Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 7

I had smelt seawater. So many people were sweating and excited and I could smell seawater.

“Alpha,” my beta nodded, greeting me.

“Matt,” I smiled clapping his shoulder.

“What’s she like?” I looked around at the busy people frantic with anticipation. They wanted to to watch the men tear each other apart for their females.

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It was in our species‘ nature to be excited at battle and competition. Not only did they want the combat and blood they wanted someone worthy.

Was it wrong that I wanted her to be worthy of my pack too? She was a female alpha and I sympathize with the pressure on her but I wanted a luna my pack would be amazed at.

“She is…..strong. She held her composure at the indecency of the Crystal Ecl*pse men. Also, she is clever enough to be wary of a man who hasn’t shown up yet. she wanted to know your persona and the community she may help care for,”

I nodded, understanding his words. If I win and she becomes my luna I will want to see how she behaves with my people first so that she can be trusted. I put them above all else as their leader it is my job to protect and serve them.

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“She is also devoted to her people, she cut a date she was enjoying short to help a mother who was birthing early. The babe was not breathing and Annette saved it,”

*Matthew was impressed. *

My beta is a discerning man. He came in my stead because I knew he would hold the priority of the pack’s best interest at heart.

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To see him impressed told me my mother was right to come here.

She had heard of this family’s legacy but she knew this female’s father. Though they had a proud lineage they were humble and worked with their people. She said she had visited here once after my father died to see this girl. That was when my mother suggested I compete for her when the time came.

I am not compelled by my mother but a wise man listens to those who have seen a lifetime.

“You said she was enjoying the date she left?” I looked over the other men competing.

A taller lanky young man that seemed small in persona. A boy who looked far to you to be considered for this. Then

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there were two men chatting carelessly. I could identify Peter Saunik of the Frozen Moon pack. One of the largest packs out there. He was talking to a smaller man, I could see he had some muscle on him but they seemed for show not work. Two more men I deemed to be challenging. They seemed to be discussing strategy. There was a man off to the side looking up at the sun with a mindless look on his face. The final man was flirting?!

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*He will go first. *

“I believe I will compete,”

When I said this I felt a certainty enter me. As if this was the most defining moment of my life.

I smelled the air allowing the sea to fill my lungs as I turned to my beta to discuss the strengths of each man and I caught something on him.

“What is that?” I asked him.

Matt looked at me eyeing my flashing change in demeanor.

“What is what Alpha?”

He used my title only when he thought I was angry as a way to show his respect for my authority.

I was not mad.

*No, I don’t think I’m mad but there is something on Matt. Some whiff of something on him. A hint of a need that I desperately craved more of. *

“Why do you smell sweet?” I stepped toward him.

“Sweet? Grayson are you alright? You seem like you’re…..hurting,‘

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smell of something

was of fully forged alpha blood, born of even two

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The sweetness of…of..” My mind

I was so interested in this scent and why I was acting mystified by it.

and my gut. Still,

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who was flirting first as he was distracting this esteemed pack’s line.

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gently take out the small young boy. He was not ready for men like this. These men

I was angry.

they had the right to her? There were dogs! On

shouldn’t be allowed to breathe!

my wolf rise to the surface like lightning. He

“What was happening?

a fight the urge to win overcoming me.

me from killing any of these men. I feel as though I’m losing my control,”

match my mood.

was rocky and had patches of dirt

don’t give my opponents a place to grab me. My shirt was a simple tank top, which I did not prefer but the heat in Georgia was astonishing in

saw the stupid boy smiling with some of the girls from a visiting pack their laughs at his jokes stirred the

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His teeth bared. My eyes flashed

“Grayson!”

the voice of the Celestial Tide pack

all competing males come to ring!” Alpha Jonathan announced.

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“Yes”

growled. He wanted their blood; he was hungry

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Not worthy

you mean? The pull for the ring

who seemed to

Line up

be in control,” I called over my

the inky black cover my eyes fully he was

was acting like this but I knew better than to

weaving her strings at this moment creating a path for me.

to me again driving me to the pits of my mind unable to try to keep

nature was dripping down my throat coating my

all compete in a melee

large but his wife was small, shapely, it

wolf growled deeply

not here.

be a stickler for tradition. Another peak of excitement

was all that generated us from the crowd. Wolves tended to enjoy a battle, blood-

get this over

will fight in hand–to–hand combat only! Any man attempting to use weapons will be

prowled inside of my head staring down the cannon fodder before him. I felt him pacing

there was a reason for it. I had

man win!” Alpha Jonathan called out and the

I would only stop Enzo from killing these men but allow him to do what

lady’s man from the nervous bunch of men

at the thought

to go for the man next to him with a simple

they would try and save

me while I stalked towards

in half so

who had thought of winning

the fear in his eyes flash and his original opponent fled