Challenging Love (Drekinn Book Five) by Jana Leigh Page A

get everyone to settle down. “We know we have a long road ahead of us, and it will only work if we are strong, and we allow the past to remain where it should be.”
    “Here here!” Calli raised her glass of milk and smiled.
    Brooks stood and nodded to everyone in the room. “It has been rough on all of us, this unsurety. But I want you to all know, there has never been a time we did not support you. This group, no matter what, is family, and we can only move forward. We have trials ahead of us, and I know that all of you are strong enough to face them, together. I couldn’t be more proud to belong to this group.”
    He raised his glass and Calli sniffed. “Damn hormones, that was so sweet.”
    Kade rolled his eyes, leaned over, kissed his mate on her head, and then said, “Let’s eat.”
    The meal was boisterous and fun, everyone catching up after their little vacation from each other. Pilar sat back a few times and noticed that it seemed like the group was even closer now. Possibly a blow up is what they needed to ground themselves again.
    She watched Calix talking to the group and wondered what he really thought of all this. Although he had time to get to know them since he had been here, he was reserved, she noticed him studying each of the members of the room as if he was trying to see if they needed a little therapy.
    Calli must have noticed it too because their leader looked at Calix and said, “So, Garfield, what do you think about all this?”
    The room grew quiet. Pilar was sure that many conversations had taken place in private about Calix. Every time a new member came in, this is what happened, only this time it was delayed.
    “Garfield?” Calix said.
    “Yeah, some cartoon cat that used to be popular, I kinda liked him, he ate pizza a lot,” Kiki spouted.
    Calix growled a little at Calli who was grinning and then finally answered, “What would you like to know?”
    “How do you feel about all this?” Calli asked.
    “If you are asking about Pilar and Brooks, I couldn’t be happier with the mates I have found. If you are talking about the Drekinn? I'm not sure yet,” Calix admitted.
    “Why?" Calli probed.
    “Honestly, I believe in everything you guys are doing. The only thing I am hesitant about is the anger that you all have. It seems to be, I don’t know, more than what I would think is necessary,” Calix said carefully.
    “What are you talking about?” Kade said just as slowly. “They took the Drekinn Agency down when it was needed the most. We are on the run for no other reason than we are powerful, and they have tried to kill at least three of the people in this room. Of course we are angry.”
    Calix nodded and then looked at the Alphas closely. “I realize that, and yes there should be anger there. However, last week when there was some communication intercepted, it was as if someone let off a bomb. Everyone was extremely pissed about the Prentiss Agency referencing the Chosen.”
    “They were talking about them as if they were cowards,” Thomas protested. “It was wrong.”
    “I agree, and even I felt a level of anger that was not really normal. I can’t explain it,” Calix said and everyone in the room was silent. “I'm not hesitant about you at all. I know what you, we, are doing and will do is important. I'm just not sure what else is going on.”
    “Something to watch,” Kade agreed.
    The conversation turned to more pleasant things and soon everyone forgot about what was said, well everyone but Calix who still had a niggling feeling there was more going on than they knew.
    *****
    “Finally alone,” Pilar said when they entered their rooms.
    “I have been waiting all night to tell you how amazing you look. We didn’t have a chance before dinner,” Brooks muttered and came up behind her and kissed her neck.
    “That could have been because you were too busy trying to make us late,” Pilar teased.
    “Hmmmm, I think a bath is in order,” Calix growled and kissed