The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline) Chapter 44 (Jaxon)

Savate training is somewhere in between kickboxing and Aikido for me when it conies to intensity. Thankfully, I had kickboxing first, so I am already more limber than I was last week. However, by the end of the week, my flexibility is even better.

The difference however, is how you use your kicks. Where kickboxing can give smaller, more flexible fighters an advantage, Savate is all about carefully placing your punches and kicks for maximum impact. It's about taking your opponent down in the fewest moves possible. It's intense, and I love it.

Eve is still aggravated that I won't train with her, but I don't care. I refuse to hit my mate, or my sisters. I'd prefer not to hit any of the females, but it's impossible for me to not get paired with them at some point. Eve has been sneaking into my room every night. After the first couple of nights, I told her not to. We were both hitting the fatigue wall and I was worried that she might slip and fall on the roof while sneaking to my room, but she insisted that she wouldn't be able to sleep without being beside me. So, after the third day, I started meeting her on the roof and helping her back to my room.

Today, Rowan, Teagan, Eve and I are all heading to my pack for Jordan's Alpha ceremony. Really, Jordan has been running the pack for months, so this is just a formality. Alpha Luke, Luna Katerina, and Alpha Alejandro are invited, as are all the Alphas from all the packs. With the competition, many of them won't be able to make it, but a lot will, which will be nice. We'll be able to talk to the other packs to see how their training is going.

"I wish I could come," Magdalena says. "It's probably a good experience to have before we have Al's ceremony here next year."

"Why can't you come?" I ask her.

"I'm sure there isn't any room," she says.

I give her a smile. "You could share a room with Eve again."

Eve leans against me, smiling at Magdalena.

She told me that her sister knew that she was sneaking out to my room every night.

"Really?" she asks excitedly.

"Yeah, I'll call my mom just to let her know there is one more but that you'll be staying in the room with Eve."

"Thanks, Jaxon!" she says running off to get packed up.

"That will be perfect," Eve says.

"Mmhmm, especially since my mom put you in the same room you were in the last time." I tell her as I put the phone to my ear, calling my mom.

I tell her were bringing one more and she reminds me that she wants me there early to help with final preparations.

I wrap my arm around my mate as we walk inside the packhouse. "How many more months before I can officially make you my mate?" I ask her.

"Two, just before the next contest, really," she says.

"Have you given any thought to where you want to live?"

"I was thinking your pack. Your family doesn't seem to have the hang up that mine does with us being mated."

"Are you planning to tell your father that?"

"Nope, not until it's time," she says.

"And next week, we're heading back to Alpha Jonas's pack?" 1 ask, stopping at the stairs where she'll go up and pack for the weekend.

"Yes. He has Levi coming in. He is trained in Jujitsu."

"So, another grueling week ahead of us?" I ask her, pulling her to me.

"Yes. I'm pretty sure you can take it Super Hotty."

"One of these days, I want to take you on that date I promised you. Maybe we can do that this weekend."

"I'd love that," she says, leaning into me and wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Maybe we can go away for a night, just the two of us."

"Oh, I really love that idea!" she says.

"Do you think your father will be okay with that?" I ask, not wanting to start and argument with him this close to Eve's birthday.

"I'll talk to my mother. She saw Teagan and Alejandro. I think that she, at least, is starting to realize that things are different in this generation than they were in the last."

"Good, let me know. And if we can't go away overnight, we can still go away for the evening.

"Yes, I've missed our time together."

"Me too."

I kiss her goodbye before heading to my room to get my things. This week has been a good workout, but I'll be glad to be back in a different pack where it's easier for Eve and I to be together. Her father did everything in his power to ensure that we were apart as much as possible, not that it's difficult as the week progressed. Our physical fatigue and to do more than eat, sleep and train. But still, even in the afternoons, he always seemed to have something for Eve to do so we didn't have time together.

Teagan and Rowan are driving home with Alejandro. Alpha Luke attempted to get Eve to drive with them, but Luna Katerina intervened, and Eve and Magdalena drove back with me.

When we arrive, the place is full of energy and excitement for tonight's events. Not only is the leadership changing hands, but Jordan will be the first female Alpha in several generations. I couldn't be prouder of my sister.

As soon as I get Eve settled, I go find Jordan.

She's in her room, getting ready for tonight. "Jaxon!"

"Hey sis. Look at you, getting yourself all glammed up. I barely even recognize you."

She swats my arm. "What's it like down there? I hear the energy is crazy."

"Really crazy. I can already tell that there are a lot of Alphas here. There's too much energy

for there not to be." I look at her a moment. "So, are you ready?"

"Yeah, I am. Dad has trained me well, I've been doing the duties of an Alpha for a while now. This will just make it official."

"I'm proud of you, Jordan. Truly."

"Thanks, Jaxon. That means a lot to me." She reaches out, hugging me and we stand there for a long moment just holding each other.

When I smell salty tears, I pull back. "None of that! You'll mess up all this makeup."

She sniffles. "We can't have that," she says, just as there is a knock at the door.

Our mother walks in. "Do you mind if I have a moment with my daughter?" she asks.

"Not at all," I say, hugging my mom on my way out.

"Oh Jaxon, I want to spend some time with you and your mate this weekend," my mother says just before I close the door.

Of course she does.