The Claiming By Cooper

Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 50 (Jordan)

I’ve been training in Alpha Jonas’s pack for a week, taking advantage of the opportunity to spend a bit of time with Nolan. However, he offered individual training to Alpha Jonas, just as he did for me, and Jonas took him up on it.

So, rather than spending time with Nolan in the afternoons, I’ve been spending time with Melinda and her children.

“I still can’t believe you’re pregnant again,” I say for the umpteenth time.

Title of the document

She shrugs. “When you find your mate, you want nothing but them. After being kept apart, I can’t get enough of him. And I don’t care what anyone says about our age difference, my mate is a fine, s*exy specimen.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about you describing me like a piece of meat,” Alpha Jonas says, walking up behind us. Nolan is with him, and he comes to sit beside me.

“How was Alpha training?” I ask Jonas.

“Brutal, but apparently, I have an image of a fine, s*exy specimen that I need to uphold,” he says, smirking at Melinda, making her giggle.

He looks around. “Where are the kids?”

“Napping,” she says and even I see his eyes darken.

I look away, my heart still hurting to see other mates interacting this way. “Want to get up close and personal with a fine, s*exy specimen, Luna?” Jonas purrs at her.

She stands. “Always, Alpha.” She turns to me. “I’ll see you two later.”

“Have fun!” I say, waving at them.

When they’re gone, I turn to Nolan. “So, how was training?”

he’s a quick learner,” he says appreciatively. “How did you get into this, anyway? How did you end

none of my business,”

a half-hearted smile, not turning away from the forest. “Do you know, I can’t remember the last time

turns to look at me, smiling. “I got into this because I realized that when the females of the species started dying out, that we needed to strengthen our women. Women like you

do, but I’m surprised that you do,”

when it comes to women, or in this case the one woman, in a leadership

members might take offense to

Your mother and the others in her generation made sure of it. So,

of your pack, is different. That was a choice that your parents made. One that no other Alpha and Luna from their time made. So, of course, everyone is expecting you to fail. They are watching for it,

at me. “I, for one, don’t think you will fail, and I intend to do everything that I can to

me a lethal weapon?”

looks at me a

the contest to win themselves a pack. Let’s, for a moment, assume that both of them win. You will be without a Beta or a Gamma, although I’m sure your current Beta, Elijah, will stay in his position until you choose someone from the Beta trials. But even then, that person will be new. You will be tested, Jordan. The moment anyone feels that you are vulnerable, that you show the slightest bit of weakness, they will attack. You, more than any other Alpha in this generation, will have to prove herself. If I had to bet, I’d say you’ll have to prove yourself more than once. So, yes, I intend to help you become

my pack?” I ask, shocked that he thinks that and wondering what

pack. I think they will come from within your own pack and also other packs. But

forest. If what Nolan is saying is true, then I do need to make sure that I’m lethal. I need to be able to take on and defeat any enemy, any fighter who comes for

watch as a smile spreads across his face. “I see you understand now,”

have to become strong enough to defeat every one

that, then no one will challenge you, no one will question

in

it, you’re definitely smart enough to do it. It’s just a matter of taking the time to

many more of the elite do you

you know that YOU are next week,” I say, making him smile. “Then, before the competition, I have the last

put in extra time that week, show at least your pack members that you are the incredible fighter that I know you are.

at him. “You think

a weakness. I consider it a generosity that only the strong can afford to give. You don’t even try to defeat me because I’m the expert. I’m there to teach you, so you make sure that you don’t. I’m pretty sure that if I fought you right now, if

part of the elite fighting team and in the next breath you’re saying

I see it, now I want to make sure

this.” I say, standing up and walking out into the

about this?”