The Claiming by Cooper

The Claiming by Cooper Book 4

The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)

Chapter 16 Evangeline

I walk into my room, still dazed from kissing Jaxon. Wow, that man can k*iss.

Almost immediately, I’m waylaid by Maggie.

“Do you want to explain to me why you and Super Hotty were in that dark cave all alone and why now your eyes

are glazed over, your lips look puffy, and you have a dopey smile on your face?”

“He kissed me.” I say quietly, my lingers coming to my lips that are still tingling after that last k*iss. It was so

unexpected, so naughty; so….delicious. That’s the only word I can use to describe how Jaxon tastes. J

“Tell me EVERYTHING!” Maggie says, plopping down on the bed, looking at me with excitement in her eyes.

“I….well, he asked me on a date earlier. Geez, was that just this morning?”

“So this was a date?” She asks.

“No, this was accidental. His family was waiting for Raelyn to cross the finish line and I went out to stand with them.

After she came in, he wanted to look around the territory and we ended up in the cave. At first, we were just

looking around but then….”

I remember how something had seemed to crackle in the air. He reached out to k*iss me at almost the same

moment I began to feel a desperate need to be kissed by him. And it was like all that magical energy in the cave

just wrapped around us. I couldn’t get enough of him, his scent, his taste, the warmth of his body pressed against

mine.

“What are you smiling at?” Maggie asks me.

I don’t want to tell her that I could very clearly feel Jaxon’s arousal pressed between us. “He’s an amazing kisser,

Maggie. I mean, holy goddess! His lips are divine. Soft and warm but still strong and when he slid his tongue into my

mouth…”

I look up and see Maggie’s eyes wide, her hands clenched to her chest. She and I have always been extremely

close, so she knows this was my first k*iss and I know she’s only gotten kisses that were pecks from guys at school.

“Do you think all kisses are like that?” She asks me.

“I have no idea, but I know that he seemed to want more just as much as I did.”

Her eyes go even wider. “Do you think that means that you’re a good k*isser too?”

“I guess. I don’t know. I hope so.” I tell her and I really do hope so. I want Jax k*issing me again, soon.

Maggie flops back on her bed, looking up at the ceiling. “Oh, it’s so romantic.” Then she pops back up. “What if he’s

your mate, Evie?”

“I don’t know, Maggie. I still want to win this competition. I want to be an Alpha.” But it makes me wonder about his

question and our conversation earlier about finding my mate. He was clear that he would be willing to be co-Alphas.

I wonder if he knows something I don’t. He is 18 after all.

“Well, you have time to figure it out and apparently at least one date to talk about it. Wow, you and Super Hotty.”

“Yeah.” I say, getting up to change into my pajamas. “Tomorrow will be interesting. I can’t wait to see what the next

competition is going to be like.”

“Me too!”

The next morning there is a bustle of activity all over. The finish line has been removed, but the scoreboard is still

standing with the top 100 on display. After breakfast, Maggie and I head over to see our competition. Not

surprisingly, everyone that is on our list is on the board.

“Checking out the competition?” Lazio says, coming up behind us.

“Hey, where have you been?” I ask him.

“Eating and sleeping. Haven’t you?” He asks, looking at me.

“We went into the territory last night. We got to see mom’s signature on the cave wall and swam in the lake.”

Maggie tells him.

“Who else went?” He asks frowning.

“Al was there and Alpha Jaxon and two of his sisters.” I tell him.

“I guess I missed out. Damn.” He looks disappointed a moment, before his face lights up again.

“Hey, did you hear the gossip?” He asks.

“No, what?”

“Apparently Alpha Tobias found his mate. You know how Alpha Tank is mated to Gianna, Alpha Asher and Luna

Mignon’s oldest daughter?”

“Yeah.” Maggie and I say together.

“Well. Tobias is Tank’s younger brother, and his mate is…”

“Lazio, tell us!” Maggie says, nudging him.

“His mate is Flavia, Gianna’s younger sister.”

“So, the brothers are mated to sisters?” I ask.

“Exactly.”

“Is that common? To have families mated to each other.”

“How would I know. I’m too young to even smell my mate. And were really the first generation where there are

enough females to actually have mates, so….it’s anyone’s guess.”

“Well. I guess those two packs will always have an alliance. And isn’t Gianna and Flavia’s brother Paolo is scheduled

to take over his pack in the next few months?”

“He is, and that’s another interesting conversation. While Flavia doesn’t plan to leave the competition, even though

she knows she’s mated to Tobias, it looks like Paolo has found his mate, only she’s not quite 18 yet. But she will be

by the next event and she’s in the top 100. I heard Councilman Jason say this morning that they are going to

include some runner ups in the finalists in case some of the females find their mates and drop out during the

contest.”

“Who does he think his mate is?” Maggie asks.

“Noelle, Alpha Antonio and Luna Annabel’s oldest daughter.”

I’m shocked. “She’s in the top 10. You think she’ll just drop out of the competition?” I ask. Even if I realized that

Jaxon is my mate, I’m like Flavia, I’ m not dropping out.

“It’s all rumor at this point, but from what I hear. Noelle never wanted to be an Alpha. However, she’s perfectly

happy to be a Luna.”

“Why does Paolo think that Noelle is his mate?” I ask him.

“Uhhh, something about how she smells, or something like that. As I said I’m too young to have found my mate, so

I’m just going off what he said. You two are closer to finding your mates than I am. Anyone smell good around

here?”

Both Maggie and I duck our heads. Which makes me wonder who she thinks smells good. I’ll have to ask her. She’s

only six months younger than I am, so she could be feeling the pull to someone, and if so, that will only increase as

the competition continues.

At that moment. I’m saved from answering by a flying Makayla. She leaps, somehow managing to attach herself to

both Lazio and me, hanging on to us like a monkey.

“Wooo! Look at my family on that leaderboard! It makes me wish I could have competed. I’d love to see my name

up there with all of yours.”

“There’s always the Beta trials, Makie.” Alejandro says, walking up.

“Nah, I’d rather be a Luna.”

I turn and look at her. “You know it doesn’t work like that, right?”

She shrugs. “It could though, right? Even if I’m not mated to an Alpha, one could choose me as his mate, and I

could choose him.”

I just shake my head at her.

“So, what are we doing today?” Maggie says.

“It’s a free day, we get to relax until tonight. Some people will be packing up and leaving, others will stay for the

festivities. I think they are planning a swim party at the lake in the territory, tours of the pack lands for anyone

interested or you can just hang out and look at your name on the leaderboard.” Alejandro says.

“I vote for swimming!” Makayla says. “I second that!” Lazio says.

I look at Maggie and Al. “It was nice at night. I’d like to get a better look at the lake during the day. If I end up

winning and get stuck with this land, I’d like to know what I’m getting myself into.” I say.

“A day of swimming it is.” Alejandro says.