The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 35 (Evangeline)

When I close the door on Alpha Jordan and Jaxon I turn and Maggie smashes into me again.

"I've missed you," she says, holding me tightly.

"I've missed you too," I tell her, wrapping my arms around her.

"So, wow, you and Super Hotty?"

"Yeah, I know it seems soon, but I feel it, Maggie. I know he's my mate."

"Dad's been very quiet this week. I'm not sure what's going on in his head, but I know he wants you to come home. We all miss you. It would be one thing if you became an Alpha and took over your own pack. But this is different. The way you left..." her voice chokes up and I pull her to me again.

"Let's see how things go this week. Mom seems to be wavering both ways. Sometimes, I feel like she's on my side and sometimes I feel like she wants to pull me away from Jaxon. Jaxon has been nothing but supportive. So, if they won't allow him to come train with our pack next week, I won't be coming home either."

"Where will you go?"

"Either back to Alpha Jonas's or to Aunt Sophia's pack. If they won't take us, then we'll find someplace else to live until the next competition. It's only a couple of months away." Her eyes go wide. "Evie..."

"Let's not worry about that now. I need to go punch dad a few times to work off my anger at him."

We finish getting ready and head downstairs. I see Jaxon walking back inside, smiling when he sees me.

"I saw you weren't outside yet, so I thought I'd come wait for you," he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

I wrap my arm around his waist and that's how we exit the back of the packhouse. I see there are quite a few people here, looking like they want to spar.

"Jordan might have put a mind link out to the pack that you and I were going to show off what we learned from Ezekiel and if they wanted a firsthand look at the future training, to come watch," Jaxon tells me. As we approach, even more people come to watch.

"I can send them away, if you want," he says quietly in my ear.

"No, that's okay. I just wasn't expecting it," I tell him.

"Evangeline," my father calls. "Are you ready to show me what you learned?"

Jaxon k*isses the side of my head. "Give him hell, Eve."

The group has created a ring around the training area, everyone milling around so they can watch. It's not uncommon in the packs to have two strong fighters battle while others watch and learn. And being par of the Alpha family, I've had my share of being in the fighter's circle, as my father calls it.

I walk into the circle, taking a few minutes to warm up before looking at my father. "Ready when you are," I tell him, getting into my fighting stance.

"You've got this, Eve," I hear Jaxon say.

My father gets into position and then gives me the signal to attack when ready. I start out like usual. I've been sparring with my father since I was a child. He knows all my moves and he counters them easily. What he doesn't know is that I'm drawing him out, I'm waiting for his attack on me so I can use his attack against him.

As soon as he makes his first move, I put him on the ground. Once he's down, I jump back, letting him get back up.

"Yes, Eve! Nice job!" Jaxon, my cheerleader, says.

"Nice move, Evangeline," my father says, getting back on his feet. "Got any more?"

"Try me," I say to him.

I don't go easy on my father, but I also don't let my anger at him overshadow my fight. Letting emotion take over is the easiest way to lose a fight. It's something my father taught all of us at a young age. I've taken him down three more times before he calls it.

"I'm impressed, Evangeline. You learned quite a bit in one week," my father says.

"I took advantage of the opportunity that presented itself to me," I tell him, using one of his catch phrases to us from the time we were kids.

He smiles and steps back, looking around. "Who's next?" he asks.

"Oh, I definitely want to have a go at my brother," Jordan says, coming into the ring.

"Yeah!" The pack begins cheering for Jordan.

Jaxon smirks, his eyes never leave Jordan, but he wraps his arm around me as he passes and kisses my cheek.

"Nice job, beautiful."

He gets in the ring and Alejandro and

Maggie come to stand beside me. "Is it wrong that I'm jealous that leaving the pack literally gave you a fighting advantage?" Maggie asks me.

"You'll be great when we get Ezekiel," I say, watching Jaxon. I see him get into position, and I can't help but call out to him.

"Come on, Super Hotty, show them you're not just a pretty face!" His smile is instant, and he looks at me quickly before refocusing on Jordan.

"My girl is taunting me, so I need to make this good," he says to Jordan.

"Then let's see what you've got, Super Hotty," Jordan says sarcastically.

Unlike me and my father, Jordan and Jaxon are very equally matched, not only in height but also in skill. They have obviously sparred together their entire life and it shows. Where Jaxon may rely a bit more on his strength, Jordan is incredibly fast.

"Come on, Jordan, kick his b*utt." I look up to see Jace, Jordan's Gamma, watching her intently.

"I intend to Jace," she calls out.

"Not going to happen," Jaxon says, and they start sparring. I'm beginning to realize that bantering is something this pack loves to do.

I can tell that Jordan watched and learned from my sparring match with my father. She's ready when Jaxon starts to use her attacks against her, but she hasn't learned the skill that he has yet and in the end. He takes her down several times before she calls it.

"Damn, I can't wait to get Ezekiel here." She says.

"You're going to have to survive a week with me first, Alpha," an unknown voice says from behind us.

We all turn and look at the thin, muscular man behind us.

"I'm Nolan, by the way and when I'm done with you this week, I'll make Ezekiel look like a weakling."

Jace POV

I've just gotten off the phone with Taylor when I step outside and see everyone in a fighter's circle. I know Jordan wanted to spar with Jaxon after his week with Ezekiel, so I head over, just as the two of them step into the ring.

As I watch her, my heart aches for my mate. I know I need to talk to her soon. I need to tell her why I've not shown an interest in our mate bond. At first, I focused on the job, on work, on helping her to become the powerful, amazing Alpha that she is. Or at least, that's what I told myself.

But as this year has gone by and Jordan and I have worked together more often, I knew it was time for me to make a decision. So, I told Taylor I needed a break.

Not surprisingly, she agreed, saying that we both need to focus on this contest and when it's done, we can come back together and create our pack. I didn't correct her, but my focus isn't on the contest, it's on my Alpha, my mate.

It's time for me to make a decision. I need to talk to Jordan. We either need try to make our bond work, or it's time for us to reject each other and move on.