The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 13 Evangeline

I wake slowly, feeling every muscle in my body complaining loudly.

I grunt softly, turning to see that Magdalena is still sleeping in her bed. She had gotten in the shower before I got to

the room. I had fallen onto my bed and was asleep before my head hit the pillow. I never even heard her get out of

the shower.

Now, I drag myself out of bed, heading for the shower. I have no idea what time it is, but I know I need food and I

need to work the aches out of my body.

I turn on the hot water, and stand under it, letting the heat penetrate my sore muscles. While I stand there, I think

back to this morning. I told Jaxon I’d go on a date with him.

A date. With Super Hotty.

What will we even do? Where will we go? I realize I’ve never actually been on a real date. The pack gets together

for events or sometimes groups of kids get together for school events or after school, sometimes weekend

bonfires, stuff like that. But one on one with someone? Nope, never.

What do people even do on dates? Eat, I guess.

Before I get too worried about it, I wash my hair, then begin to wash off the sweat that has become a laver of

stickiness on my body. When I’m done, I feel better and my need for food takes the forefront in my mind.

When I step out of the bathroom, I see that Maggie is still sleeping. I quietly get dressed, brushing out my hair, but

leaving it to dry naturally before slipping out of our room in search of food.

When I get to the dining hall, I realize it’s late afternoon. There are considerably more people here now than there

were this morning. It’s obvious which ones have just come in and which ones have already napped and are getting

back up to eat. Not seeing anyone in my family, I grab some food and go to sit at a table by a window. From here, I

can see the finish line in the distance. There are still people coming in and many people standing and waiting for

them to arrive.

As I eat, I search the crowd, finding Makayla standing near my father and Alejandro. I continue to look around,

spotting Jaxon standing with his parents. I watch a moment and realize, based on the tension in Luna Jara’s back,

that Raelyn must not have crossed the finish line yet.

I look up at the leader board. Nearly 450 of the 600 contestants have crossed the finish line now. When I finish

eating, I grab a couple bottles of water and head over to where Jaxon is standing with his parents.

As I walk up, he turns, and smiles when he sees me.

“Hey, you’re awake.” He says as I hand him a bottle of water.

“Thanks!” He says, before downing the water. “I can’t seem to get enough.”

I say hello to Alpha Mason and Luna Jara before turning back to Jaxon. “Raelyn?”

“Hasn’t crossed yet. Griffin just got in from the 70-mile rest stop. He said all the runners passed through. Raelyn

passed through a while ago, but she was looking pretty worn out.”

“What if she got injured?” I hear Luna Jara whisper. It doesn’t look like she’s moved from the spot she was in this

morning.

“Someone would have let us know Jara. Let her finish the race. She may not have advanced to the next round, but

it’s important for her to finish, to know she can do it.” Alpha Mason says to her.

“She didn’t train like the rest of us, Mom, but she’s still your daughter. Dad’s right, she’ll want to finish the race, just

to say she did it.”

Makayla comes bouncing over but checks herself when she feels the tension around us. 

“Who are we waiting for?” She asks.

“Alpha Mason and Luna Jara’s youngest daughter.”

“Raelyn?” She asks.

“Yeah, do you know her?”

“Yeah, we’re friends at school. She’s loads of fun. I didn’t remember that she was old enough to compete, but I

guess she is a year older than I am. Don’t worry, Luna Jara. Your daughter is tough, she’ll make it.” Makayla says

kindly.

Luna Jara turns and smiles. “Thank you, Makayla.”

“Here she comes now.” Jaxon says, watching as a new group of runners comes into view.

“Who is that she’s running with?” I ask.

“It looks like Harper. Isn’t that your cousin, Jaxon?” Makayla asks him.

“It is. See Mom. she and Harper were running together.” Jaxon says.

Just then Luna Hana comes rushing up with Alpha Seth. “Do you see them, Jara.”

“I see them.” As the moms watch their daughters struggle to get to the finish line, I watch both fathers move

toward the finish line. As soon as they cross, both men scoop their daughters into their arms and begin carrying

them inside. Luna Jara and Luna Hana race to catch up.

“Are you going to go check on them?” I ask Jaxon.

“And get in my mother’s way of hovering over her youngest? No thank you,” He says laughing, but he’s still

watching as they walk inside, as if he too is making sure that she’s okay.

Suddenly, he turns his attention back to me. “How did you sleep?” He asks.

“Like the dead.”

“Me too.

“I’ll see you later, Evie.” Makayla says and rushes off to goddess only knows where.

A moment later, I see my father shaking his head, walking in the direction my sister just ran off.

“I don’t know about you, Evie,” Jaxon says, giving me a playful look at using my sister’s nickname, “but I’m still

pretty stiff. I was going to walk around, look over this pack land while I was here and had time. Would you like to join

me?” He asks.

“Sure… . Jax.” I say using a nickname for him too.

We walk past the last rest stop area near the finish line, each grabbing another bottle of water before moving past

the race area.

“My mom said this area up here is where they used to have the claiming. It’s overgrown now; but supposedly, it has

100 acres of land, spread out in a semi-circle. There’s a lake with a waterfall on one side and a small stream on the

other, or there used to be. I was going to check out this waterfall. It sounded interesting. What do you think?”

“Lead the way, Jax.” I say, snickering at the use of his nickname.

He looks thoughtful a moment. “I like Evie, but it sounds your family all use that nickname, and well, I like to be a bit

different. I think I’ll call you Eve if you don’t mind.”

Super Hotty wants to give me my own nickname that only he calls me? Twist my arm.

“I don’t mind.” I say.

“Good. Shall we go find that waterfall, Eve?”

“Absolutely, Jax.”