Page 61 of He Claimed Her Heart

“Yes, Alpha I do. I don’t have much left.Everything has already by brought down. Thank you, Alpha Bennett, for breakfast,” I stated as I stood from my chair only to be scooped up by Elias once again and carted off to the living room to be deposited on the couch next to Elias.

Elias didn’t waste any time in telling mehow much he was going to miss me when he left to go back to his territory.He held my hand and was trying to make small talk, but it really didn’t seem to work. I felt like something was being kept from me once again. Why are they keeping things from me again?

Sensing my frustration, Tomsaid, “I wonder what kinds of food they’re have tonight to eat? I know potlucks usually are a lot of casseroles. I hope they have cake.”

“I’m pretty sure they’ll have a cake or two.What’s up with you?” I asked Tom who looked anxious about something.

“There just seems to be a lot going on lately. I’m worried about you is all. Can I be worried about my little sister?” Tom growled as he approached me on the couch.

“Yes, but I get the sense that you all aren’t telling me something.It’s frustrating. You know I don’t like secrets being kept from me,” I growled back at him as he sat down next to me.

“No, you don’t like secrets being kept from you. I’m sorry sis. This is one secret we have to keep from you. Alphas orders.It’s …” was all he could say before I cut him off.

“for my own good. I know. It’s always for my own good. I’ll just shut up now,” I stated as I put my hands in my lap. I didn’t want to say anything that would get me more upset. Elias looked at Tom who looked at me and shrugged his shoulders as if to say what now. We sat in an awkward silence until Alpha Bennett, Drake, and dad joined us in the living room.

Noticing how quiet and awkward it was, dad was the one who broke the silence, “What’s going on here? Why is it so quiet? Bree, Tom, Alpha Elias, anyone care to elaborate?”

“Well, Tom told Bree thateven though he knows she doesn’t like secrets being kept from her, Alphas orders are that this secret must be kept from her. She decided not to push it and to keep her mouth shut. So, here we are. Not talking to each other,” Elias explained as if it was obvious to everyone.

“Tom, did you have to tell her that?Really? Bree, it’s for your own safety that we don’t tell you at this time. Please don’t be angry with us,” dad pleaded as he went to take a seat in a chair.

“No, I get it dad. I won’t be told everything that happensfor my safety. I get it. It’s just frustrating. I’m not going to say anything else about it,” I stated with a hint of sadness in my voice before I turned to see Drake looking at me with concern etched on his face.

Before I could ask Drake what was wrong, he asked me, “Bree, are you ready to go? We need to leave soon if you we are to arrive before lunchtime. Your dad and Tom will be arriving around four or five this afternoon. Bree?”

I took in his handsome features for a moment. Even though he was concernedabout something, he was still incredible handsome. “Yes, I am ready to go. May I go to the restroom first. Then, I will be ready to go,” I replied as I stood from the couch accepting his hand and walking over to him.

“Yes, you may. May I escort you there or do you want me to carry you there?” Drakespeculated with a smirk on his face.

“I think I can walk since we will be driving for a while. May I?”I inquired with a smirk of my own and a pinch of his cheek.

“Of course. Anything for you my love,” Drake answered as we walked to the restroom on the first floor of the pack house.

After freshening up, I exited the restroom and found Drake waiting for me. He extended his arm for me. I took it and we walked out to the living room. Alpha Bennett, Tom, dad, and Elias were still there waiting for us. We said goodbye to Elias who had to leave to return to his territory. I gave him a hug and a kiss. He left and then I said goodbye to everyone else. Drake escorted me to the awaiting SUV outside.

CHAPTER 12

Alpha Drake

As we drove away from the pack house, I got the feeling I was permanently leaving the pack house. I don’t know why. It was like I knew I would never live there ever again. Tears started to well up in my eyes, I don’t know why, and then they started to fall.

Drake noticed my tears and asked, “Bree, what’s wrong? Are you alright? Did I do something wrong? What can I do to make it better?”

How can I answer him? How do I tell him that I got the feeling that I will never be back to my old pack house again to live? He would be ecstatic. “I just got a sense of … it’s hard to explain. I’m alright. It’s alright. I’m just being emotional. Don’t worry,” I replied to him as I wiped my tears away and gave him a smile.

He extended his right hand to me. I took it and intertwined my hand with his. His smile was breathtaking. “I worry about you because I care about you. So, you want to talk about it?” Drake asked as he waggled his eyebrows at me.

I chuckledas I replied, “No, but let’s talk about what’s planned for us when we get to your territory today. What’s on the agenda?”

I saw the gleam in his eye as he glanced towards the road and back towards me before he answered, “Well, my people are very anxious to have you back among us. They can’t wait to show you what it would be like to be our Luna.My Beta has some things set up for us today. I was told to go with the flow today and enjoy myself,” Drake announced in an amused voice. “I don’t know whether to be scared or happy that my Beta has taken the initiative to handle today’s events. We shall see.”

“Does he do this often?”I asked with a hint of humor in my voice as I watched his facial expression.

“No, but since things have gotten kind ofcrazy of late, I’ve given him the chance to run with it so to speak. He wanted to do something special for you anyway. He liked the way you handled his niece Lena the last time you were there. He was very impressed,” Drake smiled very pleased that he relayed that piece of information to me.

“Oh really! Why didn’t he tell me that?” I mused out loud as I played with Drake’s right hand.

“He didn’t know how to tell you. His mate is very possessive and well, let’s just say he didn’t want you kicking her ass just because you were having a conversation with him,” Drake explained as he continued to drive down the highway.

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