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.

win,” I stress the ‘when’, “how will you choose your Beta? Are you planning to

and Gamma, but there are also many out there that would be really great at it. Not 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

well now I’ve also created an alliance with

I say. It’s not

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 get along now,

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

dawning light of morning, I see a smile breaking across his

do you say that?” He

uppity Alpha female

with Noelle. I mean she’s okay,

that she’s mated to Alpha 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 age, so he’ll be 18 in the next couple

knowing Noelle isn’t an option

we see Taylor standing on the side

“Taylor,

says, leaning over and sucking in

she shakes her head. “No, I can do

doing this. The rules are the same no matter what form you

you have.” She says, stubbornly, looking at

my pacer almost the entire time. He’s a great running

can taste it. I just need to catch my breath and then you’ll be

chuckles and turns to me, nodding. I nod back and he

I can feel my anticipation

doing points for the race?” I

gets 100 points,

ask, knowing that the points are most valuable at

“Exactly. “

see the finish line ahead of us. I can’t believe