The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 237

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 37 (Evangeline)

I’m already doubting that my father will behave this week, but he did agree to have Jaxon join us for dinner.

“It’ll be fine, Eve. He’s your father. Yes, he’s being a bit overprotective, but that’s his job. You’re his first-born child, he’s going to be more strict with you and I.”

“How are you so calm about this?”

“I’m calm because he’s not actively trying to keep me away from you. If that changes, so will my attitude. I’m just saying, if he’s trying, let’s give him a chance. And….I may have called in the big guns.”

“Big guns? What do you mean?” I ask him as we walk into the dining room together. “I asked my mother to sit with us,” he says smugly.

“Why, Alpha Jaxon, how very conniving of you,” I say to him, already seeing Luna Jara seated at our table talking to my parents.

As we get closer, Luna Jara stands. “Jaxon, sweetheart, you didn’t even come say hello to me when you arrived home.”

“Sorry mom, Eve and I went outside to show everyone what we learned from Ezekiel last week.”

“I heard it was impressive,” she says, turning to me. “Alpha Evangeline, how lovely to see you. I look forward to getting to know you better this week. I hope you’ll enjoy your time in our pack.”

“I’m sure I will, Luna, thank you.”

I nod at my parents and siblings before sitting down in between Luna Jara and Jaxon. I know he seated me here on purpose. It’s a way for Luna Jara to say she supports our relationship.

“I do want to hear all about Ezekiel, but first, how are Jonas and Melinda doing? I miss Melinda now that she refuses to visit.”

I’m not sure if the conversation is intentional, or if Luna Jara really does miss Melinda since she originally came from this pack.

“She’s good. She’s pregnant with her third child.”

Luna Jara’s eyes go wide. “That’s wonderful. I’ll have to let Brynn know. Such a shame that there is a rift between Melinda and her mother. I hope they can work it out some day. Melinda is a special woman,” she says looking at me.

“Did you know, Evangeline, that I lost a sister?”

“Jaxon told me. He said one of the territories in the contest was the pack land where she was Luna,” I say.

“That’s right. She died without ever having a child,” Luna Jara smiles sadly. “And then, I lost my first child, a girl.”

I turn looking at Jaxon, but he’s watching his mother. I turn back to her. “I didn’t know that.” I say to her.

“Why would you? At the time, your father hadn’t even claimed your mother yet. But a young Melinda came to me in my darkest hour. She told me that my sister had come to her in a dream and wanted her to thank me for giving her the child she never had. Melinda was maybe two or three at the time, young as I said. She insisted that Brynn allow her to tell me what she needed to say because my sister came to her in a dream and wanted her to give me the message.” Luna Jara’s eyes are far away, remembering the time.

“So, you can see why I feel close to Melinda. I’ll definitely have to go see her soon. I haven’t even met her little girl yet,” she says.

“Molly,” I say. “Grandma Isabella adores her.”

“She’s really cute,” Jaxon says. “Looks just like Melinda. They both do with their blond, curly hair.”

Luna Jara smiles. “Now, I’m sure we all want to hear more about Ezekiel. Your sister has him coming here soon.”

“I guess we’ll see if Norman is right about making Ezekiel look like a weakling or if that is a bunch of bravado and good-natured ribbing, but last week was pretty intense,” Jaxon says as our food arrives.

“Their fighting styles are different, so I expect that if you found last week to be difficult, you’ll find this week to be equally as difficult. The difference is that both of you have a bit of an advantage over the rest of us, having started your intensity training a week early,” Lazio says.

“I didn’t realize that it was having such an impact. Truly, it was so exhausting that it was all we could to get through the days. At night, we’d just collapse and fall asleep, waking up in time to do it again. Eat, fight, sleep, repeat,” I tell them.

“That sounds like the schedule that Jordan has planned for this week. She has morning training with the pack and afternoon training with anyone who would like to attend, which I’m assuming is everyone still in the contest.”

“I’ll be joining both as well,” Al says. “I should hope so,” I tease him.

“I believe Jordan plans to do the same, as do Mason and I. I’d like to see if I can still keep up with these young ones.”