The Claiming by Cooper

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.

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?"

"Alpha Jonas may be older than I am, but the man is strong and he's a quick learner," he says appreciatively. "How did you get into this, anyway? How did you end up packless, becoming a lethal warrior?" I ask him. He's quiet, not answering and I turn to see him staring out into the forest.

"I'm so sorry. It's none of my business," I say quickly.

He gives a half-hearted smile, not turning away from the forest. "Do you know, I can't remember the last time someone asked me that."

Finally, he 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 are underestimated, Jordan. You're strong, passionate, caring, and yet, I'm sure you know the gossip that goes on about you."

I look at him. "I do, but I'm surprised that you do," I tell him.

"I pay attention, especially when it comes to women, or in this case the one woman, in a leadership position."

"The female council members might take offense to that," I say jokingly.

"It is a requirement to have a certain number of females on the council. Your mother and the others in her generation made sure of it. So, that is different.

You, being the Alpha 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, waiting for it."

He turns and looks at me. "I, for one, don't think you will fail, and I intend to do everything that I can to help you succeed."

"By making me a lethal weapon?" I ask him, smiling.

He looks at me a long moment.

"Jordan, both your Beta heir and your Gamma are in 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 lethal."

"You think someone would attack my pack?" I ask, shocked that he thinks that and wondering what he's heard.

"No, I think they will challenge you for the right to lead your pack. I think they will come from within your own pack and also other packs. But that is my assessment based on the rumors that I have heard."

I look out over the 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 me. I turn, looking at him, assessing him in a way I haven't before.

I watch as a smile spreads across his face. "I see you understand now," he says.

"I have to become strong enough to defeat every one of the elite warriors that are training the packs."

He nods. "If you do that, then no one will challenge you, no one will question you, Jordan."

I lean forward, putting my head in my hands. "How do I do that?"

"By being you. You're strong enough to do it, you're definitely smart enough to do it. It's just a matter of taking the time to train."

He leans forward, putting his head in line with mine. "How many more of the elite do you have coming to train your pack?"

"Well, you know that YOU are next week," I say, making him smile. "Then, before the competition, I have the last three coming in, Ezekiel, Logan and Levi."

"If you want my opinion, the three styles are different, but of those three, Ezekiel is the toughest. Plan to put in extra time that week, show at least your pack members that you are the incredible fighter that I know you are. And next week, when I'm there, don't hold back."

I frown at him. "You think I hold back?" I ask him.

"I know you do. Some might consider that 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 you really tried, you could defeat me."

"You just said that you are part of the elite fighting team and in the next breath you're saying I can defeat you?" I ask. "Yes, Jordan, because you are that strong, that good. I see it, now I want to make sure everyone else does as well." "Fine. Let's do this." I say, standing up and walking out into the grass.

"You sure about this?" he asks me.

"Are you changing your mind, Nolan? Or," I look at him, "is it too soon after your session with Alpha Jonas. I can wait until you are feeling more rested," I say to him quickly.

"And that, right there, is exactly what I'm talking about, Jordan. It's why I know that you are stronger than you let on. No one that was actually weaker than I am, would have even considered giving me that option. And to answer your question, I am an elite fighter. My job is to be ready to fight no matter when, where or how many battles I've been in.

So, yes, I am ready to fight," he says. "Don't hold back, Alpha," he says before coming at me. H*ard. H*arder than he's ever come at me before.

I know, instinctively, that he's forcing me to show my strength, to respond to his strength. At first, I don't want to. He's the best, I shouldn't be able to defeat him.

"Get out of your head, Jordan!" he says, stepping back and looking at me. "Fight me, Jordan. Show me what you've really got. Stop holding back."

I twist my neck to the side, hearing it crack.

"Alright then, let's do this for real."

This time, I don't hold back. I immediately feel the difference and I know he must as well. Our battle if fierce, fast-paced and painful. We both get hits in, we both take h*ard hits, but neither of us stops, neither gives in.

I don't know how long we fight, but I'm pouring in sweat and so is Nolan. I've been slowly assessing his weaknesses, which are few and rarely exposed. But I know them now and as soon as he gives me an opening, I take it. Using his own kickboxing technique against him, I take him to the ground, quickly scissor-kicking myself over top of him pinning him to the ground face first. I have one arm and one l*eg pinned behind his back.

I snarl at him, still in my fight mode. "Submit."

He fights me but I tighten my hold, making it impossible to move.

"Submit!" I snarl again.

Finally, he taps out and I release him, leaning back.

He rolls over, looking up at me panting. "I knew you had it in you," he says, and I hear clapping.

I look up to see that Alpha Jonas's entire pack has come to watch, including Alpha Jonas and Melinda.

"Nice job, Alpha!"

"Kick a*ss, Alpha!"

"Way to go, Alpha!"

The pack shouts their congratulations to me as I stand, reaching a h*and down to help Nolan up.

"Fantastic job, Alpha," he says, before leaning in and taking my mouth in a passionate k*iss.