Eleven.

Henry was in his first truly good mood for as long as he could remember. He didn't even care about the sniggers from the members of this pack; over his appearance on a leash. The truth is he had completely forgotten it was even there by the time he and Eloise had made it back to the pack house. He only recalled it when her hand slipped over his head and lifted it from around his neck. Eloise even held the door open for him before she disappeared toward the kitchen.

It stung that he didn't receive a second glance from her during her departure, but at this moment in time he had more pressing matters to attend to.

Henry needed to see to the three main *S* before seeing Eloise at dinner.

In his case that would be *Shifting, Showering, and Shaving.*

With his excitement growing to get back to the comfortable feelings he had this afternoon, he accomplished all three tasks in record time, before realizing he now had a ridiculous amount of time left over to wait until dinner. Time he didn't want to spend with anyone but Eloise. Not, that he would admit that more than once, even to himself. The truth was he was already mentally expressing to himself about his desire to avoid not only his Mom, but Grams and even his sister as well.

Instead he decided to call his brother. Sebastian was his Beta, and was currently looking after the pack for him back home. He was the only one that knew of Henry's true motives for this *welfare check* on Sammy, and while he made his impression of it clear, he did not, and would not break rank. It e

was a loyalty that Henry was grateful for.

Henry picked up his cell before getting himself comfortable with his feet up on the bed in front of himself to speak with Sebastian, the bed was grudgingly comfortable, only because he wished there was more he could complain of. It strongly irked him how well Shane ran his pack. It was a pure jealousy thing, Henry aspired to do the same, but in truth his father had left such a well covered mess he felt like he was constantly putting out fires in his wake.

With a sigh of discontent Henry dialled his brother's number and awaited on the response.

"Henry," Sebastian answered of the third ring, always one for punctuality.

"Bast, how are things at home?" Henry asked on autopilot, not one for familiarities.

"It's allnfine. Though Paul and Beatrix Turner, turned out to be mates. That's the only thing to update you on." Sebastian replied automatically.

"Good, good... Wait, aren't they siblings?" Henry asked, sitting bolt upright suddenly as he felt like the world was throwing him yet another curve ball.

"Step-siblings, Sharon and Frank met when they were both widowed. Paul and Beatrix have been at each other's throats most of their lives until six months ago when they weren't. They finally came back from college after missing all their other breaks, scents all over one another." Sebastian explained, "Frank and Sharon are in a state, but they will get over it. Mates are mates after all, it might be why they hated being forced to act like siblings all there lives."

"Shit!" Henry scoffed, "And, I thought I had mate drama."

"Speaking of... Hows it going?" Sebastian asked blatantly, "Was forcing Carson to go with you worth it? Because Omar and Marylin have been blowing up my cell as well as the mindlink for an update."

Henry sighed, "It's... complicated."

"Look, as my Alpha I don't mean you any disrespect here; however, fuck right off with that shit. This is me you're talking to, Henry." Sebastian scoffed.

Henry growled out, "Careful now. I've had all the disrespect I can deal with today."

Sebastian laughed, "Have you not learned anything from our sister yet? Respect is given when it is earned, and in that pack, that's a motto they now hold close. So, when your beta is bringing to you concerns pack members have about their son. Don't try and brush me off. Did Eloise decide upon seeing her brother she misses home? Or did it backfire like I told you it would?"

Henry sighed, Sebastian was the only one who could get through to him half the time, "Fine, you were right. It backfired. She got upset."

"Wait, sorry I dont think I heard you correctly, must be a bad reception kind of thing. Did you just admit to being wrong?" Sebastian goaded his brother.l further.

"Shut up." Henry grumbled, seeing the shit-eating grin all over his brother's face as he spoke.

"No chance. I'm never letting this one go. Can you say it again, that way I can record it?" Sebastian teased him. "People might not believe me otherwise."

Henry smirked at his brother, shaking his head as Sebastian spoke. "Bast, it wasn't a complete mess up. I got to spend a peaceful afternoon with Eloise on the park." Henry tried to reason with Sebastian. Even though he knew he was omitting several important details.

"Really?" Sebastian asked in shock.

"Really, and I do think the time she had reconnecting with her brother means she will be more amenable to attending home for family visits. Can't think why though? My brother can be an ass." Henry smirked.

"Do you know? Mine can be the exact same. Maybe it's a sisterly thing that makes her like Carson. But then, Sammy doesn't seem to much like our brother either," Sebastian pondered out loud, deliberately trying to wind his brother up further.

"Touché. Little Brother." Henry laughed, not at al minding the slight from Sebastian. "Anyway, I'm going to offer Eloise a place to stay and visit to reconnect with Marylin and Omar as well, during dinner tonighy. Hopefully then, I can get to spend some time with her and persuade her she belongs with me that way."

"Be careful, Henry." Sebastian warned, "Don't go in too strong. Eloise has always had issues with Alphas, since her parents. She doesn't take kindly to her freedoms being curbed or dictated to. She was a rogue for a reason, and for most of her life. Remember what I said about respect? Its even more relevant in Eloise case."

*Author's Note, Sorry about the delay, between Easter holidays and kids with colds..

.I've been exhausted at the end of the day when I normally write.*