The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 11 Evangeline

I’m exhausted and everything hurts, but I’m actually enjoying myself. Jaxon is funny, intelligent and he never breaks the pace. He sets it and sticks with it. He’s a great running partner. I had thought that I might need to shift into my wolf, but at this rate, I think I can do the entire run in my human form. I’d be willing to push it anyway, just to continue talking to Jaxon.

When we hit the last rest stop, I ask again what time it is. It feels like the night is only about halfway done when they tell me it’s 5am. I’ve been running 23 hours straight. Ten miles to go, three to four hours left, and I’ve done it. I’ve passed the first cut.

“Who’s ahead of us?” Jaxon asks as we pass through.

This time it’s Alpha Paolo, Alpha Asher and Luna Mignon’s oldest son who is stationed at the rest stop.

“Tobias is a few minutes ahead of you, and Taylor is only about a minute ahead of you. She’s out of steam. I was surprised she didn’t stop.”

“Not her style.” Jaxon says as we run through.

As we run back out into the darkness, I look at Jaxon. “Almost there “

“Almost! We can do this.”

“Definitely.” I say.

“Okay, when you’re ready, it’s your turn to ask first.” He says to me.

I’d been thinking about it, so I’m ready. “If you win…”

“When I win.” He corrects me.

your Beta? Are you planning to go with the family lines

only that, if I take a Beta and Gamma from another family, I’ve just strengthened my alliances with those packs. For me. I’ll already have an alliance with Jordan, then, let’s say your brother Lazio doesn’t win in this tournament. If he were to compete in the Beta trials and I chose him as my Beta, well, now I also have an alliance with Alejandro. And your cousins from Alpha Quinton and Luna

a few breaths as we run. “Let’s say I took their son, Wade, as my Gamma, well now I’ve also created

an alliance with three of the 20 packs, your pack being the fourth.” I say. It’s not necessarily needed, but in wolf packs, it’s always good to

Noelle, Alpha Antonio and Luna Annabel’s oldest daughter. Now, I’m also allied with her brother, Giovanni. So, I’d be allied to a quarter of the packs. And that doesn’t include if Taylor gets a pack and my alliance with her brother Griffin. As cousins, we’re already family. It’s not really important, since the packs all

the things he just said, the one sticking in my head is Jaxon being mated to Noelle. “She’s not your type.” I blurt

light of morning, I see a

say that?” He

that uppity

she’s okay, I barely

Paolo anyway. He’s nearly 18 and I saw them huddled together the night before the race. I think he and Griffin are the same

lot better knowing Noelle isn’t an option for

we see Taylor standing

“Taylor, are

leaning over and sucking

Tay.” He tells her but she shakes her head. “No, I can do

same no matter what form

of you have.” She says,

pacer almost the entire time.

run together before. Go on you two. We’re all so close I can taste it. I just need

me, nodding. I nod back and he picks up our pace

my anticipation of finally being

you know how they are doing points for the

they are giving points in groups of ten. Top ten group to finish gets 100 points, next group gets 90 and so on

that the points are most valuable at the end when it decides your spot for choosing

“Exactly. “

that I can actually see the finish line ahead of us. I