The Claiming By Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 29 (Evangeline)

I step away from Jaxon, not wanting my mother to know he’s here until I know where she stands.

“Hello, mother,” I answer.

“Evangeline, are you at Alpha Jonas’s pack? Have you had a chance to settle in?”

“Yes. I’m here, and I’m on the back porch with grandma.”

It’s quiet for a moment and I look back at the porch. Everyone is busy doing something except for Jaxon, he’s watching me.

“I could tell you that your father regrets what he did, what he said, but I’m not sure it would matter right now.”

“Not right now,” I say, turning back to look at the forest.

“Will you tell me what happened? Your side of the story. No judgement from me. I just want to know so I can understand,” she says.

My mother may be the iron fist of the family, but there’s a reason for that. She understands our family, she understands the dynamics between all of us and when she doesn’t, she finds out so she can mediate, just like she’s doing now.

“I spent the night with Jaxon.” I say, waiting for her to blow up at me, like my father did.

It’s quiet. I don’t say anything.

“Did you want to expand on that? Spending the night could mean all sorts of things. It could mean that you had s*ex, or it could mean you laid on the ground, looking at the stars telling each other your secrets.”

“Something in between those two options.” I say.

“And you believe that he’s your mate?” she asks.

“I know he is. And he knows that I’m his mate too.” I say.

“Okay. No need to get worked up. We’re having a conversation, Evangeline,” my mother says placatingly.

put my face in my

me, mom. Disappointed! For what? I didn’t do anything. Definitely nothing that I regret. It was a perfect night and Dad ruined it. All it did was remind me that Dad doesn’t think I’m good enough or strong enough to be an Alpha, to make good decisions. He doesn’t believe in me, thinking that

around me, wrapping me in a

you’re disappointed that your father didn’t make you

are. Well, you can let him know that I don’t agree with his reasons. I am my mother’s daughter, after all, and I can make my own decisions. If he can’t respect that, then I don’t feel the need to see him

“Evangeline.”

try to keep me from my mate! What would he have done if someone tried to keep him

different then, Evangeline,” my mother

means that times are different now. And if he doesn’t believe me, maybe he should talk to his precious heir. I’m not the only one that felt the pull to the mate bond this past

says quietly in

you, isn’t he?”

talk to you soon.” I say, hanging up

figure it out. We’ll find a way to make it work.” Jaxon

are you hungry? I have lunch here.” Melinda calls out to

my cheek, running his fingers

he asks me

shake my

an

reaching down to gently kiss

tucking me under his arm, holding me close as we walk back to the

walk up, my grandmother is watching us. When we sit down, Jaxon makes sure I have food before getting his own. I watch Alpha Jonas as he watches Jaxon, and I can see that he

tell us about yourself,” my grandmother

“Gran…”

and she should have a chance to get to know your

closer so that our bodies are touching. Jaxon reaches his arm around me, holding me against him with one arm as he eats with

you like

your intentions

to take her as my mate when she

about the contest?” grandmother

looks at me. “Do you want to answer that

I have talked about this. He knows that I

Alpha Jaxon? What then?” my grandmother