The Claiming by Cooper novel Chapter 262

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 62 (Jaxon)

I would have been happy if we were having a girl, truly. But I’ve been surrounded by women my entire life.

Between my mother and my four sisters, there just isn’t enough testosterone in my family.

I’m so excited I feel like I could walk on air. We first go tell Jordan, then my parents which also includes Raelyn who was almost as excited as I am to have a nephew. And then, we go back to the packhouse to tell Teagan and Rowan, who have already heard the news, before we finally go back to our room.

“Are you going to call your mother?” I ask Eve.

She looks at her phone, nervously twisting it around in her hands. She’s maintained contact with her sisters and brothers, and occasionally her mother, but she has adamantly refused to speak to her father.

“What if he answers?” she asks. “What if he does? Do you think he’s not aware that you’re pregnant? I’d be shocked if he hasn’t heard from someone in your family,” I tell her.

She looks at me, then pulls out the image of our son on the ultrasound. She lays it on the table then takes a picture of it, before sending it to her mother.

“I’ll let her know this way, then she can share it with dad if she wants,” Eve says. And the moment she hits send, she dials Magdalena.

I get up, k*issing the top of her head, feeling the sadness in our bond. My family is ecstatic, and hers would be too, but once again, her father has put a barrier between them. Because I’m so close, I hear the other call beeping in. She pulls the phone away from her ear and I see that it’s her mother, already calling her back after receiving the photo.

She hits dismiss and then returns to her call with Magdalena. They talk for a few moments and Eve finally starts to smile.

I’m debating what to order for dinner, when Eve huffs.

“Fine,” she says, and I hear the line beep with an incoming video call. She pulls the phone in front of her, and hits accept.

“Hi, Mom,” she says.

“Hi Mom? That’s all I get? You send me a picture of my grandson and then don’ t even answer the phone when I call back, RIGHT AWAY, I might add.”

I watch as Eve’s lips twitch and I relax. She’ll feel better after speaking to her mom. I move behind her and lean into the video of the phone.

“Hello, Luna Katerina. Your grandson sure is a handsome little guy, isn’t he?” I ask her.

“He sure is, he looks just like his mother,” she says, making me chuckle. “How are you, Jaxon?”

“I’m good, thank you. You?”

“I’m better now. The doctor said everything was good? No issues with the pregnancy?” she asks, and I move out of the video, letting Eve have time with her family.

I motion to her that I’m going to get us food and I head downstairs. I look at what is planned for dinner tonight and I choose the meal that is best suited to the celebration that I have planned. I want Eve and I to have some alone time, to be together after getting our news today. And soon, we need to figure out what we’re going to do with a baby, new pack hopefully and a dilapidated packhouse. It’s time for me to start thinking about an income that isn’t based on Jordan’s pack.

As I wait for my food, I see Jordan come downstairs dressed much nicer than she usually is. She’s wearing a red sweater dress that hugs her body and heels. I give her a true wolf whistle. “Got a date tonight, sis?”

She looks over smiling, just as Nolan walks into the packhouse. “As a matter of fact, I do. Have a good evening,” she says, putting her arm through his. “Hey Nolan,” I say.

“Alpha Jaxon,” he says, nodding his head. “Congratulations to both you and your mate on making it to the next round of the competition.”

“Thank you. You kids have fun,” I say, before turning to get the tray of food that I ordered.

Jordan snorts. “Don’t wait up,” she says as they walk out of the packhouse.

When I turn back with my tray, I see most of the pack watching as she leaves. Since there’s no reason for everyone to have stopped what they are doing to watch my sister other than expressing their judgmental displeasure, my temper flares.

“Problem?” I snarl.

It’s an exaggerated response, built on years of people, underestimating and trying to undermine my sister because she’s the only Alpha female.

I hear a couple of yelps before everyone gets back to what they were doing.

When I get back upstairs, Eve is still on the phone and it sounds like Makayla and her brothers are also in the room, talking to her.

“So, are you going to continue in the competition, Evie?” I’m pretty sure it’s Alejandro that asks.

She looks up at me over the phone. “Yes. Jaxon and I talked about it, and I’m training every day. The most physically intense part of the competition is done, and I’ll be showing, but still able to run sprints in another month.”

“Of course, you will,” I hear Luna Katerina say. “And, when you’re pregnant, your senses are stronger, so when it’s time for the sensory competition, you’ll have a distinct advantage.”