Page 47 of He Claimed Her Heart

“You are correct.Breonna, would you please finish?” Alpha Bennett asked me with a wave of his hand.

“Yes, Alpha,” I answered himfrom behind the young wolf.

The young wolf jumped when I answered Alpha Bennett. He didn’t see me when he entered the conference room. When he saw me, he physically shuddered.

“Bree, I … I…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean …” started the young wolf before I interrupted him.

“Save your excusesThad. I have heard them before. This is your third time. The first time you failed in your patrol duties, you received a warning by Beta Theo. The second time, you received a letter of probation by me, head of patrols. Did you not?” I asked him with a hard voice.

“Yes, but I was distracted and I …”he began to explain his excuse for being sloppy on border patrol.

‘Distracted! You cannot be distracted when on border patrol! The lives of the pack depend on us being100% alert at all times when we are on patrol. That is why we only patrol for two-hour intervals. There are no excuses. If you are not up to the job, what is the protocol?” I asked him as I stepped in front of him.

“The protocol … the protocol is to notify thepatrol supervisor who will find a replacement for me until a time I give 100% to my duties. There is no excuse,” the young wolf stuttered as he stood there on trembling legs.

“You’re right, thereare no excuses for putting the pack at risk. Now, the letter of probation stated that if another event happened you would receive an appropriate punishment by the Alpha which would include a week in the dungeons for endangering the pack, and anything else the Alpha would deem appropriate for the breech depending upon the damage done by the perpetrator,” I reminded the young wolf as I watched him tremble in front of me.

“Yes ma’am. I do remember that. I acceptmy punishment,” the young wolf stated with his head hung low.

“Good. Thad, know this. I for one hope you never make this mistake again. Alpha Bennett,” I announced as I bowed respectfully toward him.

“Thankyou, Bree. Thad Forbes, your punishment for the security breech is one week in the dungeons. Do you have any questions?” Alpha Bennett asked the young wolf.

“No Alpha. I do not,” Thad answered him as he bowed toward him before he was led back out of the conference room.

“Bree, that was a perfect example of why you will make a wonderful Luna. You know how to discipline but you also know how to praise,” Alpha Bennett praised me as I began to sway on my feet. “Bree are you alright? Bree?!”

I fell to the floor. I was wheezing and my lips were turning blue. I couldn’t breathe. “Theo, get the epi-pen out of the cabinet!” Alpha Bennett shouted as he, Tom, Drake, and Elias both ran over to see what they could to help me. After he got the epi-pen, he threw it to Alpha Bennett who administered it to my left thigh. They alerted the pack hospital that they would be brining me in and why. Elias didn’t hesitate. He picked me up and ran out the door towards the pack hospital.

We were met outside the hospital, and I was placed on a gurney. I was taken to a room and hooked up a machine. The doctor came in as well as a slew of nurse to assess my condition. They took blood, hooked me up to measure my pulse oxygen, and started the poking/prodding of me. Much to my dismay, I had a too many people hanging around me. I started throwing up again which the doctor didn’t like.

The doctor asked dad what I ate to make me throw up like this. Dad explained that Alpha Elias made omelets with mushrooms and my allergy. He said, if she threw up several times already, why is she still throwing up now. Why did she have to use the epi-pen? Too many questions. The doctor ordered her blood work stat. He had a hunch that her blood work held the answers to all his questions.

They hooked Bree up to an IV to flush her system outand to hydrate her. She was feeling really, well to put it nicely, crappy. Drake and Elias wanted to go in and see her, but she didn’t want to see anyone. She knew she looked like hell. She didn’t feel well and didn’t want to be around anyone. She hoped they understood.

Dad cameinto the room. He announced, “Hey Puddin’, are you up for some visitors? Drake and Elias really want to come in and see you. I’m having a hard time keeping them out of your room. In fact, they’re literally, right outside right now. Waiting for you to say the word. What’ll you say, can they come in?” dad pleaded their case with me.

“I guess so. I look like hell dad,” I replied as they walked through the door.

“You do not look like hell.What can I do to make you feel better?” Drake soothed as he walked closer to the bed and me.

“Oh baby, I am so sorry I forgot about the mushrooms. You just don’t know how sorry I am,” Elias mewled as he approached the bed and tried to comfort me.

I was under several blanketsthat were tucked under my chin. Only my head was out of the covers. My eyes were drooping, and I had a hard time keeping them open for some reason. “Elias, I told you, It was an honest mistake. Please stop apologizing,” I mumbled as I tried to stay awake.

Drake ran his hand along blanket covered arm whispering sweet nothings in my ear. Elias stood at the foot of the bed looking perplexed because he blamed himself for this. Suddenly, the door opened which caused dad, Drake, and Elias to jump. The doctor and Alpha Bennett walked in along with two nurses.

“We need to talk. Bree had Wolfsbane in her blood work. Drake had wolfsbane stolen from his territory. We need to have the food taken from your kitchen Beta and have it tested to make sure it’s safe. We will test everything she ate, especially the mushrooms. Where did you get the mushrooms from?” Alpha Bennett inquired from my father.

“I got the mushrooms from the kitchen in the pack house. Mrs. Harris orders our food as well. She can tell you where it was delivered from,” dad replied with a frown on his face.

“Do you think Bree was the target of thefood poisoning?” Drake inquired with concern etched on his face.

“I’m not sure, butwe’ll find out,” Alpha Bennett replied with a long sigh. “Elias, we need to have your blood tested as well since you had breakfast with her. The doctor is waiting for you in the next room to take a sample,” Bennett announced as they continued to discuss what needed to be done next.

“I’ll be right back,” Elias replied as he left for his blood work.

I sent dad a mind link that before all of this started, I felt like I was being watched. It all started the day Alpha Bennett gave me the title of Lead Trainer and Warrior. I didn’t think anything of it because of the fact we are always being watched. I asked him not to say it out loud. I didn’t want Drake or Elias to know about it. He said he would let Alpha Bennett know. I just needed to rest and heal.

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