Page 2 of He Claimed Her Heart

“Thank you. I’m sorry that I’m causing such a rift in the family,” I remarked as I saw his smile fade from his face.

“You didn’t cause the rift. Mom did.I don’t know what her problem is, but she needs to stop. Dad and I couldn’t be prouder of you.” Tom reassured me. “After you, sis.”

“Thank you. Are you walking me all the way up to the conference room?” I asked him as he continued to walk with meup the stairs.

“My orders were to escort you to the meeting. I am to knock on the door, escort you in, and leave. So, I will do so. It is my honor to do so,” he announced with a wide smile as we walked toward the conference room. He knocked on the door and waited for the ‘come in’ before he opened the door for me to enter. Then, he closed the door behind me.

I entered the conference room to see Alpha Bennett,my father, Beta Theodore, Gamma Floyd, Delta Miles, and about four other warriors—Sawyer, Daryl, Owen, and Tatum. I bowed respectfully to Alpha Bennett and waited to be told what to do.

“Good morning, Breonna. It’s good to see you this morning.Won’t you come in and have a seat at the table,” Alpha Bennett announced.

“Thank you alpha,” I answered him as I bowed before I took the seat across from my father who had a wide smile on his face. He told me, through the mind link, that he approved of my outfit. It was perfect.

“I know you are wondering why we are having this meeting to discuss your new duties. Well, I havesome things I want to discuss with you concerning a new job title I have created just for you. We all agree that head female warrior will not do you justice. So, we have created a new title for you. How does Lead Female Trainer and Warrior sound to you?” inquired Alpha Bennett.

“I like it,” I replied. I didn’t know what else to say. I sat there with my hands in my lap totally unsure of what to say or do. I looked at my father who looked a little perplexed. Did I do something wrong? I decided to ask him through the mind link if I did something wrong. His reply was that I didn’t do anything wrong. He just expected me to say more than that.

“Bree, I understand that you may not know what to say or what to do right now. I totally get it.Take a breath. You look like you are about to pass out,” advised Alpha Bennett.

I took a breath. I didn’t realize that I was holding my breath.My breathing evened out and I started to feel better. “Thank you, Alpha. I didn’t realize that I was holding my breath,” I explained as slowly began to relax.

“It’s okay. I’m told I can be intimidating. Although, I don’t know why?Anyway, Let’s discuss the first thing I want you to do. It is to get ready for the tournament at the Grand Forks Pack in four weeks. Every year, we put our four best male and female warriors in the tournament. Every pack does the same. We also use this time as a way for our unmated wolves to mingle so they can find their mates,” Alpha Bennett explained as he handed me a sheet of paper.

“This will be your first tournament Bree. Also, you will be of age to find your mate,” chuckled my dad as he looked at my startled expression.

“My mate? Oh goodness, gracious. One thing at a time dad, okay?” I countered as I looked over the paper handed to me. As a werewolf, we have mates or a soulmate. They are the other half of ourselves that we didn’t know we needed. We will spend our lives looking for them. At the age of 18, we are able to ‘sniff’ out our mates if they are near us. Then, when we find them, the bond begins to form when we look into their eyes.

“As Lead Trainer and Warrior, you will participate in the tournament. You will be our secret weapon,” stated Alpha Bennett.

“How am I your secret weapon?” I questioned Alpha Bennett witha puzzled look on my face.

“No one knows about you or your fighting skills.To be eighteen and be Lead Trainer and Warrior is extremely rare. You will be our ace in the tournament. We have not placed in the top five in the last four years. I want that to change this year. You are going to make sure that happens,” Alpha Bennett announced to everyone in the conference room.

All eyes turned towards me.I was stunned into silence. Alpha Bennett was counting on me to not only compete in the tournament but to place in the top five. This would be my first year. How would I do that? I needed to find out more about what happens at the tournament.

“Alpha Bennett, may I aska stupid question?” I inquired as everyone continued to stare at me.

“Go right ahead. But I’m pretty sure I already know what the question is. You want to know what to expect and how the tournamentfunctions. Am I correct?” Alpha Bennett asked me with his eyebrow raised.

“YesAlpha. That’s what I want to know. I need to know what to expect so I can properly prepare for the tournament,” I replied to his assumption.

“That paper I handed you has some of the information you need. There is a link with the rest of the information you need.Read over the information and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Okay?” Alpha Bennett asked me as I started reading the paper.

“YesAlpha. I have only one concern and I think you already know who it is. What am I going to do with my mother? She does not approve of me being a warrior and she is very vocal about it,” I inquired as I looked at my dad with a frown on my face.

“Well, we’ve been thinking aboutthat, and we think we have a solution. We will enact the plan this afternoon. In fact, why don’t you take the afternoon off Bree? I believe you have been invited to an outing with the other teenagers. Why don’t you go and relax while we take care of our Beta female? Hmm?” Alpha Bennett suggested with a sly smile.

“Yes, alpha.I will let Tom know that I can join them at the lake after all. I will get on the tournament information tomorrow if that is all right,” I replied with a grin of my own.

“Does anyone have any questionsfor me?” Alpha Bennett inquired as he looked around the room at everyone. “No. Then, this meeting is adjourned. You all are dismissed. Bree, you need to leave via the back of the pack house to avoid your mother.”

“Yes alpha,” I replied as I got up from my chair to leave the conference room. My dad came over and gave me a big hug.

“I’m so proud of youPuddin’,” dad gushed. “Your mother and I will be leaving in about 10 minutes. I won’t be back home until tomorrow afternoon. Take care of yourself and look out for your brother. I’ll explain everything when I return,” dad exclaimed as he walked me out of the conference room.

“I’ll look out for him like always. Love you dad. Take care and be safe,” I replied we continued to walk out. I kissed him on the cheek as he left me in the hallway as he descended the stairwell towards his office. I took the back stairs towards the back of the pack house. I took off towards the training grounds so I could meet up with Tom and let him know I could join him at the lake this afternoon.

CHAPTER 2

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