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.

you choose your Beta? Are you planning to go with the family lines or choose from those competing in the Beta

about this for a while. There is obvious benefit to choosing family to be your Beta 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 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 Sophia’s pack aren’t even eligible

well now I’ve also created an alliance with your cousin Nathaniel when he takes over the pack from

being the fourth.” I say. It’s not necessarily needed, but in

let’s just say I end up mated 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 get along now, but things change over time and setting up

sticking in my head is Jaxon being mated to Noelle. “She’s not your type.”

dawning light of morning, I see a smile breaking across

do you say that?” He

that uppity Alpha female

now why it bothers me to think of Jaxon with Noelle. I mean she’s okay, I barely know her, but I just don’t like the idea of

pretty sure 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 of months. If she makes it to the top 100, I’m guessing she’ll drop

knowing Noelle isn’t an

bend in the path when we see

slows. “Taylor,

over and sucking in

Tay.” He tells her but she shakes her head.

are the same no matter what form you cross the

have.” She

pacer almost the entire time. He’s a great

can taste it. I just need

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

while and I can feel my anticipation of finally being so close to

are doing points for

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

early has it’s benefit?” I ask, knowing that the points are most valuable at the end when it

“Exactly. “

sun has come up enough that I can actually see the