The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 209

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 9 Evangeline

It sounds strange, but I’ve really enjoyed running beside Jaxon. He’s a good pacer for my speed. He doesn’t run faster or slower, he stays at the same pace and that’s good for me. When we started training, both Lazio and Alejandro told me and Maggie that our pace wasn’t consistent, and we’d wear ourselves out sooner if we kept going faster and faster as we ran.

Of course, now, I have a stitch in my side that I’ve had for the last 20 miles. I was hoping that it would go away when I used the bathroom, but no such luck.

Not only am I tired, hungry and sore, we’re going into the back half of this race in the late afternoon. We’ll have to run all night in the dark. I love the nighttime, and I’m fully capable of seeing well at night, but it’s going to be brutal.

And this is why it’s a competition to become Alpha. It shouldn’t be easy. It should be hard. Only the best and the strongest physically and mentally should be eligible to take over the packs.

Over the last three months, my siblings and I have run the full 100 miles several times. Not every weekend and not in the last couple of weekends, knowing we needed to be strong for this competition. But my best time, was 30 hours. Keeping up with Jaxon’s pace, I’ve gotten halfway through the race in 10 hours. But there’s no way I can continue going this fast.

I slow my pace coming off the rest area of the 50-mile marker. Jaxon slows his as well. 

“You don’t have to slow down for me.” I tell him. I’m not sure why he’s slowing. This is a competition. He should be taking advantage of my slowing pace to get ahead of me.

“I need to slow down too. My body is feeling it.”

Jaxon sets a new pace, one that is easier to manage. I notice that Tobias and Taylor both keep up their harsh pace. Stephan seems to find a pace in between ours and theirs, and Jace has fallen behind us.

In the next ten miles, Caleb, Cillian and Enzo close in behind us. As we reach the 60-mile marker, the sun is starting to set. This time, as we run through the rest area, Alejandro is there, handing out waters.

“You’ve got this Evie! There are only a few runners ahead of you. Keep it up! Fight for your pack!”

I down the water. We were told that the water from the 50-mile markers on would contain electrolytes to help give us energy and replenish some nutrients in our bodies. However, it’s my brother’s words that energize me. He’s right. I’m here to fight for my pack. I can’t let a little pain get the best of me. If these others can do it, so can I.

“Thanks Al.” I shout as I toss the paper cup aside.

“He’s a good brother.” Jaxon says as we exit the rest area, the pathway dark now as the sun starts to fall behind the trees.

“He is. He’s been very supportive this entire time.” I say.

Jaxon frowns. “Did you want to run faster?” He asks me.

“What? Oh, uh, no, probably not. I tend to speed up when I ran. Both Al and Laz told me so when we were training.” 

I fall back into pace with Jaxon.

“I have an idea.” Jaxon says to me as we run.

“What’s that?” I ask, hoping he’s not wanting to talk. He may have slowed our pace, but I’m still trying to make sure I don’t get too winded and have to stop.