Page 33 of He Claimed Her Heart

“Well, yes,” I honestly answered him.

“I’ll explain it after the dance is over. Okay?” he replied with a hint of hurt in his eyes.

“Okay. I didn’t mean to touch a nerve or to make you unhappy,” I stated as I we finished the song as he escorted me off the dance floor.

“No, it’s not like that. It’s just, after I lost my mate, I haven’t found anyone I wantedto get close to or wanted to mate with. When I saw you at the tournament last week, Wow! You definitely opened my eyes and reawakened my wolf. When you won the tournament, I wanted to get to know more about you. Who you were, if you were mated, everything. That’s when I found out about the agreement you made with Drake. I knew I wanted a similar agreement. I wanted a chance at becoming your mate,” he explained as he maintained eye contact so I could see his honesty in his eyes.

“So, you were the one who told everyone about the agreement between Drake and I?” I asked with disbelief in my voice.

“No, I didn’t tell a soul.I didn’t want more competition. I want you for myself,” he explained with a hint of jealousy in his voice.

“Oh, okay. Hmm, I wonder who told everyone. It doesn’t matter anymore, word got around and here we are,” I stated as Elias approached me with a smile on his face.

“Bree, may I have this dance?” he asked as he bowed towards me.

“Of course, you may,” I answered himas I took his hand. “We’ll talk and have another dance later Lorenzo,” I stated as I took his hand.

“That would be lovely Bree. I look forward to it,” he replied as he walked over the barwith a scowl on his face.

Elias led us to the dance flooras an upbeat song started to play,Love Shackby the B52s. I laughed as I told him. “I really can’t dance to this song. I look awful dancing to this song. But if you’re willing, I’ll try it.”

“This isn’t the song I requested, but I’ll give it a try,” he replied with a smirk. We started our free style dancing. He stood there moving his body back and forth mesmerized by my movements. I was moving to the music. My eyes were closed, and my arms were in the air. They were swaying to the music as were my shoulders. I know my breasts were bouncing around, but I didn’t care. I was having fun. My hips were moving in rhythm as well. Before long, we had three or four more joining our little group. Drake was definitely there enjoying the dancing with his hands on my hips. I opened my eyes to see his wolfish grin and Elias’s smirk. We were having a lot of fun by the end of the song.

Then, the songThe Loco-Motionby Grand Funk Railroad came on behind it. Perfect. We all stayed on the dance floor having just as much fun with this song as we did the last. When it came to the part of ‘You’ve got to swing your hips now,’ I always swing my hips the wrong way. I don’t know why, but I do. “You’re doing it wrong Bree,” yelled my brother.

“Oh, shut up, Tom. You’re ruining my fun,” I yelled back at him.

With the songs over with, I was finally able to sit down for a few minutes. Elias came over to sit down with me so I could finally talk to him. “What song did you request?” I asked him out of curiosity.

“Pretty Womanby Roy Orbison. It fits you. I figured since everyone else was doing sappy love songs, I would do something that would tell you what I thought about you,” Elias replied with a blush across his cheeks.

“Nice approach. If the song ever comes up, I’ll dance with you. I’ll still have at least one more dance with you. Tell me a little bit about yourself. I know next to nothing about you,” I contended as I drank some water.

“Well, I’m the Alpha of the Westwood Pack. We have about 300 pack members.I have a little sister named Maggie, she’s 15. She still lives with my parents. I like C & W from the 80s and 90s as well as Rock ‘N Roll from the 70s & 80s, just like you. I don’t like Rap or Hip Hop. I do like the old time R & B, like you,” he stated with a smirk.

“How do you know what kind of music I like?” I asked him with a quizzical look on my face.

“Well, your pack members arevery helpful in giving me tips to get to know you a little bit better. I also know that you don’t like mushrooms, you like Italian food, when your stressed out or overwhelmed, your go to food is chocolate ice cream. You are very flexible and can perform gymnastic flips. I know for a fact, because I have witnessed it, you are one hell of a warrior,” Elias exclaimed with a smile on his handsome face.

“Wow! You certainly did your homework on me.I still don’t know that much about you though. I guess that’s what dating is all about. The only question is can you handle the frustrated, the upset, or the overheated Bree?” I wondered aloud as I took in his features.

The rest of the evening went on like that. I would dance withthem and then talk with them. My pack members would fill them in about me and vice versa. I was getting a lot of information about them. For instance, Alpha Ethan who practically ran to his chair after meeting me, really doesn’t want to be Alpha. He’s going to turn his Alphaship over to his brother, who was supposed to have in the first place, as soon as possible. But there is something nagging me about Lorenzo. I just can’t put my finger on it. There is something off about him.

Alpha Bennett called for everyone’s attention:

“Ladies and gentlemen now has come the time for you to vote on the Alphas. Yes, now they are once again Alphas. Use your phone or tablet to place your vote, remember Alpha Drake is not on the ballot because Bree has already agreed to date him. You are simply casting vote 1-4. Now remember 1 is for the one you really want Bree to be with, and 2, is your second choice, and etc. You cannot vote past four. Now please cast your vote. Bree will take a break and will return in 10 minutes when we will announce who Bree will be dating.”

I was escorted out of the banquet hall bymy protective detail. I went upstairs to my suite for a quick bite to eat and something to drink. I was enjoying the silence and solitude when I heard a soft knock on my door. I went to open it and found Drake on the other side of the door. “I was told to come and escort you down to the banquet hall by Alpha Bennett,” he explained as he held his arm out for me to take.

“Okay, but first may I ask a favor of you?” I inquired with a pout on my face.

“Depends on what the favor ismy love,” he stated with a sly grin.

I wrappedmy arms around his neck and ran my nose along his neck. I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent. I happily sighed and opened my eyes. I looked at him with a hint of mischief in my eyes. I didn’t even ask for the favor; I just took the favor. I kissed him soundly and with passion. He wrapped his arms around my waist. We both moaned in the kiss.

After we pulled apart, he put his forehead on my and replied, “I guess I now know what the favor was.” We were both still catching our breath as he captured my lips one more time. This time it wasn’t as passionate, but it still told me how much he cared for me.

“I guess I wasn’t the only one who wanted a kiss after tonight’s events, hmm?” I muttered as Igazed into his emerald, green eyes. I sighed a happy sigh as he straightened us out. He once again held out his arm for me to take. He led me down the stairwell towards the banquet hall. When we reached Alpha Bennett and my dad, Alpha Drake bowed to me and said, “This is my cue to leave. I’ll see you shortly Bree.” He kissed me on the cheek before he walked into the banquet hall.

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