The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 230

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 30 (Jaxon)

I had been watching Eve while she was on the phone, worried about her after everything that has happened. My need to protect her is very strong. I want to do this right. I certainly don’t want to start a battle that will end in my sister taking our pack to war against Eve’s, but I also know that I can’ t and won’t live without her. Evangline is mine.

I think all of us are shocked when Alpha Jonas says that Luna Katerina wants to speak to me. Having just heard his and Melinda’s story, I have to agree, it’s not a good idea. But I take his phone and walk away, wanting privacy for whatever it is that Eve’s mother wants to say to me.

“Luna Katerina.” 

“Alpha Jaxon. I’ll be brief. My daughter thinks she’s your mate.”

“She is, we can both feel it,” I say confidently, feeling Eve walk to stand beside me. I wrap my free arm around her, pulling her against my side.

“How confident are you, Alpha Jaxon, that this is the mate bond and not some sort of crush?” she asks.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Luna. I realize that your daughter and I have things to work out, but we will do that. Your mate trying to keep us apart isn’t going to work. I can’t go three months without seeing her. She may not feel the mate bond as strongly as I do yet, but I’m guessing you’ve both realized that she isn’t willing to go three months without seeing me either. I don’t want to cause problems between us or our packs, Luna, but we need to find a better solution.”

“Which is why I have you on the phone, Alpha, to find a solution. I want my daughter home. I have no problem with her staying with her grandmother for a weekend, even a week, but her place is here, for now.”

“And what does that mean for Eve and I, if she comes home, Luna. Are you and your mate planning to tuck her away and refuse to allow me to see her?”

“No. I’m not sure where we will find a compromise, but I know my mate will not be okay with you sleeping with our daughter down the hall from us.”

I feel my anger ratchet up.

“I did not have s*ex with your daughter.”

“Call it what you will. But she came back covered in your scent, Alpha Jaxon. She is an underaged girl.”

“Don’t you think those boundaries should be hers to decide, not yours? I respected her boundaries, but it doesn’t sound like you and your mate will do the same. I’m aware that Eve is under 18, but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t perfectly capable of making decisions about herself and her life. She’s in the contest to become an Alpha, after all. An Alpha that would have to make decisions about every member of her pack, not just herself. Do you truly believe that she isn’t capable of making those types of decisions, Luna? I realize that your mate feels that way, otherwise, he would be handing the pack over to her. But you Luna? How do you feel about your daughter’s ability to make her own decisions?”

“Do not presume to tell me about my daughter, Alpha. I know that she’s perfectly capable of making her own decisions. That is not what I’m saying. What I am saying is that neither my mate nor I will allow you to come to our packhouse and spend the night with our daughter.”