Chapter 207


    The iming by Cooper Book 4


    The Contest by Cooper (Jaxon & Evangeline)


    Chapter 7 Evangeline


    Jaxon is nothing like I was expecting. He’s…nice. That’s not to say that he doesn’t have the Alpha


    arrogance. He does of course. But he’s nicer than I was expecting.


    We talk over dinner and it’s pretty casual. Others join in our conversation periodically and we join in


    theirs. Surprisingly, there’s an air of camaraderie rather thanpetition. I’m guessing that will change


    overnight, but for now, it’s casual andfortable.


    I notice that Jaxon isn’t drinking alcoholic beverages either and Iment on it.


    “I’m here to win, not party.” He says.


    Magdalena snorts. “Did you two rehearse that?” Jaxon looks confused.


    “I said almost the exact same thing to Maka, our sister, earlier.” I say.


    “It says a lot to me about the ones that are drinking. They are either here to search for their mates, or


    they don’t understand how brutal the next two days are going to be.” He says.


    Maggie leans forward. “Who do you think wille in first?” She asks him, smirking. I’m already


    guessing his answer will be the same as ours.


    “Me, of course.” And there it is. We bothugh and I can see that arrogant Alpha looke out.


    “You don’t think I can do it?” He asks.


    “That was also our answer when Maka asked who we thought would be first.” Maggie tells him.


    “Both of us said we would be first.” He smiles at that.


    “Will you run with your sisters, help them along?” I ask him, curious.


    “No, not unless something happens. They are strong in their own ways, but I’m faster than any of them.


    Plus, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon, so I expect Teagan and Rowen to make the cut. Raelvn…” He


    says moving his hand in a maybe, maybe not gesture.


    “A marathon plus.” I say.


    “Who do you think is your biggestpetition?” I ask him.


    “I have a list, both of you are on it, by the way.” That makes us smile.


    “But, if I had to pick my top three. I’d probably say Tobias, because he’s older and has had longer to


    train, Stefan, for the same reason, and my cousin Taylor.”


    Maggie and I nod. “All three of them are on our list as well. What about Celine? Stefan’s sister? Alpha


    Zaire and Luna Gia were very strong leaders of their pack, and their son Alden seems to have stepped


    easily into those shoes.” I ask.


    “I’ve never met her, but if she’s Alpha Zaire and Luna Gia’s daughter. I won’t underestimate her.” Jaxon


    says.


    “What about your brother? Do you think he has a chance?” He asks.


    “Lazio? Absolutely. You’d be mistaken to underestimate him, even though he’s just made the cutoff to


    participate. We celebrated his birthdayst week, but he will be fierce.” He nods, looking around.


    Alpha Jordan takes the opportunity to lean forward. “How many do you think are here just to find their


    mates.” She asks.


    Maggie snorts. “If our sister is any indication, I’d say plenty.”


    I look down the table, seeing Rowan talking to Alejandro. Their heads are close together and they don’t


    seem to realize that they are in a room full of people. They are lost in their own world. “Not just our


    sister.” I say, nodding at the two of them.


    Jordan leans around Jaxon to look. “Yeah, I expect a lot of that. It would surprise me if some don’t end


    up dropping out during the contest. It’s going to be spread out over nearly half a year, so that provides


    plenty of time for people toe of age and find their mates. And there are so many Alpha heirs out


    thereing of age, that if they find their mate, those mates would not be eligible to participate.”


    I look at Jordan. “I hadn’t considered that. But since existing pack leaders aren’t eligible to participate in


    the contest, if any of the Alpha heirs find their Lunas, those females will be eliminated.”


    “Only if their mate is the current or future Alpha.” Jaxon says watching me. “If, say, you and I were


    mates, we could both stillpete, since neither of us are leaders of our own pack.”


    I feel a fluttering in my stomach, and my mouth goes dry. Thankfully, Maggie answers for me as I grab


    my water, downing it.


    “Well, I guess you’ll find out. Evie will be turning 18 during thepetition. Who knows, you may walk


    into apetition and BAM there she is, flooding your senses with her intoxicating scent and


    distracting you from your goal.”


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    I frown and turn to look at Maggie. “What are you talking about?”


    She shrugs. “Just repeating something I heard dad say about when he met mom.”


    “Except back then, she WAS the goal.” I tell her.


    “I’m so d I wasn’t born in that generation.” Jordan says.


    “Can you imagine? Getting chased down by the group of guys that are here for the contest?” I ask.


    “Barbaric!” Maggie says.


    We all turn to look at Jaxon.


    “Don’t look at me. I agree. It was nuts. Although, I have to admit, it seems like it worked. All of our


    parents seem happy.” He says.


    “It’s creepy to think that it could have been different.” Jordan says, conspiratonally. “I mean, imagine if


    my dad caught your mom, or your dad caught my mom.”


    I look at my parents across the room. I can’t imagine them with anyone else. “That is creepy,” I say.


    We allugh and move on to other topics. As the night winds down, Maggie and I say goodnight and


    head to our room. Jaxon grabs my hand, halting me in my steps.


    “I wanted to wish you good luck tomorrow I expect to see you at the finish line.”


    “Oh, I’ll be there, Alpha. I’ll wait for you when I cross first.” I say teasingly.


    His answering smile makes my heart flutter. Super hotty indeed.


    “We’ll see about that, but I look forward to celebrating with you in another couple of days.”


    “Count on it. Good luck to you too, Jaxon. See you soon.”


    I turn to head toward my bedroom. We’re up on the second floor. As I start up the stairs, I turn, seeing.


    Jaxon still where I left him, watching me. He winks at me, making me smile.


    It’s a restless night’s sleep, tossing and turning, worried I’ll oversleep, stressing about the next couple


    of days. When it’s finally time to get up, Maggie and I go get a small breakfast and head outside.


    The atmosphere this morning is considerably different thanst night. Today, everyone is inpetition


    mode. This first elimination is going to be huge. Six hundred people are here and only one hundred will


    go to the next round.


    I look around and find Jaxon. He’s looking at me and nods Ins head in greeting. I nod back.


    It’s very quiet, especially considering how many people are standing here. Councilman Jason steps up


    to the starting line.


    “When the gun goes off, thepetition will begin. If you need help in between the rest areas, howl


    and someone wille for you. If you are removed from the race, you are disqualified from the


    contest. Good luck everyone.”


    He steps back and everyone pushes forward. A momentter, the gun goes off.


    Let the contest begin.