The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 225

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 25 (Evangeline)

When I get off the phone, Maggie looks at me.

“Are you really going to do this?” she asks.

“He’s not giving me any other choice.” I walk to her, taking her hands in mine. “Will you do me a favor?”

“Of course, anything Evie.”

“Don’t say anything to them on the way home.”

“Mom’s going to freak out when she realizes.”

I shrug, walking into the bathroom and stripping off my clothes. I set Jaxon’s jacket aside, knowing I may not see him now until the next competition. I hope I will, but we’ll have to see what happens.

I shower and get ready, packing my things and heading downstairs. Most everyone will be staying for breakfast, but my father is rushing us out of here.

“Why are we leaving so early?” Makayla complains, stomping down the stairs with her bags over her shoulder.

I don’t say anything. I can’t. I’m so angry, so hurt, that if I say a word, the tears will start to fall. How could the best night of my life turn into the worst morning so quickly?

My dad pulls the car around and we all begin to load our bags and get in. Alejandro frowns at me and I just shake my head at him.

“Eve!” I hear behind me. I turn and see Jaxon jogging toward me, a huge smile on his face.

As soon as he sees mine, the smile drops. “Eve?”

I shake my head at him before climbing into the car, the tears a moment from falling.

My father hits the gas as soon as my door is shut.

“Eve!” Jaxon says, running toward the car. I put my hand up against the window, my own way of saying goodbye as I watch him chase the car before he stops and watches us drive away.

When I turn back the car is eerily silent.

I don’t say a word.

We haven’t driven long when my mother speaks.

“Does someone want to tell me what’s going on?”

Neither my father nor I say a word. Maggie reaches out and takes my hand.

“Okaayyy,” my mother drags out the word.

I look back out the window. I can feel the tension in the car getting heavier as everyone tries to figure out what is going on between myself and my father. “Evangeline, you’re being uncharacteristically quiet,” my mother tries again.

I turn and look at her, seeing worry flash in her eyes before she looks at my father. Without saying a word, I turn and look back outside the window.

No one says another word the rest of the drive. When we pull up, I see my grandmother standing outside the packhouse.

I climb out of the car, going to get my bags.

“Mother, what are you doing here?” my mother asks my grandmother as she gets out.

“Evangeline asked me to come pick her up.” She says, looking at me and opening her arms.

I walk to her and let her wrap me in her embrace.

“No.” My father says behind us.

“Luke? What is going on?” My mother asks, but I don’t wait for him to answer her. I turn on him, my anger bubbling to the surface.

“You may be my Alpha, but that can change. Don’t make me reject you and this pack, father, because I will.”

My mother and my family all s*uck in air at my statement, but I mean every word. I see the hurt flash in my father’s eyes, but I don’t care. It’s about time he realizes how hurt I am with what he’s done.

“Now, now. Let’s not say things in anger or do things that will be h*ard to undo later. Alpha Luke, I don’t see any reason that your daughter can’t come stay with me for a while,” my grandmother says, placatingly.

“You need to stay here,” my father says to me, his stubborn Alpha side coming out.

I lift my chin, ready to reject him when my mother cuts me off.

“Let her go, Luke.” He turns to look at her, but she’s looking at me.