The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 226

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 26 (Jaxon)

After I leave Evangeline, I go back to my room. Jace is sleeping and I’m too wound up to sleep, so I take a quick shower and head downstairs to see if there is any food.

I grab something to eat and walk outside, looking at the entrance of the old claiming territory. I wonder if our time here will change Eve’s feelings about this place. I could see myself choosing this territory for my pack now that I have these memories here. Eve and I could revisit the lake and relive this night as often as we wanted if this was our pack.

When I hear some people packing up to leave, I’m a bit surprised. It’s still early. I head around the side of the packhouse to see who it is. When I see that it’s Evangeline, I call out to her, wanting to say goodbye before they leave. I thought she’d be sleeping.

When she turns, I know something is very wrong. The sweet, happy face I left just an hour ago is gone, replaced by one that looks devasted.

She subtly shakes her head at me and climbs into the car. I begin running, wanting to know what happened, why she suddenly looks so sad and won’t even talk to me.

As I race to the car, her father takes off. I chase them for a few minutes, knowing I won’t be able to catch them and even if I did, what would I do?

I watch, feeling helpless, as Eve puts her hand up against the window, as if she’s saying goodbye.

Oh, hell no!

I turn, racing back inside. I lift my nose in the air and follow my sister’s scent to her room. I can smell that she’s just getting out of the shower, so I bang on her door.

‘Jordan, it’s me. Open up.’ I mind link her just as the door opens. I push past her into her room.

“You’ve got to help me,” I say, not giving her a minute.

“Jaxon, slow down, what’s going on.”

“It’s Evangeline. We spent the night together, the most amazing night of my life. I just left her an hour ago, she was all smiles and happiness and then, I just saw her leaving with her family just now and she looked devastated. She wouldn’t talk to me, and they left. They just left Jordan!”

I walk to her, grabbing her by the arms and shaking her with the fear of losing my mate. Her hands come down onto my arms.

“Breathe, Jaxon. Breathe.”

I look at my sister and I know she can see the desperation that I’m feeling clearly on my face.

“I can’t lose her, Jordan. I can’t!”

“Okay, Jaxon. I’ll do what I can. But everything I need to look her up is back at our pack. Go get your things, let Jace know we’re leaving, and I’ll meet you downstairs in 15 minutes.”

I pull her to me, holding her tightly for a moment. “Thank you, Jordan.”

I race to my room. When I walk in, Jace is coming out of the bathroom. “Where have you been?” he asks me.

“No time to talk. Jordan and I are leaving. She wanted me to let you know.” I say in staccato rapid-fire fashion.

“What do you mean you’re leaving? She said we weren’t leaving until noon.”

“Change of plans, I need to her to help me with something.”

“I’ll come too, then,” he says.

“Whatever, as long as you’re ready in 15 minutes.” I tell him and begin throwing everything into my bag.

“You want to tell me what this is about?” he asks, watching me as he packs his own bag much more carefully.

“Evangeline is my mate. I just had the best night of my life. Everything was great. An hour later, everything is terrible, and I don’t know what happened. I need Jordan to help me figure it out.”

“Why don’t you ask Evangeline?” he asks, the voice of reason.

“Gee, Sherlock, why didn’t I think of that?” I ask sarcastically. “I would have, if her family hadn’t already left. She wouldn’t even say goodbye to me.”

He stops, looking at me. “You said you had the best night of your life?”

“Yeah.” I say, rushing into the bathroom and grabbing my things.