The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 208

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 8 Jaxon

Six hundred of us are standing at the starting line for the first contest. Just looking around. I can already identify some of those that will not make it. They are burning their energy with their excitement, unable to control themselves. I’m guessing they will be the ones that will sprint off when the gun goes off.

As I look around, I see Evangeline standing with Magdalena. I nod at her, and she nods back. I hope it’s her and I that make it to the finish line first. I’d love to battle her for top spot.

When the gun goes off, I watch the excitable youngsters, omegas and even some warriors, race off, trying to get a good head start. It won’t help them. They’re just going to burn their much-needed energy sooner than the rest of us.

There are ten total rest areas, spread out every ten miles and one final one back at the starting line, now being transitioned into a finish line, since our run will bring us back to the starting point.

After the first couple of miles, I get into the rhythm of running. I love the sound of my feet hitting the ground at a steady pace. I notice that most of the ranked wolves are doing what I am, taking their time and reserving their energy.

By the time we get to the first rest area, there are groups of runners forming. Evangeline, Magdalena and Lazio are in a group not far from me. In my group. Rowan, Teagan and Raelyn are running, along with a couple of others including Jace, but not Taylor. She’s in another group, with her siblings. As I look around, it appears that, for now, the groups are set aside by pack or family. It makes me wonder how these groups will change over the next day.

We pass Jordan at the first rest stop. She cheers for us as we go by. She is standing with glasses of water that she holds out for anyone to take. I grab one, downing it and tossing the paper cup aside. Part of the job of the volunteers is to clean up the mess after we’ve passed.

As we pass, I see some of the sprinters are already showing signs of a struggle. Several are sitting down drinking water and catching their breath. Some are getting back up, getting back into the race, others look like they may already be done. Anyone that hasn’t been training for this every day for the last three months, won’t make it far.

At the 20-mile rest area, the number of people who are sitting down, drinking and eating is higher. It’s been about four hours and the air is starting to warm as the sun rises higher into the sky. This time, I grab two waters as I run through the rest area, but I don’t stop, I keep running.

“I have to pee.” Teagan says. “I’ll catch up.”

Some runners just pee themselves so they don’t have to stop running, but this early into the race, it will cause chaffing, not to mention the smell will stay in your nose for the rest of the race, making it harder to breathe.

“Me too.” Rowan says. “I’ll come with you.”

Both of them drop off the race, to head to the bathrooms that are set up for this purpose. I continue on, getting lost in my head space again. I’m not too far from the rest area when I realize someone has fallen into step beside me. I look and see Evangeline.

“Hey.” I say, surprised. I look, noticing that Magdalena isn’t with her. Lazio is a couple paces behind us.

“Bathroom.” She says, answering my unasked question. “My sisters too.” I say, not breaking stride.

“We saw them, Maggie figured she could run with them to catch up.”