The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 260

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 60 (Jace)

It’s time for my match. I was hoping that Jordan would be here again, but I also know there are several of our pack members who are battling today and I’ m not the only one in this timeslot. I begin stretching, trying to get my head centered on the match, not my mate.

“Hey, where’s Jordan?” Taylor asks, jogging up.

“Probably helping one of the others in our pack. I’m not the only one battling at this time.”

“I can coach you, if you want?” she says.

“Sure Tay, thanks.”

She looks over to see my opponent. It must be a family trait, the way they assess their opponents before a fight. Jordan had the same assessing look on her face that Taylor does now. “I think that guy is a Gamma, too. But he’s not as strong as you are,” she says as I continue stretching. Jordan would know for sure who this guy is.

I look over at him. “How can you tell?” I ask her. He’s smaller than I am, but he’s muscular.

“You’re ripped, Jace. That guy is muscular, but he’s not ripped,” she says shaking her head at me as if it’s obvious.

“Hey, I’m here,” I hear Jordan say and I turn, seeing her running over. As soon as I see her, everything in me settles.

She’s smiling at me until her eyes move past me to Taylor and her smile falters. “Unnnnnless, you don’t need me,” she says.

“No, I do. Taylor was just…”

“I was filling in until you arrived. Now that you’re here, I’ll let you take over,” she says and turns to walk away.

“Thanks, Taylor,” I say, and she waves her hand, not looking back.

I turn back to Jordan. “Thanks for coming. I know there are others battling right now. I didn’t expect you to come to mine.”

“You’re still my Gamma, Jace. What kind of an Alpha would I be if I didn’t try to help you achieve your goal of getting your own pack,” she says. Gone is the smiling face she came running up with. “Jordan…”

“Focus, Jace. Terence is a Gamma in Alpha Antonio’s pack. He’s good, but you’re better. Unlike most of your other opponents, he’s left-hand dominant, so make sure that you take that into consideration. I’m also pretty sure he’s great with his fists, terrible with his footwork,” she says. Yep, I knew she’d know everything there was to know about this and most likely every other opponent on the field today. She probably stayed up all night reading up on the opponents of every member of her pack. That’s just how Jordan is.

“Thanks, Jordan,” I say, as I walk into the ring.

“You’ve got this, Jace!” she says.

When the match begins, I realize that everything that Jordan said was completely accurate. Terence is almost solely dominant on his left-side, making his right side weak, counting on the aspect of surprise to take his opponent out.

My first punch is to his left shoulder, injuring him and limiting his swing. After that, I have him pinned in 20 minutes.

I hop up, helping Terence to his feet and then I turn, hoping Jordan will rush into my arms like she did when I won the first time.

Instead, she nods, acknowledging my win, then turns and walks away.

Luke POV

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” my mate asks me as I watch my daughter and Jaxon walk away.

“He knotted her, Katerina,” I snarl. When she doesn’t answer, I turn to look at her.

“So?” she asks me.

“Do you not understand what that means?” I snap.