Stronger by Ang Chris

“I love my people they deserve a great Luna and a strong heir,” He panted

*Oh! How nervous could someone be! *

“I’m sure they do. I would like to know more about you,” I smiled.

This was my third conversation of the day. We were walking in the fields talking about what life may be like if he won. I wanted to get to know the men before they fought. This was not part of the tradition but I had insisted and so had my parents.

The alphas son I was with now was 17 and highly strung about his chance with me. I could empathize with him and his hopes.

We had been walking for 10 minutes and he had not said a single word about himself.

“I enjoy reading and learning. My father wishes I would practice my fighting more but I do my best to balance both,” He did indeed have broad shoulders and hefty arms. “I know it seems foolish but I do believe that knowledge is power as well. Though I know you are a strong warrior,” He smiled, wringing his hands.

“I am. I’ve learned many forms of combat to help defend my pack. Though reading is one of my passions,” I looked over the fields at the growing food my pack would harvest at the end of the season. I would not be here for that.

“Really,” He examined. “I am so glad, it would be nice to enjoy sharing my books with my mate,” He nodded his eyes now alight.

“I enjoy a good romance,” I furthered.

His face dulled. “Ah,” He turned his head away from me “I meant nonfiction. Science books, psychology, and historical texts,” he folded his hands behind himself.

I scrunched my eyebrows. “There is a lot to learn from fantasy novels as well. Morals, facts, coping, heartbreak,” I pushed back.

He smiled. “You are right. Still not my favorite. I do think I’d listen to you talk of them all day though,” He said, turning to smile at me once more.

*I’m not sure he seems too good to be true. *

I could not hope to fall in love in one conversation, and he seemed honest. No man trying to deceive me would show their dissatisfaction with an answer of mine unless they were stupid.

“That is very sweet Maxwell,” I laughed.

“Your time is up Annette has some duties to attend to,” Theo stuck his head in between us.

I smiled and waved goodbye to him as I turned.

“Please call me Max!” He hesitantly called after me.

“Only if you call me Anna!” I called back.

I turned my head towards the building of our pack. This was the best conversation I’d had this day. I enjoyed him, though I still felt a stone in my heart that he was not for me.

“He seemed nice,” Theo poked my side.

I turned to the middle of my brothers. “He was. Still, I’m holding my heart behind closed doors. Something is sitting in me telling me to wait,” I shook my head confused at this unsettling sense I held onto.

“Is it your fears?” Theo stopped. “You should not let them hold you back you know,” He looked so worried. I knew it was not easy for him to see me like this, so vulnerable and there was nothing he could do.

“It is not, I feel as though there is something missing,” I shrugged my shoulders not sure how to explain to him the feeling I knew was right.

He put his hands in his pockets. “Perhaps there is something the goddess wishes to show you?”

I turned away from him. “I could only hope, still I am going to listen to it. I will not bend,”

“As you should,” He walked after me lazily. “I wish I could give you advice but I knew who I wanted for the longest time. No one cared who I choose,”

He and Cea were good together. They brought out the best in each other and I saw it every day. It was hard to look at sometimes knowing I’d never enjoy something like that for myself.

“Mother wants you to help her with Patricia. She’s started too soon,” Theo explained finally why he had indeed pulled me from my chat.

I turned now enraged that he’d let me ramble on for so long. “Are you an imbecile? Where is she!”

I took off running as soon as he gave me her location.

“And we have horses. Lovely breeds it’s how we make the money we have….” He didn’t even look at me as he spoke. He had been speaking the entire time.

I could not care though my mind was still with Patricia. She had birthed such a beautiful little girl. Her husband, a strong warrior, already had six sons. Six! The baby had come so soon because she was not breathing but I could tell she hadn’t left us yet.

help Patricia and I worked

were cries of a strangled nature not used to fresh air. Patricia wept such happiness as

in moments of true need were the greatest kind of high I

You shall not break a horse though because they

Her husband, one of the largest men I’d seen, looked broken in half at the sight of her unconscious. The elders had

could not believe the smell sometimes though I do believe

I enjoyed the most. I could only hope my

in good shape. The tournament tomorrow will

set at all,” I was astonished

for almost four months,”

sleep!” I laughed before I took a sip of

the liquid was to help get my voice through all the conversations. This one

talking to Peter about the frozen moon pack. He was telling me all about the people and the seasons

if you cover your windows. I’m sure you could manage if

claimed I

being genuine. Perhaps this was just another tactic to get under my skin. It was

faced me fully. “Can I tell you something?” He pleadingly

blinked for a second at his change of emotion.

want her though. I need her as my Luna,” quickly realizing he may have offended me he added “you are great! Don’t get me wrong I mean I would be unbelievably fortunate to win

before talking, letting him stew in his anxiety. “She sounds like quite the gem. I should

of relief. “She was not happy I left at all but I made sure she knew

my hands laughing internally. “Well, then

so?” His nerves returned to him

the other men trying to claim me,”

his chair. “You are

shrugged and continued to drink. “Seriously

Arthur Marcken only talks about the ranch in his pack. One man can’t help but stare at your umm…assets. Another I’m fairly sure is into your eldest

mind. I could smell it

missing man?” I tried

has sent his beta ahead with gifts for you to apologize for his delay. I am terrified to see what he looks like because his beta is bigger

fell over myself when I realized he wasn’t alpha!” I

move not coming until the

gifts I actually enjoy. I’m

goddess has smiled upon you

get me a romance?” I

guilty party nervously sipped her

having conversations with nervous boys I got a moment of peace to eat dinner

beyond the dinner I had last night with an alpha who refused to leave his son alone with me

My father sighed, annoyed

and treats all day to help further my conversations with the men.

man who wanted to know what she liked,” My mother smiled

partiality,”

indignation. “If any man asked to give my daughter a gift

a tactic used by abusers to get you to fall in love quickly,”

I had been hoping this meant the mystery man was earnest but his mystery

Charlie quickly chastised

not think for a second that she

this is why he’s stayed away, his mother could be

lot, knows his power,” he stuffed his mouth as he talked. “Good thing. Still I’d be more afraid of him if he didn’t.

Shills was attractive in the basic sense. His ginger hair and Cheshire Cat smile. Still, I felt as though I wanted to vomit

to get some last tastes of the sea air. His clothes were nice but his manners were sorely lacking. He did not act as though he respected me or my

the number of people scared to look him in the eye but

He was like an unsavory dish sl*pping down your throat.

too much to let this continue. I’m afraid I have my list picked out for

stood and started walking away as quickly as possible. I wish I could have framed his face: like a fish gasping

eyebrows and

“Miss Maloria,” he returned.

for this all week. I pushed his talk until the end to see if the alpha turned up and

up a nice smile at him covering my

in one of the many hidden spots on our pack grounds. This one more so in the woods with