contest?” I ask, pretty sure

will be in

nods at the person to ask their

lands go to

will be based on the rankings that the final ten receive over the course of the contest. The person with the

few more questions

be seeing you girls on the running paths quite a bit over the

Maggie

smiling. “We’d better plan to give up our weekends though. One hundred miles can’t be run in

“Damn.” Maggie says.

weekend to train and then on Mondays, we take the day off and do our homework for the

the kids go to the same school, they will know what is going on, so hopefully they will allow us to get our schedules early

“Sounds like a plan.”

to walk into the packhouse, our mother