Page 21 of He Claimed Her Heart

“Thank you, sir,” I replied as I sighed and closed my eyes. I was tired and in pain.

“I’ll leave you be for now, get some rest and we will see you later tonight for the big celebration,” Alpha Bennett announced.

“Bree, can we get you anything? Do you need anything?” Marcus inquired as held vigil over me.

“No, I just need time to rest and heal.Yes, I do need something. I need something to eat. I didn’t eat very much for breakfast or lunch. So, my wolf needs food if she’s going to heal the injuries,” I explained.

“On it. I’ll be right back,” Javier stated as he headed out of the medical area.

My teammates formed a circle around me so that no one could see me or come near me. They wanted to give me as much privacy as possible under the circumstances. With my bones reset and everything feeling better, I was able to go back to my room. Dad was all too happy to carry me back so I could get ready for tonight’s festivities. Did I really want to go to the Big Celebration? I had no choice but to go. I was going to receive a trophy for wining and recognition. I had to go. The question was did I feel like going? No, I didn’t feel like going. I was still in pain.

Zaria helped me take a shower and get dressed. She even helped me with my hair and makeup. Thankfully, I packed flats to wear with my dress tonight. When it was time to go to the celebration, a knock came at the door. We decided we would go as a unit. I love my teammates. Javier made sure to help me to myseat.

Out of the blue, I heard my name beinghollered over the noise of the room. Then, the room became deathly silent. “Breonna Marie Mathis where are you?! Step forward this instant!” my mother bellowed.

I slowly stood up and walked to the center of the room. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My mother was supposed to be somewhere else.Instead, she was here yelling my name.

“What is this I hear you won a fighting tournament? How could you disgrace our family name like this?How could you?” she demanded as growls could be heard throughout the room.

“I didn’t disgrace the family mother, I …” started to reply before she cut me off.

“Don’t you darecontradict me. You continue to disgrace our family at every turn. First you have to be the first one who wins this silly survivalist course, then you become a warrior in the pack, now you win a fighting tournament,” she hissed. “Get on your knees to beg forgiveness. Now! Do you hear me?!”

“Mother, I don’t have anything to beg forgiveness for. I haven’t done anything wrong,” I replied as she approached me.

“How dare you speak to me that wayyou insolent child,” she scolded as she backhanded me and sent me to the floor. “Now, get on your knees to beg my forgiveness.”

“What is going on here! Breonna, get off the floor,Now!” Alpha Drake demanded an authoritative voice.

“I am talking to my daughter.I am Beta Ann. Who are you to be giving out orders sir?” mother implored.

“I am Alpha Drake. The host of the tournament. Breonna, get up,” Alpha Drake said as he held out his hand for her to take.

“Beta Ann, you are a disgrace to your title. You should not be talking to her in such a manner. She is not a disgrace. If anyone is, it would be you. She brought honor to her family and pack by winning the tournament today,” Alpha Drake announced holding my hand.

“Beta Ann why are you here. I thought you were supposed to be at a seminar?” Alpha Bennett inquired as he approached with dad in tow.

“Yes, well Alpha I managed to give my babysitters the slip to come and see my daughter,” mother answered him.

“Ann, why couldn’t you just congratulate her like that rest of us. She did good today. You should be proud of her,” dad growled at mom.

“Proud, of her? Really? I’ve never been proud of her.I never wanted a daughter,” mom said flatly.

Ididn’t say a word. I had heard it all before. Now, it was being said again for everyone else to hear. How embarrassing. Edward and Angela came over to stand next to me.

“She was my son’s mate. We are proud to call her our daughter.”Angela stated.

“She will forever be known as our daughter. If you don’t want her, fine, she will belong to us. No problem,” Edward stated as he stared daggers at mom.

“She was your son’smate. What happened to your son?” mom inquired.

“He was killed by a rogue attack on our pack. Bree killed the person responsible for the attack and gave us the heart of that person,” Edward announced proudly.

“She did what! How disgusting. How could you do such a thing?!” mother shouted at me.

“Mother I did what needed to be done. I would do it all over again if I had to,” I explained to her.

“Beta Ann MarieWentworth you are hence forth stripped of your title of Beta female of the Blackhawk Pack. You will be banished from the pack and forced to live as a rogue,” Alpha Bennett announced to all present.

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