The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 235

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 35 (Evangeline)

When I close the door on Alpha Jordan and Jaxon I turn and Maggie smashes into me again.

“I’ve missed you,” she says, holding me tightly.

“I’ve missed you too,” I tell her, wrapping my arms around her.

“So, wow, you and Super Hotty?”

“Yeah, I know it seems soon, but I feel it, Maggie. I know he’s my mate.”

“Dad’s been very quiet this week. I’m not sure what’s going on in his head, but I know he wants you to come home. We all miss you. It would be one thing if you became an Alpha and took over your own pack. But this is different. The way you left…” her voice chokes up and I pull her to me again.

“Let’s see how things go this week. Mom seems to be wavering both ways. Sometimes, I feel like she’s on my side and sometimes I feel like she wants to pull me away from Jaxon. Jaxon has been nothing but supportive. So, if they won’t allow him to come train with our pack next week, I won’t be coming home either.”

“Where will you go?”

“Either back to Alpha Jonas’s or to Aunt Sophia’s pack. If they won’t take us, then we’ll find someplace else to live until the next competition. It’s only a couple of months away.”

Her eyes go wide. “Evie…”

“Let’s not worry about that now. I need to go punch dad a few times to work off my anger at him.”

We finish getting ready and head downstairs. I see Jaxon walking back inside, smiling when he sees me.

“I saw you weren’t outside yet, so I thought I’d come wait for you,” he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

I wrap my arm around his waist and that’s how we exit the back of the packhouse. I see there are quite a few people here, looking like they want to spar.

“Jordan might have put a mind link out to the pack that you and I were going to show off what we learned from Ezekiel and if they wanted a firsthand look at the future training, to come watch,” Jaxon tells me.

As we approach, even more people come to watch.

“I can send them away, if you want,” he says quietly in my ear.

“No, that’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting it,” I tell him.

“Evangeline,” my father calls. “Are you ready to show me what you learned?”

Jaxon k*isses the side of my head. “Give him hell, Eve.”

The group has created a ring around the training area, everyone milling around so they can watch. It’s not uncommon in the packs to have two strong fighters battle while others watch and learn. And being part of the Alpha family, I’ve had my share of being in the fighter’s circle, as my father calls it.

I walk into the circle, taking a few minutes to warm up before looking at my father. “Ready when you are,” I tell him, getting into my fighting stance.

“You’ve got this, Eve,” I hear Jaxon say. 

My father gets into position and then gives me the signal to attack when ready. I start out like usual. I’ve been sparring with my father since I was a child. He knows all my moves and he counters them easily. What he doesn’t know is that I’m drawing him out, I’m waiting for his attack on me so I can use his attack against him.

As soon as he makes his first move, I put him on the ground. Once he’s down, I jump back, letting him get back up.

“Yes, Eve! Nice job!” Jaxon, my cheerleader, says.

“Nice move, Evangeline,” my father says, getting back on his feet. “Got any more?”