Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 11

It felt like a dream a bit. Knowing this was the last day your home was your home. The feeling was not something natural. I felt hyper aware of the time going by.

Ella had come over after breakfast and we had started packing my clothes. My mother and Cea helped as well.

I kept stopping and looking around remembering forgotten moments of my childhood. Mornings before school, studying, sleepovers, dancing around, playing pretend. It felt like it had all happened in a split second.

Now I was supposed to pack all of it up and move myself across countries to live a life that always seemed like a far off island waiting for me.

What do you do when someday arrives?

1

“Anna remember you’ll get plenty of clothes there so don’t pack everything,”

I sighed looking at my hoard of clothes and decided she may possibly be right.

I started sifting through my shirts deciding what I would like and what I would not. In truth I was ill prepared for the cold of Canada but I was excited all the same.

I decided to leave a good portion of my summer clothes for donation and I took all of my warm clothes. The two pairs of jeans that I had.

“A lot of the women on our land wear skirts during winter because the harvest is over, it’s like wearing a blanket,” Ella told me.

“I suppose I’ll have to learn to make some,”

“You’ll want some sweaters too. And some long underwear if you ever go out for a winter hunt. Alpha loves to ice fish and snowmobile as well so I suggest we order you some,” Ella recommended.

1

It was nice that she was here. It helped me to have someone to teach me about the new life I would have. Grayson was too busy or distracted to do so.

I looked around my room as this surge of doubt entered me. It felt like a wave washing up inside my b*dy.

Should I leave my home for him? He had barely spoken to me. I had to force him to go to dinner.

I knew that this was going to be difficult. I could feel the wall of a challenge rising in front of me. Was I ready for this when I had no idea it would be worth it?

I had no clue what was holding him back, I had no clue if he saw me as a mistake. Should I leave all of this for a risk that would shatter me?

And if I stayed? I would never know.

I shoved a lot of my clothes into garbage bags for donation. His pack did make clothes so I shouldn’t bring too much

anyways.

“Anna before I forget what color silk do you want for your binding dress?” my mother asked me and the whole room stopped.

look at all for fear she’d tell

“Navy blue,” I mumbled

tan right now too so I know you’ll look amazing in it,”

a little at

me for all his people know. Matt said that he takes advice from his people so

keeping and began putting them in boxes and set

I looked at the unholy

is gonna take a

bring them all?” Cea whined

not leaving without them,” I sternly

to go through this I needed a place of escape.

1

picked up

boxes and furniture to get to her

air and my eardrum. “What on earth is this! Oh, it is so beautiful! How have I not seen

had a halo of diamonds

that the ring could dazzle in the

mother gasped taking the ring from Cea. “It’s gorgeous, when did he give you this? Is it from

at me so confused as to

I would have worn it with pride, but I hadn’t,

a secret because I was wary of gifts from a man who hadn’t shown his face. Now it was still in the box because it felt wrong to wear a ring when he wasn’t talking to me

it on when I felt this

Grayson’s request,” Ella walked

mother looked at me

I don’t know him but that is a claim on me,” I gave her a half-truth so my doubts weren’t exposed to his pack

back in the box. I understand. Your father didn’t give me my ring until three years into our marriage. For humans, this came after getting to know one another but for us, it comes

pick it

diamonds on the

couple gifted rings it meant they were forever bonded in this life and

it was a way for him to show

Now it felt cheap.

had found me his soulmate and he

the goddess at creation and it felt like he didn’t

began pricking my

I can’t I cannot cry. This is not my dream romance but nothing ever goes as it does in your head. I will not be mad at him for not conforming

my mother and placed it in the

keep it safe

you didn’t like it,” Ella chimed in looking

smiled and grabbed her hand, shaking it once for reassurance. “I just can’t wear it until I know him,” I shrugged and went over to my bookshelf and started piling in

endless complaints from Cea about my hobby I suggested she break with the books and pack

us some sandwiches,” my mother

don’t think it’s fair that’ll you be three thousand miles from me,” Cea sat down beside me and rested